Executive Management Team
- Rick Higdon
- President & CEO
- The founder of Turnpoint Solutions, Rick Higdon has more than 20 years of experience delivering mission-critical software and services to the global energy, mining and transportation industries. Prior to establishing Turnpoint, Rick was with Axiom Corporation, where he served as president of the Mobility Workforce Management division. Rick continued in this role after successfully completing the 2004 sale of the division to GFI Energy Ventures. Subsequently the division merged with SPL WorldGroup, which was acquired by Oracle Corporation. Before joining Axiom, Rick consulted with a number of technology startups, acting as a catalyst to launch new business, to prepare the companies for raising capital, and to assist in acquisition initiatives. Rick’s experience also includes 10 years with the application software provider Mincom Pty Ltd.. His positions of increasing responsibility at Mincom included leading Latin American operations and North American sales, as well as serving as regional CFO. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Rick began his career in finance after college.
- Tim Perman
- Executive Vice President
- Tim Perman leads Turnpoint Solutions’ global mining industry practice. With more than 20 years of mining and IT industry experience, he has led Turnpoint’s global engagements with customers such as Anglo American, Newmont Mining and Cliffs Natural Resources. As the founder of EAM Resources, which was merged to create Turnpoint Solutions, Tim led financial consulting for software application provider Mincom Pty Ltd. Previously he served seven years as financial controller of Western Metals. After graduating from college in Australia, Tim started his career in accounting with Deloitte & Touche. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia.
- Debbie O'Brien
- Vice President of Operations
- Debbie O'Brien leads Turnpoint Solutions’ operational activities, which include infrastructure development, project oversight, and personnel recruitment to support Turnpoint's growing customer base and global growth strategy. A seasoned executive, Debbie brings more than 11years of experience in operations and consultant support management. Prior to joining Turnpoint, she managed the Business Information Management (BIM) Practice at Capgemini, where she was responsible for all operational activities, including the support of approximately 350 global consultants. Previously, Debbie served as vice president of operations for Gazelle Consulting and held senior management positions at Application Partners and CFI ProServices.
- Chris Dabic
- Mining Practice Director
- Chris Dabic leads the global mining operations for Turnpoint Solutions and is responsible for modelling financial best practices for the company’s global mining customers. Before assuming these roles, Chris led a significant expansion of Turnpoint’s Australian operations in his roles as Australian general manager and senior principal of the mining industry practice. With more than 14 years of experience delivering IT solutions to leading mining companies, Chris has made significant contributions to customers such as Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, and Newmont Mining Corporation. His broad range of IT solution expertise includes Mincom’s Ellipse and SAP R3. After obtaining his degree in accounting, Chris joined Deloitte & Touche, then held a number of senior finance positions in the mining industry before joining Mincom Australia as a financial consultant.
- Adrian Hale
- Managing Director Australia/New Zealand
- Adrian Hale heads Turnpoint’s operations in the Australia/New Zealand Region, bringing to this role more than 25 years of business technology and general management experience. Adrian has a deep knowledge of the large business sector, having worked in the government, mining, utilities, defense and manufacturing industries. Most recently, he served as vice president of Beeline Technologies, a specialist technology developer for automated GPS guidance systems that primarily serves the agricultural sector. Prior to his tenure at Beeline, Adrian spent 18 years at Mincom, where he held a number of senior executive positions with responsibility for business strategy and operations, client services, commercial management, sales, and marketing.
- Karl Ginther
- Transportation Practice Director
- Karl Ginther brings Turnpoint customers the benefit of more than 20 years experience delivering EAM solutions for large transit agencies and transportation entities. His deep expertise includes comprehensive, first-hand knowledge of the maintenance business practice – for both mobile and fixed-asset equipment. Karl offers clients a solid understanding of industry best practices, plus the skills needed to optimize those practices through the proper configuration and use of technologies, whether existing systems or additional resources.
