Sally-Ann Williams will step down as the chief executive of deep tech incubator and Tech23 organiser Cicada Innovations after six years in the role supporting Australian science and technology.
Ms Williams, who joined the Sydney-based incubator after 12 years at Google in 2019, announced her intention to leave the 25-year old institution on Wednesday, kickstarting the search for a new leader.
She will hang up her boots at the end of July, with plans to double down on her board roles, which include the Australian Research Council and the NSW Innovation and Productivity Council.
Announcing her departure on Wednesday, Ms Williams said her time at Cicada Innovations has been “has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life” and would be “very hard top”.
Under her leadership, the incubator expanded its footprint into Melbourne last year with Jumar Bioincubator and set up a new HealthTech Hub at Westmead in Western Sydney.
It also launched the National Space Industry Hub in 2021 with the backing of the NSW government, with every $1 invested reportedly resulting in $74 in external funding for the aligned startups.
In total, Cicada-supported ventures, including in sectors like health, energy and AgTech, have raised more than $6.1 billion and achieved $1.3 billion in exits during Ms Williams’ time at the helm.
“Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve all accomplished together…. We really did turn Cicada into a national powerhouse! And bringing Tech23 into the Cicada family? That just cemented our spot right at the heart of the ecosystem,” she said.
Ms Williams said she would continue to be Cicada Innovations’ “biggest champion and cheerleader”, adding that “Australia’s deep tech ecosystem is thriving, and I’m excited to see where it goes”.
“[Cicada Innovations is] in great hands with a strong mission and a stellar executive team. I’ll be helping with the transition in the coming months, and I genuinely can’t wait to see what Cicada achieves next.”
Cicada Innovations chair Katherine Woodthorpe thanked Ms Williams for positioning the incubator as “a national asset” over the last six years, boosting its reach and relevance in the process.
“She has championed deep tech, built a high-performing team, and expanded Cicada’s reach and relevance. We are grateful for her leadership and confident in the strength of the organisation going forward,” Dr Woodthorpe said.
Cicada Innovations has begun an executive search for a new CEO. Day-to-day operations will continue under the leadership of the executive team while the search is ongoing.
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