Meet the queen of startup networking, Maria MacNamara, our Startup Daily Best in Tech awards keynote speaker

Everyone in tech has a Maria MacNamara story. Or if you don’t have one, you soon will.

MacNamara has a knack for bringing people together, and has spent the past decade helping Australia’s startup ecosystem succeed in a storied career advising government on policy as well as the private sector.

She was most recently CEO of the Space Industry Association of Australia, and previously Director of Government Affairs and Innovation Strategy at global ICT infrastructure company Kyndry, and CEO of Advance.org, Australia’s diaspora organisation. She held senior roles in the Australian and NSW governments, has served on the Spark Festival board since 2015, sits on the advisory boards of Social Value and Zitavi, and is also a startup founder.

To misquote the song about her namesake from The Sound of Music – and MacNamara was educated by Catholic nuns in Sydney: How do you solve a problem? With Maria!

Her latest starring role is as keynote speaker at the gala dinner announcing the winners of the Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards, next Wednesday, September 4, as part of the Spark Festival. She follows on from former CSIRO boss Dr Larry Marshall at the inaugural awards dinner.

Startup Daily editor Simon Thomsen said he was thrilled to have MacNamara speaking to more than 250 people at the awards.

“Maria is like the synapse of Sydney startups and the most brilliant and generous networker – within minutes, she’ll be connecting you with others who can assist in helping you achieve what you want and need. She’s remarkable and inspiring and has an incredible story to tell about her career,” he said.

MacNamara’s long and varied career led to her most recent passion for infinity and beyond in Australia’s space tech, as Sydney prepares to welcome delegates from around the world to 76th International Astronautical Congress next year,  September 29 – October 3, 2025.

“I am looking forward to sharing the story of my entry into the space ecosystem and what I have learned, the journey I took to get there and uncovering the tremendous opportunities for the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Australia,” she said. 

Bookings for the Best in Tech awards dinner close tonight, August 30.