Board and Team

Board

Chair | Entrepreneur, Investor & CEO, Saniel Ventures

Leigh Jasper

Chair | Entrepreneur, Investor & CEO, Saniel Ventures

Leigh Jasper

Mr Leigh Jasper is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Firmable, CEO of Saniel Ventures, Chair and Co-Founder of Second Quarter Ventures and a non-executive director of SEEK Ltd, Buildxact and Matrak. He was the co-founder and CEO of Aconex between May 2000 and August 2019. Aconex is the world’s largest provider of online collaboration solutions for the construction and engineering industries.

As Aconex CEO, Mr Jasper led global growth for Aconex, expanding the business into Asia, North America, South America, the Middle East and Europe.

In September 2008, Aconex secured an A$109.5 million funding deal and one of the largest private capital raisings by an Australian technology company. In 2014 the company listed on the ASX. In 2018 Oracle acquired Aconex for $1.6 billion in Australia’s largest technology M&A transaction.

Leigh joined the LaunchVic Board on 1 July 2020.

Special Responsibilities

— Chair of the Board and Member of the Audit & Risk Committee and People Committee

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CEO, Jupiter Ionics

Dr Charlie Day

CEO, Jupiter Ionics

Dr Charlie Day

Charlie is the CEO of Jupiter Ionics, a deep-tech spinout from Monash University that is developing a novel electrochemical technology for carbon-neutral ammonia production.

He has built a team of 20 scientists and engineers, raising A$12 million in funding.

Previously, he served as the inaugural CEO of the Office of Innovation and Science Australia (ISA), advising the Australian government on science and innovation.

He also led the Carlton Connect Initiative at the University of Melbourne, a $500 million innovation precinct.

With a PhD, Rhodes Scholarship, and extensive leadership experience, he is passionate about bridging research and business for technology commercialisation.

Special Responsibilities:

Member of the Investment Review Committee

Member of the Investment Committee for the Hugh Victor McKay Fund

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Managing Director, Government Australia & New Zealand, Aurecon

Aneetha de Silva (MAICD)

Managing Director, Government Australia & New Zealand, Aurecon

Aneetha de Silva (MAICD)

Ms Aneetha de Silva is a senior infrastructure executive with over 27 years’ of experience across the government and private sectors in Australia, South Africa and the Asia Pacific. She has particular expertise as an advisor, developer and manager of large infrastructure assets and services, especially in transport, telecommunications and property.

Aneetha is currently Chair of Roads Australia and sits on the Boards of LaunchVic, the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation and the North East Link State Tolling Corporation and the Executive Council of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

An active angel investor, she is passionate about innovation, particularly the potential for new technologies to meet emerging customer needs and transform access to community services.

Special Responsibilities

— Chair of the Investment Review Committee and Member of the Alice Anderson Fund Investment Committee

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Board Director, The Wheeler Centre

Chaman Sidhu

Board Director, The Wheeler Centre

Chaman Sidhu

Chaman Sidhu is an executive with legal, intellectual property, commercial, governance and leadership experience gained in global publishing, digital media and technology companies.

She brings a passion for supporting governance in dynamic and scale-up environments. She has led teams awarded for innovative legal approaches and brings a people-focused approach to organisational innovation and culture.

Chaman was most recently Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary at Xero Ltd, an online SaaS accounting platform for small businesses and their advisors.

Prior to this role, she served as General Counsel and Company Secretary for Envato and Lonely Planet during periods of significant growth.

Special Responsibilities:

Member of the Audit & Risk Committee

Member of the Investment Review Committee

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Founder and Managing Director, GBS Venture Partners

Brigitte Smith

Founder and Managing Director, GBS Venture Partners

Brigitte Smith

Brigitte is a highly experienced director and venture capital leader with over 25 years of expertise working with boards and senior management teams to build businesses for global markets.

As Co-Founder and Managing Director of GBS Venture Partners, she raised more than $450 mn, which was invested in 50 companies. Half of these companies were Australian, and half were US-based with Australian technology or operations.

These companies raised more than $2bn from GBS, Australian and US venture capital syndicate partners, corporates, venture debt and public markets, with a 5.8:1 multiplier on funds invested by GBS.

Her portfolio has included NASDAQ and ASX-listed companies such as Pharmaxis, Kalobios Inc., and Viveve.

A Fulbright Scholar with degrees from Harvard Business School and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Brigitte has served on multiple boards and committees, including roles in the medical technology and venture capital sectors.

Special Responsibilities:

Member of the Investment Review Committee

Member of the People Committee

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Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Payapps

Geoff Tarrant

Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Payapps

Geoff Tarrant

Geoff is an experienced executive and entrepreneur with a strong background in construction technology, finance, and capital markets.

As Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Payapps Limited (2017–2024), Geoff helped lead the company’s growth and eventual acquisition by Autodesk for ~$600 million.

He was also a Non-Executive Director at Adbri Limited, an ASX-listed construction materials company, and a member of its Audit and Risk Committee until its acquisition in July 2024.

Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, he spent over 15 years at Deutsche Bank, holding senior roles in corporate finance and capital markets across London, Hong Kong, and Australia.

Special Responsibilities:

Member of the Audit & Risk Committee

Member of the People Committee

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