Gig Guide: Alan Jones new Fishburners interim CEO


Brandon How
Reporter

Co-working space and digital startup network Fishburners has appointed tech and venture capital veteran Alan Jones as its interim chief executive officer. Mr Jones’ began his experience as a founder in 1995 and has held senior management roles at Yahoo!, News Digital Media and Microsoft.

Mr Jones has also been engaged in numerous entrepreneur-in-residence roles including at startup accelerator CyRise, the University of Technology Sydney, the Generator at Monash University, and currently holds the role at startup accelerator Remarkable Tech, which supports firms creating tech for people with disabilities. He has also been a limited partner at Blackbird Ventures since February 2013.

Taking to LinkedIn, Mr Jones said he was excited to join the “wicked-smart, hard-working Fishburners team”.

“Fishburners has grown bigger and become better known but it hasn’t lost touch with its scrappy, sleeves-rolled-up, all-in culture, where everybody matters, nobody’s left out, and there’s no such thing as a stupid question,” Mr Jones said.

Interim Fishburners chief executive Alan Jones. Image: LinkedIn

George Brandis has been appointed as a Professor at the Australian National University in the Practice of National Security. Professor Brandis was formerly the Attorney-General between 2013-2017 and was also a cabinet minister. During his time as Attorney-General he had ministerial oversight of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and was a member of the National Security Committee of Cabinet.  His career in the Australian senate spanned from 2000-2018.

He also served as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2018 until April 2022. Professor Brandis will be based at the National Security College at the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, and will teach at the ANU College of Law as well. His work will focus on national security, law, and policy.

Two new national managers, Nicole Rudland and Narelle Lovett, have been appointed at Services Australia. Ms Lovett moves from her role as the Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the Australian Financial Security Authority. Ms Lovett also previously held the role of Chief Information Officer at the Authority, Chief – Data management and ICT Security at IP Australia. Nicole Rudland leaves her position as Director for Technology Platforms at the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment after eight months in the role. She has worked in the federal public service since 2017.

Professor Alistair Barros has been appointed Professor and head of school, information systems at Queensland University of Technology. Professor Barros has also held the role as Global Research Leader at tech and software company SAP AG.

At the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Damian White has been appointed as Branch Head and will be based in Canberra. He moves from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Australia-China Business Council president Helen Zhi. Image: LinkedIn

The new president of the Australia China Business Council is Helen Zhi, who will replace Michael Clifton. Mr Clifton resigns from the role after more than three years. Ms Zhi has been vice-president of the council since October 2019 and is currently a partner at KPMG Australia’s China Business Practice with more than 17 years’ of experience of working with Chinese investors across international markets. Prior to joining KPMG Australia in 2011, she served at the China Business Director at KPMG UK for a year.

Optus’ head of analytics Tim Rogers has stepped down following more than two years in the role. On LinkedIn, Mr Rogers said that it was time for him to take a break following a 19 year of professional life.

Telstra’s chief data and AI officer Noel Jarrett has left the role following 10 and a half years at the firm. He served as the chief data and AI officer since September 2020. Mr Jarrett has been replaced by Annie South, who joins the telco for the third time in her career. Ms South returns from a career break which commenced in August 2020. Her most recent role prior to the break was as Director of the data management centre of excellence at RMIT University.

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

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