The search is on for a new leader to chair Victoria’s $60 million startup body after Australia Post’s chief executive Ahmed Fahour stepped down from the role.
Fahour has also just resigned from Australia Post after seven years leading the postal service.
His resignation from Australia Post follows comments from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about Fahour’s total salary package of $5.6 million being “too high” for a government-owned business, ABC reports. However, Fahour has said his resignation is not the result of the controversy surrounding his remuneration.
Since joining LaunchVic—along with other business heavyweights like Susan Wu and Jo Burston—Fahour has overseen the investment of more than $10 million into 26 startup projects through grant funding. Fahour also appointed Dr Kate Cornick as LaunchVic’s chief executive.
In a statement released this month, Victorian minister for small business and innovation Philip Dalidakis thanked Fahour for his support in establishing the startup body.
According to Dalidakis, Fahour expressed his intention to leave LaunchVic in January this year.
“I am considering a number of internal and external people for the role,” Dalidakis tells StartupSmart.
“We welcome more sector involvement, not less, and are open to any good candidates who want to put their hand up and help drive Victoria as the country’s leading tech and startup destination.
“Appointing a new chair is an important decision to make and will not be rushed. Deputy chair Elana Rubin [a director at Mirvac] will act as interim chair until further notice.
“Our relationship with Australia Post has been a strong one, with many people across the organisation, and don’t see why that will change.”
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Dinushi Dias is a freelance journalist and a former StartupSmart reporter and multimedia content producer. She is the co-founder of Melbourne-based production house Dinushi & Power.
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