Inaugural Tech Council of Australia CEO Kate Pounder has resigned after two and a half years at the helm of the tech industry lobby group.
Pounder confirmed on Monday that she would be stepping down from the role on 2 February after leading the organisation since its establishment in mid-2021.
Tech Council of Australia (TCA) chair Robyn Denholm thanked Pounder for her contribution to the organisation and said she “looks forward to her remaining a close ally of the sector”.
“Over the last three years, Kate has worked tirelessly to ensure that the tech sector has a strong and unified voice on the national stage,” Denholm said in a statement.
“She has built a formidable team bringing together policy, advocacy and building a large and diverse member ecosystem.”
Pounder has resigned in order to reduce her travel commitments and remain in Canberra to support a family health-related matter.
She said it has been an “incredible privilege” to have led the Tech Council.
“I hope to continue to champion the industry in a personal capacity and look forward to watching the organisation grow and continue its impact by elevating and championing our incredible tech sector,” Pounder said.
TCA is now actively recruiting for a new CEO, with its head of policy Ryan Black to lead the organisation in the interim.
Minister for Industry Ed Husic thanked Pounder for her service in the role, saying she had had a significant influence on tech policy in recent years.
“On behalf of the Albanese government, I place on record my thanks and appreciation for Kate Pounder’s tireless advocacy on behalf of the tech sector following news of her resignation as CEO of the Tech Council,” he said in a statement.
“Over her three years as CEO, Kate’s leadership helped elevate and illuminate the vital role our tech sector plays in our economy and society.
“Her ability to unify the sector around common goals was best demonstrated by her influential role in our government’s decision to set a target of 1.2 million tech-related jobs by 2030.”
The federal Labor party adopted TCA’s jobs target in the lead-up to the 2022 election.
The group now has more than 160 members from across the local tech sector.
TCA – established in mid-2021 by Alex McCauley who created it to replace national tech advocacy group StartupAus – aims to influence government policy and grow the tech industry, with its members including local tech giants Atlassian, Afterpay and Canva.
The organisation has stated aims to help one million Australians be employed in tech jobs by 2025, assist the tech sector reach $250 billion in Australian economic activity by the end of the decade, and to make Australia the “best country in the world” for making and investing in tech companies.
TCA’s board includes Denholm, Atlassian co-CEO Scott Farquhar, Afterpay co-founder Anthony Eisen, Culture Amp CEO Didier Elzinga and Canva co-founder Cliff Obrecht.
A farewell event for Pounder with TCA members will be held later this month.
