Meet
The Team
Discover the exceptional minds powering IONA’s mission to transform communities worldwide! Combining expertise in cleantech, aerospace, AI, and more, our dynamic team collaborates seamlessly to overcome challenges and drive innovation.
Etienne Louvet
Founder & CEO, a London Business School graduate, Etienne combines expertise in autonomous systems, climate tech, and venture strategy. He launched IONA to solve last-mile delivery gaps in rural areas using drones, inspired by challenges witnessed during the COVID pandemic.
Jonny Miller
Chief Operating Officer, 12+ years of global leadership in R&D, operations, and manufacturing, with a strong track record of scaling engineering teams. As COO, he drives IONA’s operational strategy, regulatory execution, and cost-efficient growth initiatives.
Saïf-Deen Akanni
Concept Developer, a Genius NY Prize-winning UAV engineer with a PhD in Fluid Dynamics, Dr. Akanni leads propulsion and drone concept design. He brings world-class aerospace experience from Sentient Blue and plays a pivotal role in shaping IONA’s core technology.
Nikhil Rajesh Chandavarkar
Head of Aerospace, an expert in UAV system integration and flight testing, Nikhil leads development of IONA’s drone platform from manufacturing to deployment. His Cranfield education and practical experience ensure mission readiness and safety in BVLOS operations.
Sebastian Bidoli
Mechatronics Engineer, specializes in propulsion, CFD simulation, and robotics, with hands-on experience across European aerospace startups. At IONA, he bridges business and technical strategy to accelerate product innovation and delivery.
Conrad Woermann
Head of Robotics, leads all engineering programs at IONA, ensuring strategic alignment between technical development and business objectives. With deep expertise in aerial robotics and propulsion systems, he brings scalable, high-impact solutions to market.
ML and systems engineer with a background in mechatronics, computer vision, and backend infrastructure. At IONA, she works across drone mechatronics and test data analysis to improve performance and reliability. Previously at Aerobotics and Orca Fraud, she built ML systems and infrastructure, and holds an MPhil from Cambridge focused on generative ML and medical imaging.
Bilkan Ince
GNC Lead, develops advanced guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for IONA’s drone systems. His PhD research in AI-enhanced flight control strengthens system autonomy and reliability in dynamic environments.
IJsbrand Hoek
Head of Fleet Management, Ice brings 15+ years of DevOps and software engineering expertise to IONA, with a focus on UAV systems and fleet infrastructure. His experience across enterprise tech and drone prototyping ensures scalable, mission-ready drone logistics operations.
Ivo Toman
Head of Product, leads IONA’s product and software strategy, backed by 13+ years in AI, IoT, and product leadership. He has scaled multiple ventures and ensures the drone logistics platform is both technically robust and market-ready.
UAV Operations Engineer with a background in aerospace engineering and hands-on experience in drone logistics, offshore operations, and flight testing. At IONA, she supports drone deployment and test operations, drawing from fieldwork at Skyports and Manna to help scale autonomous delivery systems across challenging environments.
Senior Programme Manager with a background in engineering and a track record of leading complex, cross-functional projects across robotics, software, and immersive tech. At IONA, she brings delivery expertise and a people-first approach to align teams, navigate complexity, and drive high-impact outcomes.
Jean Nicholson
Software Engineer, over 10 years of experience in backend development and system optimization, with expertise in C++, Golang, PostgreSQL, and more. He builds scalable internal tools and infrastructure at IONA, combining deep technical know-how with a pragmatic, solution-oriented mindset.
Paurav Vaidya
Mechanical Engineer, Paurav specializes in designing and optimizing mechanical and robotics systems, with expertise in CAD, control architecture, and system integration. An InnovAero global competition winner, he combines technical skill with hands-on innovation to support IONA’s mission in sustainable drone engineering.
Paul Ma
Full Stack AI Engineer, builds and maintains IONA’s SORA assessment system, applying deep expertise in full-stack development, cloud architecture, and scalable web applications. He ensures system performance, stability, and scalability through API design, microservices, and continuous tech innovation.
Thomas Behan
Principal Software Engineer with over 10 years of experience leading engineering teams and building production-grade systems across DevOps, cloud infrastructure, and full-stack development. At IONA, he architects scalable software platforms that bridge product vision with technical execution—driven by a pragmatic mindset and a passion for turning complexity into clarity.
Alexiss Iranzo
Founder's Associate, Currently supporting the day-to-day operations of IONA’s founding team. With experience in public relations, startup support, and business development/
Our Pround
Our Pround
Partners
Partners
Our partners from Academia to top tech gaints helping us to transform the world to be a better place
