Clayton Franklin is a Principal Electrical Engineer with over 25 years of experience in the mining industry. Growing up on his family’s organic banana farm in Mission Beach, Clayton developed a passion for inventing and engineering at a young age.

Clayton's heritage plays a significant role in his life. His grandfather, Jack Hassen, was an elder of the Kaldadoon mob in Cloncurry, Queensland, and the Australian Lightweight boxing champion in 1949. Proud of his heritage, Clayton deeply connects with the land and its traditions.

He has worked extensively in the renewable energy sector, starting with his role at Bushlight, where he was responsible for designing solar systems for remote Aboriginal communities. Bushlight installed over 140 systems and won the Engineers Excellence Award in 2006 for its impact.

Clayton served as the lead engineer for Fortescue Future Industries’ 220-tonne hydrogen battery hybrid mining truck and the electrification of an Epiroc D65 drill rig.

He then founded EPCA with the mission of converting diesel-powered mining equipment to electric power and achieving meaningful emissions reductions in the industry with significant advantages in efficiency and reduced cost and maintenance. The company recently unveiled its latest project: a fully retrofitted CAT777 that is now powered entirely by batteries.