Chris Vein, the self-confessed American “Australophile” and former White House, and World Bank executive who became CEO of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) following its most turbulent period, is stepping down after 18 months in the role. ACS announced it “regrets” that Vein will retire at the end of the year for personal/health reasons. “As… Read more »
Science & Technology Australia’s CEO Misha Schubert has resigned after four years at the helm to lead a newly formed industry superannuation lobby group. The former journalist, who had helped champion and improve the visibility of women in the tech sector, will become inaugural CEO of the Super Members Council of Australia (SMC) in February.… Read more »
Technology industry association ACS will have its second female president in a decade with the current NSW Branch Chair, Helen McHugh stepping into the role for 2024-25. McHugh replaces Dr Nick Tate as part of the organisation’s rotation rules, elected by a member vote this week. “As the peak body for Australia’s IT profession, ACS… Read more »
On Friday, OpenAI’s high-flying chief executive Sam Altman was unexpectedly fired by the company’s board. Co-founder and chief technology officer Greg Brockman was also removed as the board president, after which he promptly resigned. In an unexpected twist, talks began today about potentially reinstating Altman in some capacity following an outpouring of industry and investor… Read more »
CSIRO venture capital fund Main Sequence Ventures has bolstered its leadership team with Cochlear chair Alison Deans signing on as a venture partner. Deans, who is also on the boards of Ramsay Health Care, staffing management scaleup Deputy and ASX-listed envirotech scaleup Calix (ASX: CXL), and is a former Westpac and IAG director, previously ran… Read more »
Macquarie Technology Group cofounders David and Aidan Tudehope have been honoured as the 2023 Pearcey Medallists for their life’s work in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. The annual awards, named after the late ICT industry pioneer Dr Trevor Pearcey, celebrated their 25th anniversary by inducting engineer Professor Jean Armstrong and WiseTech Global founder… Read more »
Silicon Quantum Computing founder Professor Michelle Simmons has won the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for her pioneering work in the cutting edge sector. The awards were announced by prime minister Anthony Albanese, with scientists working in biotechnology and teaching also recognised. It’s a lucrative win for Simmons, who receives $250,000 as part of the… Read more »
Cicada Innovations has appointed Dr Katherine Woodthorpe as its new chair, the first woman to lead the board in the 23-year history of the Sydney-based deep tech incubator. The non-executive director (NED) replaces Andrew Rothery after nearly eight years in the role. Dr Woodthorpe has more than three decades of experience in commercialising technologies across a broad… Read more »
As lists go, LinkedIn’s annual compilation of Australia’s top 20 startups is certainly a conversation starter. The find-a-job social media site has trawled through its own data, looking at four key parameters, including employee growth, jobseeker interest and how well startups lured talent away from LinkedIn’s own “Top Companies” list, to select crypto-based online gaming marketplace… Read more »
Fishburners has appointed Taryn Williams and Samantha Martin Williams to the board of the Early-stage startup community hub. They replace Jacqui Feeney, who leaves to become CEO of Screen Queensland, and Andrew Thornton, whose term has expired. Taryn Williams is the founder and CEO of theright.fit and WINK Models, and entrepreneurship thought leader. Fishburners CEO… Read more »
StartGiving, the not-for-profit organisation inspiring a new culture of giving in the Australian innovation community, has launched a podcast and vodcast series for tech founders looking to start or scale their giving. Hosted by StartGiving founder and chair Daniel Petre and CEO Antonia Ruffell, the series features leaders in the tech and philanthropy spaces generously… Read more »
Five Indigenous Australian university students will head to the United States next week for internships with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The students are part of the inaugural cohort of Monash University’s National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA), selected from universities across Australia and supported by the Australian Space Agency. The students will be partnered with a… Read more »
The Albanese government has appointed venture capitalist and philanthropist Airtree cofounder Daniel Petre to the board of its $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund to be chaired by climate investor Martijn Wilder, founder and CEO of Pollination. The eight-member board for the government’s signature investment project also includes Invest Victoria chair Ahmed Fahour, MD of Latitude… Read more »
Paypa Plane cofounder and CEO Simone Joyce is heading to the US with her family to put her fintech front and centre of banking and payments reforms in North America. Joyce, who is also chair of industry group Fintech Australia, has been at the forefront of Australia’s shift to real time payments and the introduction… Read more »
Atlassian co-founder and father of four Mike Cannon-Brookes has separated from his US-born wife, Annie, after 13 years of marriage. News of the demerger emerged over the weekend in Nine newspapers, citing “sources close to the family”. An Atlassian spokesperson declined to comment. An unauthorised source told the media: “They’re both focussed on their children… Read more »
Nearly 9000 taxi drivers just scored $152 million from Uber as compensation for its illegal launch in Australia 
Fresh from its $272 million win against Uber, class action lawyers Maurice Blackburn are now eyeing off Google’s adtech 
Zip cofounder Larry Diamond makes his exit to focus on philanthropy 
SISTER ACT: Nicola Forrest drops $100 million into an investment fund to back women 
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