Mike Dixon

Dr. Mike Dixon is an accomplished entrepreneur with a track record of founding and leading companies through key stages of growth and acquisition. As the founder and former CEO of Synauta, a cleantech company optimizing desalination processes through data science and machine learning, Mike steered the company to acquisition by the water industry’s first unicorn Gradiant. This was just four years after Synauta’s incorporation in 2018. His entrepreneurial expertise is also demonstrated by his involvement in three other successful exits: NanoH2O, Sandymount, and WaterNEXT. 

 In addition to his leadership roles, Mike has served as a Director on both technical and non-technical boards, such as the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA), Scouts Australia, South Australia Branch, and E3 Lithium. His strengths span from technology commercialization to fostering startup culture to finance and IP development. As Chief Technology Officer of WaterNEXT, Mike played a key role in the company’s formation and program development. Earlier, he was key team member in NanoH2O’s rapid global expansion, which led to its acquisition by LG Chem in 2014. 

Mike has advised more than a dozen companies, including MIT startup Sandymount (acquired by Alfa Laval). He has also mentored in several accelerator programs, including Creative Destruction Labs, CETAC West, and Innovate Canmore, helping emerging businesses scale. 

Mike’s impact on global cleantech industries is evident in his authorship of over 80 publications and several books. His work has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the GWI Breakthrough Company of the Year in 2022 and IDRA President’s Distinction Award in the same year. His leadership extended to chairing the 2022 World Congress for IDRA, further cementing his influence in the sector.