Leadership

Executive Team

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  Tony Caristo

  Managing Director & Board Member

  Tony Caristo is Managing Director. Prior to this, from 1997 Tony was the General Manager of Transfield Corrosion Protection incorporating the RPC composites business. Previous to this Tony spent seven years as General Manager of the Trans Bakrie Joint Venture in Indonesia.

  Tony was instrumental in the formation of the RPC Technologies Group in 2002 and the acquisition of Transform Rail Interiors in 2004. He joined the Board of Composites Australia in December 2024, and received the Composites Australia Leadership/Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to the Composite Industry in May 2024.

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  John Osborne

  Group CFO, Corporate Services and Company Secretary

  John Osborne joined RPC Technologies in 2020 as the Group CFO, Corporate Services and Company Secretary. John is a senior Finance Executive with more than 20 years’ experience in corporate finance roles. As a Chartered Accountant and Lawyer with qualifications in Treasury Management and Company Secretarial, a Master of Laws specialising in Taxation and a Fellow of the Tax Institute, John brings a high degree of technical expertise to RPC.

  John has had extensive experience in senior finance roles across a range of industries including manufacturing, construction and FMCG.

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  Gavin Engelsman

  General Manager, Engineering and Operations – Infrastructure

  Gavin has worked in the GRP/FRP sector for 30+ years including eight years of Flowtite™ Technology experience and has provided managerial and consulting services to the Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Corrosion and Composite industries internationally.

  He is represented on various advisory bodies and standards committees, and is approved by industry as a non-metallic design authority.

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  Darren Bishop

  General Manager, Plant Operations

  Since joining RPC Technologies in 2008, Darren has overseen major engineering functions, managed international manufacturing operations, and driven performance across key facilities in Australia, Indonesia, and India. His background spans complex composite design, large-volume production, and the delivery of critical infrastructure components for global clients.

  Darren brings more than three decades of specialised experience in advanced composites across transport, water, energy, and defence. Beginning his career in Australia before spending over a decade in the UK and Asia, he has led engineering, manufacturing, and large-scale operational teams across multiple countries.

  Today, as General Manager, Plant Operations, Darren leads RPC’s operations in Geelong, Newcastle, Batam Island (Indonesia), and Coimbatore (India), ensuring innovation, safety, and operational excellence across the group.