About Us

Perdaman’s Founding Chairman and Managing Director Vikas Rambal has more than 30 years’ experience in business and a proven track record in delivering world-class businesses. Born in Delhi, India, Mr Rambal qualified as a chemical engineer specialising in petrochemicals, spending his formative years at Bharat Petroleum (formerly Shell).

In 2000, Mr Rambal moved to Western Australia with plans to use natural gas for downstream industry, including the manufacture of Ammonia for the International Fertiliser market. Mr. Rambal was the driving force of the project (Burrup Fertiliser, now known as Yara Fertiliser) from instigation to completion as Managing Director and a former shareholder. After Burrup’s successful commissioning, he established Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers, formerly known as Northwest Chemical and Fertilisers, with the intention of developing the second world-scale fertiliser plant in Western Australia.

After realising the better and more promising prospects of urea fertiliser, particularly in Karratha, Western Australia; Mr Rambal began establishing his new Project Ceres Urea and Ammonia Plant. By 2017, Mr Rambal obtained the status of Major Project from the Federal Government and Project of State Significance from the Western Australian Government for Project Ceres Urea Plant.

As Perdaman’s chairman, Mr Rambal’s fundamental vision has always been creating a better tomorrow by delivering excellence, fostering innovation, and championing sustainability.

Maegha champions a heart-to-heart leadership style in her role as Director of Perdaman. She has extensive experience across the government and property industries, and holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Mathematics. After moving to Australia from India in 2000, Maegha and her husband Vikas sold their share of a joint venture named Burrup Fertilisers and used that money to start their own company – Perdaman. Maegha is passionate about creating a better tomorrow through her family’s endeavors, from processing visas to installing solar panels, from translating a passport to building a multi-million-dollar fertiliser plant.

Rob Stewart is a Partner and the Managing Partner of GIP Australia, having joined the firm in 2015. He is based in Sydney. Prior to joining GIP, Mr Stewart was the C.E.O. of Credit Suisse Australia, and from 2000 to 2013, he was the head of the Australia Investment Banking Division. Mr Stewart began his career as a chartered accountant with Ernst and Whinney (a predecessor to Ernst and Young). Mr Stewart holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Nick Hume is a GIP Australia Partner, having joined GIP in 2009. Nick has been actively involved with several of GIP’s global investments, including Port of Brisbane, Terminal Investment Limited and Pacific National. He is currently based in Sydney and has worked in both the New York and London offices during his career with GIP. Nick is currently an alternate director of N.S.W. Ports and Lochard Energy. Prior to joining GIP, Mr Hume worked in the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs (both in London and Sydney), covering industrials, natural resources and healthcare. Mr Hume started his career as an M&A lawyer at Freehills in Sydney. Mr Hume holds a B.A. (First Class Honours and University Medal) and an L.L.B. (First Class Honours Equiv.) from the University of New South Wales. Mr Hume is admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales.

Pradeep Kumar is the Project Advisor at Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers. He has over 40 years in project execution and operations in the gas-based fertiliser and oil and gas industries. His experience spans across process engineering, project control, scheduling, and forecasting, MIS reports, resource management, EPC, EPCM, P&L Management, Cost Management, Procurement and Support. He has spearheaded activities such as conducting feasibility studies, bid tabulation, licensor selection, PFD & PID review, debottlenecking, energy audits, Hazop studies, ISO implementation, PGTR & energy optimisation. Pradeep has high competence and expertise in implementing strategic business processes, highlighting major schedule impact, ensuring on-time deliverables, and plays a key role in advising on Perdaman’s urea project.

Neeraj Garg is the General Manager – Projects & Maintenance at Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers. He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate with PMP and PRINCE2 accreditations. With over 32 years of exceptional leadership and expertise in the oil and gas industry, Neeraj brings a wealth of experience in project and construction management, encompassing the entire lifecycle of downstream projects from concept to commissioning, operations, and maintenance. His background includes working on grass root Petrochemical, Fertiliser, and LNG plants, which has provided him with a unique understanding of project implementation from both the perspective of EPC contractors and owner operators. Neeraj has held key leadership positions within major multinational companies, where he has consistently delivered results and contributed to the growth and success of the organisations. His passion for excellence, strategic vision, and ability to drive teams towards achieving common goals have been instrumental in establishing a track record of successful project delivery. Neeraj takes keen interest in mentoring young engineers and project management aspirants. He is a guest lecturer at Curtin University and worked as a volunteer at local PMP chapter and has organised many workshops on project management topics.

Pawan Bansal is a seasoned engineering professional with over 30 years of experience in operations, reliability, maintenance, and commissioning across the fertilizer and industrial gases sectors. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and brings global expertise from roles across Asia. Currently serving as General Manager – Operations (India Office) at Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers, he plays a key role in supporting the company’s operational excellence and project development. Pawan is highly skilled in asset management, process optimization, and driving operational efficiency, making him a critical contributor to Perdaman’s continued growth in the region.

Dinesh Illath is the General Manager – Operations and Technical at Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers. He has more than 30 years’ experience in managing world scale hydrocarbon gas processing facilities, projects, business development. His expertise lies in energy transition, gas processing areas, all aspects of LNG, LPG/ammonia plants, syngas, etc. He is experienced in energy transition, operations management, technology management, engineering etc. Dinesh is well versed in building, developing and managing teams of engineers, operators, technicians in projects, production, maintenance and external contractors, experience in working with multinational teams spread across the globe. He has the ability to think clearly and demonstrated execution of projects within budget and schedule, and has experience in managing MHF (Major Hazard Facility). Dinesh has strong technical expertise coming from his chemical engineering background and developed over time with experience; experience in process conceptualisation of integrated chemical complexes. He has extensive knowledge of all elements PFSM (Process Functional Safety Management), Safety case associated with MHF across the project life cycle including HAZOPs, LOPA, HAZIDs etc. Pre-commissioning and Commissioning experience of both greenfield and brownfield projects.

