Majella Campbell takes the Fishburners CEO baton from Martin Karafilis

OG Australian startup community Fishburners is changing its guard, with CEO Martin Karafilis stepping down tomorrow after 26 months in the role, and chief operating officer Majella Campbell taking on the top job.

Campbell has been central to Fishburners‘ success as it rebuilt post covid, developing a range of programs and events from its home at the Sydney Startup Hub.

Fishburners chair Bilyana Smith said her leadership, experience and deep understanding of the startup ecosystem sets her up for success in the role

“Martin’s leadership has been crucial in taking Fishburners’ role in the startup ecosystem to another level,” she said.

“As we step into this new phase, Majella’s experience, passion and strategic vision make her the ideal leader to steer Fishburners forward, foster new opportunities and reinforce our impact in the startup ecosystem.”

Fishburners supports more than 1,000 founders annually, having been founded in 2011 by entrepreneurs Mike Casey and Pete Davison.

But like every organisation at the Sydney Startup Hub, Fishburners faces the uncertainty of a new location later this year after the Labor government announced in December that it would shut down the site above Wynyard station and move it to a yet-to-be-announced alternative venue somewhere in Tech Central on the outskirts of the city’s CBD.

Yet Campbell shows founder-level excitement and enthusiasm as she takes the helm, saying the organisation is well-prepared for an evolving future.

“Fishburners is entering an exciting new era. We’ve laid the foundation for future growth, and I’m excited to lead the organisation into its next chapter,” she said.

“Our mission remains steadfast — empowering founders with the resources, networks, and support they need to build world-changing companies.”

Karafilis said he has strong confidence in the organisation’s future as he hands over the reins. The veteran founder, who cofounded the AI-based product recognition AI startup Tiliter, said he’ll continue to be involved in various initiatives across the ecosystem.

“Fishburners has always been about pushing boundaries and supporting founders to succeed,” he said.

“With the startup ecosystem evolving rapidly, now is the right time for a leadership transition. Majella has been instrumental in shaping Fishburners’ future, and I have no doubt she will continue to drive our mission forward.”