Kate Cornick

CEO, Tech Council of Australia

In a changing world, startups play a vital role in creating new industries and high-value jobs. While it was once seen as a nice to have, strategies to grow local startups ecosystem are now a vital pillar for any credible economic development strategy.

Kate is a passionate technology and innovation leader, with experience working across startups, corporate, academia, and government.

Kate started her role as the CEO of the Tech Council of Australia in May 2026. She was previously the CEO of LaunchVic, Victoria’s lead startup agency. Under her leadership, LaunchVic has supported over 13,000 entrepreneurs to upskill, 2,200 startups to grow, helped launched 16 venture capital funds and 11 angel networks, unlocked over $1B in private capital, and supported tens of accelerator programs across Victoria.

Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, Kate is the founding CEO and Investment Committee Member of the Alice Anderson Fund – a fund led by LaunchVic dedicated to supporting women founders. To date, the fund has made over 45 investments into women-led startups.

Kate is the Deputy Chancellor and Council Member of Charles Sturt University, and Chair of the Investment Committee for the University of Melbourne’s Genesis Pre Seed Fund.

In 2024, Kate was selected by the Federal Government to be a Panel Member for the Strategic Examination of R&D – a once-in-a-generation review of the national R&D system. The Panel handed its report to Government in December 2025.

Kate previously founded a human resources technology startup and led it through an ASX listing. She was also the Senior Telecommunications Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and worked as a General Manager at NBN Co.

Kate has a PhD in optical telecommunications from the University of Melbourne.

Startup Genome has been a trusted partner for LaunchVic, sharing global best practises to help ensure it delivers the right strategy to grow the Australian State of Victoria’s startup ecosystem.