Him Rekhi has over 15 years of work experience across Accounts & Finance. He holds CPA, MPA and MBA qualifications, and has expertise in a diverse range of industries like investment management, debt-equity financing, commercial property, hospitality, clean energy, construction, recruitment & migration. He is a results-driven professional with a flair to solve complex business problems, and has been a valued member of the Perdaman team since 2017 – currently working as General Manager of Accounts and Finance.

John Bose is the General Manager of Electrical, Instrumentation, Automation, and Cyber Security at Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a postgraduate qualification in Business Management. He is a Chartered Engineer registered with the Australian National Engineering Register (NER) and holds credentials as an APEC Engineer and International Professional Engineer (IntPE Aus). John is also qualified in designing and inspecting electrical equipment for hazardous areas (EEHA).

With over 32 years of experience in the fertiliser, oil & gas, and healthcare industries, John has expertise in engineering, construction, commissioning, and maintenance with a keen focus on relationship building, safe operations, process improvements, and team management in collaboration with strong and talented teams. He is recognized for his leadership, safety focus, process improvement, and team development. John began his career with a leading global engineering consultancy and has held senior leadership roles in diverse sectors. He has contributed to major projects involving refineries, petrochemicals, ammonia plants, ports, and pipelines, earning multiple awards for safety and innovation.

Damon Carter is the General Manager – Environment and Heritage at Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Murdoch University with a double major in biology and environmental science, and has acquired multiple accreditations including Infrastructure Sustainability Accredited Professional (ISAP) – infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA), Greenstar Associate – Australian Green Building Council, and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems Lead Auditor. Prior to joining Perdaman, Damon has compiled over 25 years of experience in environment, sustainability, and project management. For most of the past 16 years, Damon has held Senior Management and Leadership roles in the construction industry delivering major infrastructure projects in Australia, the UAE, and Qatar. His key areas of competence include Major Project Risk Assessment, Environmental Management Planning, Construction Environmental Management, Environmental Monitoring, Sustainability Rating Framework (ISCA), Sustainability Strategy and Business Planning, Statutory and Strategic Reporting, Construction Water Management, Waste Management and Recycling, and Compliance and Due Diligence Auditing. Damon offers a collaborative approach and management style with excellent communication skills and broad experience across construction of major infrastructure including rail, marine, roads, process, and buildings.

Michael Smith is the General Manager – Contracts and Commercial at Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers. He holds a Chemical Engineering degree and a Law degree, having been a Member of Engineers since 1999 and admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2020. Prior to joining Perdaman, he has over 30 years of industry experience, spanning across various fields and business functions. He has 6 years in research and development including commissioning and operational activities relating to synthetic fuel reactor technology with Sasol, 15 years leading teams, negotiating contracts, managing stakeholders, managing operational crises and development of project proposals in Petroleum with Shell, 5 years performing strategic planning in relation to the marketing and shipping of LNG with the North West Shelf agencies, and 10 years in Energy with General Electric reviewing and negotiating contracts and managing dispute resolutions. Michael also has a brief period practicing in Law, drafting and advising on contracts, wills, and trusts, before returning to the corporate arena in Mining with Shlam, focusing on contracts, commercial processes, and corporate risk.

Since joining Perdaman in June 2017, Ishan Rambal has played a key role in driving company projects. As the eldest son of our Chairman and grandson of Shri Perdaman Krishan Rambal, he currently serves as Manager – Interface & Controls, where he applies his strong technical knowledge and practical mindset to help teams, partners, and project areas work smoothly together. His leadership has been central to the progress of major initiatives, including Project Ceres – Australia’s largest urea plant and one of the biggest globally. Ishan’s focus on innovation, quality, and making a positive impact continues to help shape the company’s path toward sustainable and inclusive growth. Ishan is an avid sportsperson and has played an important role in Willetton districts cricket club, in 2010-2018. Outside of professional life, Ishan enjoys playing golf.

Vashist Rambal serves as the Operations Director at Perdaman, where he oversees the organisation’s core business operations and strategic initiatives. As the younger son of the Chairman and grandson of Shri Perdaman Krishan Rambal, Vashist continues the family’s legacy of leadership and innovation. He holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Engineering from the University of Western Australia (UWA), bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to his role.

Vashist possesses extensive expertise in financial management, taxation, and government incentives, having held roles in EY’s Indirect Tax and Government Incentives teams, Santos’ finance department, and Perdaman’s property division. He currently leads Perdaman’s decarbonisation initiative and the Karratha housing project, while playing a pivotal role in driving strategic business development and identifying new investment opportunities.

Rashpal Kaur is Perdaman’s Organisational and Methods Analyst. Rashpal is an integral part of Perdaman’s operations, liaising with the heads of all Perdaman businesses and departments to help coordinate cohesive strategies and ensure the smooth running of corporate endeavours. She is also the first point of contact for new hires at Perdaman and works closely with staff and leadership to maintain Perdaman’s office culture. Rashpal has a Bachelor of Business, Human Resources Management from Edith Cowan University and a diploma in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.