Based in Dublin, Mr. Whelan is one of Europe’s leading real estate and infrastructure asset developers 

He has multi-decade relationships with hyperscalers, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon

Development portfolio exceeds $2 billion in gross development value, spanning 3.5 million square feet

Mr. Whelan will establish a Dublin office for VivoPower as it scales up its Sovereign AI data center infrastructure business, further advancing its Power -to-X strategy

LONDON, UK, Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VivoPower International PLC (NASDAQ: VVPR) (“VivoPower” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Whelan to its Global Advisory Council. Mr. Whelan is a highly experienced real estate and infrastructure asset developer who has multi-decade relationships with data center operators as well as hyperscalers, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, amongst others.

Mr. Whelan’s development portfolio exceeds 3.5 million square feet of real estate and infrastructure assets across the EU and UK, with a gross development value in excess of $2 billion.

Kevin Chin, Executive Chairman and CEO of VivoPower, said: “We are delighted to welcome Shane to our Global Advisory Council. Given his extensive experience and relationships with hyperscalers, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, as well as data center operators, he will be invaluable as we scale up our AI data center infrastructure business globally. Importantly, he will advise us as we establish our Dublin office and build up a high caliber and high tempo team there.”

Shane Whelan said: “Having worked behind the scenes with Kevin and his team, I am very pleased to be joining VivoPower and am confident that we will scale up the most trusted independent sovereign AI data center infrastructure and real estate group globally. Dublin is an important market for data center infrastructure talent, and we will be recruiting experienced and committed development management, technical delivery, and operational execution personnel.”

About VivoPower

Originally founded in 2014 and listed on Nasdaq since 2016, VivoPower operates with a global footprint spanning the United Kingdom, Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. An award-winning global sustainable energy solutions B Corporation, VivoPower has three business units, Tembo, Caret Digital and Vivo Federation. Across Tembo, Caret Digital and Vivo Federation, VivoPower has assembled a platform encompassing power-to-x, digital infrastructure, compute, mobility and digital assets, with a core focus on the highest-return Power-to-X opportunity: Sovereign AI computing. Tembo is focused on electric solutions for off-road and on-road customized and ruggedized fleet applications, as well as ancillary financing, charging, battery, and microgrid solutions. Caret Digital is a power-to-x business focused on the highest and best use cases for renewable power, including digital asset mining. Vivo Federation is the digital asset arm of VivoPower focused on XRPL-based real-world blockchain applications and maintaining exposure to Ripple Labs shares and XRP tokens.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes certain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," “target”, "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about the achievement of performance hurdles, or the benefits of the events or transactions described in this communication and the expected returns therefrom. These statements are based on VivoPower's management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to risk, uncertainty, and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of VivoPower's business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include changes in business conditions, fluctuations in customer demand, changes in accounting interpretations, management of rapid growth, intensity of competition from other providers of products and services, changes in general economic conditions, geopolitical events and regulatory changes, and other factors set forth in VivoPower's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Due to circumstances outside of its control and/or any other unexpected developments, VivoPower may not ultimately procure any financial benefits from the above joint venture agreement. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. VivoPower is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Media Contacts
VivoPower: media@vivopower.com