Meet the Team
Program Delivery Team
Leigh Kelson
Program DirectorLeigh is a technology entrepreneur, cloud computing pioneer, and media tech veteran. He has founded ten ventures over the last 30 years and had a number of successful exits. Over his career, he’s been a CEO of publicly listed companies, involved in raising more than $100 million in funding and completed two successful IPO’s on the Australian stock exchange.
Chris Boden
Program CuratorChris is Director of the Peregian Digital Hub. He spent 20 years leading technology & product teams in startup and corporate environments. He led Lonely Planet’s digital transformation as head of its Mobile & Innovation Divisions, helping it become the leading multi-platform travel publisher. Before that he created & launched some of the earliest consumer mobile apps in 2001 then helped lead a mobile gaming start-up from concept to acquisition by Glu Mobile (NASDAQ:GLUU).
Anthony Dow
Govt RelationsAnthony Dow leads Noosa Council’s Economic Development Program. He has a deep knowledge of the government sector at Local, State and Federal level with over 15 years driving economic development outcomes in New Zealand and regional Australia. He has extensive government networks and experience in investment and industry attraction through business development and partnerships.
Program Mentors
Mark Edwards
Making Complex SalesMark is a Sales Management Performance Coach & Master Trainer with over 20 years of helping blue chip clients, including CBA, Qantas, Telstra, Pepsico and Origin. Mark’s unique research-driven approach to sales management training is designed to develop the capability of sales teams and leaders and has been proven to drive massive upturns in revenues.
Michelle Mason
Mastering Social MediaMichelle leads Social Tap, one of Australia’s leading social media marketing agencies. She has 20 years of experience in customer strategy and experience, marketing and sales in the media, hospitality and tourism industries. She spends her workdays consulting with businesses and helping them to develop integrated marketing strategies.
Huw Griffiths
Strategy for ScaleHuw is a world class strategy & business architecture consultant. He has delivered major strategic projects for leading organisations, joint-ventures, and start-ups across a range of industries not least of which was setting up the Google Book Search operation in Europe. His clients include Google, Dell, CBRE, Suncorp Group, ME Bank, Macquarie Bank, Flight Centre, Sainsbury's and Nectar.com.
Phil Ohren
Top of Funnel MarketingPhil is an award-winning digital marketer with a passion for data-led marketing, helping brands engage people without the use of interruptive media tactics. He is recognised as one of the leading top of funnel marketers with deep expertise in search engine discovery and marketing.
Robyn Pulman
Perfect PresentationsRobyn is a renowned communication skills coach. She has spoken at dozens of conferences, run hundreds of workshops and helped thousands of people ‘find their voice’, refine their pitch, present their proposal & present for impact. Robyn honed her skills during an extensive corporate career in senior international marketing positions working throughout EMEA.
Bill Reichert (USA)
Finance & CapitalizationBill is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, mentor, author, speaker, board member and advisor. Bill loves to work with great entrepreneurs to build great companies. His specialties are Seed stage and early stage emerging technology companies across information technology, energy tech, materials science, edtech, and fintech, among other sectors.
Janine Garrett
Growing Your OrgJanine mentors at the Australian Centre for Business Growth and has won just about every key business award in Queensland. She founded Charm Health which provides an Oncology Information Management Solution for cancer care clinical coordination and management. Charm exited to ASX-listed Citadel Group in 2017.
Alfredo Coppola (USA)
US Market EntryAlfredo is CEO at US Market Access Center, the longest-standing high-tech incubator in Silicon Valley for foreign companies seeking to successfully enter US Markets. He has advised over 150 early-stage technology companies and worked with large multinationals such as Adobe, Microsoft, Nortel, Deloitte and PWC.
Niklas Bergman (EUR)
European Market EntryNiklas is a founder, funder, and futurist, has spent 25 years working as an entrepreneur and technology investor. He is responsible for some epic failures and a couple of home runs. Today he divides his time between investing, speaking, writing, and advising on the future of technology, society, and business.
Carl Hartmann
Going GlobalCarl was Co-Founder & CEO of Temando - a leading ecommerce shipping & fulfilment platform with some of the world's leading retailers as clients incl Toy's R Us, Nike & ASOS. Carl exited Temando to Paris-based Neopost and has co-founding new ventures, incl Shortlyster & Lyres. Carl also leads the Aussie Founder's Network - a group for founders of high-growth tech startups.
Dana Teahan
Marketing AutomationDana is one of Australia’s foremost experts in “MarTech”, the technologies that enable businesses to automate and personalise the management customer relationships. His firm, Divide By Zero, implements Marketing Technology solutions and helps transform business processes to deliver deeply personalised customer experiences for Australia’s most recognised brands.
Dan Tropp
World Class TechopsDan is a senior architect and team lead at Cogent, one of the country’s leading software development vendors. Dan has provided technical mentoring to some of Australia’s most exciting startups, helping them solve challenging technical problems across everything from education and energy to healthcare and travel.