Control Bionics Strengthens Board with Neurotechnology Pioneer Professor Nicholas Opie
Professor Opie, a co-founder of Synchron and lead developer of the world-first Stentrode brain-computer interface, joins as Non-Executive Director and strategic advisor.
Control Bionics has announced the appointment of Professor Nicholas Opie as a Non-Executive Director and strategic advisor. Professor Opie is a globally recognized leader in neurotechnology, best known for co-founding Synchron and spearheading the development of the Stentrode—the world’s first endovascular brain-computer interface (BCI). He also co-founded Ultra Bionics and currently heads the Vascular Bionics Laboratory at the University of Melbourne.
With a prolific academic and research portfolio, Opie has authored over 60 peer-reviewed papers and holds a substantial patent portfolio covering advanced neural interfaces.
Board Leadership Expresses Confidence
Chairman Stephen Rix commented on the appointment, stating that Professor Opie’s decision to join the board reflects strong confidence in the company’s underlying science and commercial applications.
"I am delighted to welcome Professor Opie to the Board," said Rix. "His decision to join us underscores the potential he sees in our technology and its real-world impact."
Professor Opie echoed this sentiment, expressing excitement about supporting the Control Bionics team. "I am excited to support the team in advancing Australian-developed neurotechnology for global markets," he said.
Board Transition and Shareholder Proposal
The company also announced the retirement of Non-Executive Director Dr. Stephanie Phillips, effective 14 May 2026. The board will seek shareholder approval at the 2026 Annual General Meeting to issue 1.25 million options to Professor Opie. These options will vest over a four-year period and will expire in May 2031.
Ongoing Commercial Focus
Control Bionics continues to advance the commercialization of its flagship NeuroNode and NeuroStrip platforms, which are designed for assistive communication, rehabilitation therapy, and sports performance monitoring.