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Springboard: Australia Board
Springboard: Australia Board
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Kay Koplovitz |
Wendy Simpson |
Mina Ames |
Anne-Marie Birkill |
Topaz Conway |
Paul Gooley |
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Rosemary O'Connor |
Bill Trestrail |
Kay Koplovitz
Chairman, Springboard Enterprises
Founder, USA Networks
Chairman of the Board, Liz Claiborne Inc.
Chairman and CEO, Koplovitz & Company
Board Member, CA Technologies
Author and Entrepreneur
Kay Koplovitz is the founder of USA Network and the visionary who created the business model for cable networks by introducing the concept of two revenue streams – licensing and advertising. She is also the first woman network president in television history. A pioneer in cable television networks and new media ventures, she is a visionary who led the emergence of cable television to challenge the broadcast networks for coveted audiences. She continues to be a leader in raising venture capital for women entrepreneurs and in launching new programming companies that challenge the frontiers of the digital age. She is the author of, Bold Women, Big Ideas, which she wrote to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs to create wealth through equity. Kay speaks on subjects ranging from media and the digital revolution, to venture and private equity and corporate governance.
In 2000, Kay co-created Springboard Enterprises, a national organization that fosters venture capital investments in women-led high growth companies. Companies selected and presented by Springboard Enterprises have raised over $5.5 Billion and have had positive liquidity events for investors, including IPOs. Kay counts among her accomplishments the Presidential appointment as Chair of National Women’s Business Council (1998-2001). She is the recipient of numerous awards and inductions for her leadership accomplishments in the areas of Media and Entrepreneurship.
Kay presently serves as Chairman and CEO of Koplovitz & Company, which provides advisory services to entertainment companies, sports organizations, advertisers and distributors and advises companies on growth strategies. She also serves as Chairman of the Board, Fifth & Pacific Cos.(formerly Liz Claiborne Inc.) As of May 15th 2012, Fifth & Pacific will include the power brands Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand. She is also a board member of CA Technologies, the world’s leading independent IT management software company. In 2010, she became a board member of ION Media. Previously, she has served on the boards of Instinet, Oracle, Nabisco, General Re, and Sun New Media.. She serves as trustee of The Paley Center for Media as well as Babson College and The University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Letters & Science. She holds a master’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin as well as honorary doctorate degrees from Emerson College, St. John’s University, Michigan State University and Canasius College.
Wendy Simpson
Chairman of Springboard: Australia and Wengeo Group
Wendy is an experienced, versatile global business leader and entrepreneur. Currently, she is the Chairman of Wengeo Group, an innovative diversified industrial group with investments in manufacturing, precision engineering, industrial property development, and new media. Previously, Wendy was a Senior Vice President of Alcatel Asia Pacific and was responsible for a sales budget of 4.2 billion euros. She implemented the sales of major mobile and broadband services to 17 countries and was on the team that negotiated with the Chinese Government to bring internet to China.
She has also had global leadership roles working with QBE Insurance, Alcatel, TNT International. She assisted in the IPO of an automotive aftermarket group of companies (ASX:AMA) which at the time was listed by BRW as Australia's second fastest growing company. Wendy is the driving force to establish the venture-catalyst organisation Springboard Enterprises to Australia and serves as its Chairman.
Mina is a Consultant in the Sydney office of Egon Zehnder International, a global executive search firm. Operating in 38 countries with 64 offices, Egon Zehnder International is one of the top three global executive search firms worldwide.
Her previous roles as Vice President, HSBC Global Key Accounts, Mastercard; as Head of Partnerships, Credit Cards & Consumer Lending, Citibank; and the various positions she held American Express, Global Network Services Business Development, UK, Singapore & Australia have given her the tools and experience needed to be a successful and well respected leader in her field.
Mina holds an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Sydney, Australia and a Bachelor of Arts Joint Honours Economics & Geography from University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Anne-Marie Birkill
Anne-Marie Birkill is General Partner & Executive Director of One-Ventures, a VC focussed on early stage technology innovation opportunities. She is a member of the Australian Government’s expert committee for Innovation Australia’s $200 million Clean Technology Innovation Program. Anne-Marie has forged a career in the field of technology commercialisation. She has worked with hundreds of early-stage technology companies as senior executive, mentor and business coach. Prior to joining OneVentures she was CEO of i.lab Incubator Pty Ltd (2006 Australian Incubator of the Year and launch pad for many successful Queensland technology companies including Liquid Animation, Mooter Media (ASX: MMZ), Codesion, Ephox, RedFlow Limited (ASX:RFX) and Charm Health), President of the Women in Technology group; and spent five years in the senior management team at UniQuest (The University of Queensland’s award winning commercialisation company).
Topaz has over 20 years experience working with early-stage companies across a number of industries, including starting and growing three companies herself, working in venture capital, and being CEO of Cytopeia Inc. and Biothoughts Inc. Having worked in hi-tech, biotech, and even the wine industry, her key recent focus has been in the biotech arena, guiding companies through investment, development, TGA & FDA, manufacturing, product launch and exit, in the US and Australian markets.
Currently Topaz works with Commercialisation Australia as a Case Manager, is a Director of Paftec Pty Ltd, is a graduate of AICD, and is committed to being part of changing innovation in Australia as a Director of Springboard Enterprises Australia.
Graduating in 1993 with an Economics and Accounting degree from a Sydney University, Paul initially specialised in Recovery and Reorganisation obtaining extensive experience in a range of corporate assignments and distressed asset transactions. Looking to expand his skills and obtain an international perspective, Paul relocated to the United Kingdom in 2000 spending four years with a London based accounting firm in their Mergers and Acquisitions division working for a wide variety of European clients focusing on private equity backed buyout transactions and divestment processes. Since joining Grant Thornton in 2005, Paul has led numerous acquisition, fund raising and divestment processes across a diverse range of industries. Paul has also previously co-founded and assisted a boutique financial services firm through its early and development stages, giving him a true client perspective when advising on assignments.
Rosemary O'Connor
Rosemary has an extensive background in university management. Her primary interests are entrepreneurship, innovation and new venture creation and development.
At RMIT University, she founded the RMIT Business Plan Competition, now the largest program of its type in Australia, and the RMIT Entrepreneur in Residence program, which is unique in Australia. Both programs have won national awards for excellence.
Rosemary has designed, developed and managed numerous programs to foster collaboration between universities and the business sector.
From July 2012, Rosemary will become an independent consultant focussing on entrepreneurship, innovation and business growth.
Bill Trestrail is owner of Market Momentum Pty Ltd which has been established to assist owners of early stage technology companies. He has extensive senior executive experience in hi-tech and research environments in Australia and internationally.
Previously Bill was vice President, of SGI Asia Pacific. As such he was responsible for all operations of SGI in this region and also the Area General Manager of Silicon Graphics Pty Ltd Australia, New Zealand and Southern ASEAN.
Before joining the computer industry he was a charted accountant and worked for KPMG Peats and KMG Hungerfords in general practice and IT consulting.
On April 2009 Bill was appointed to the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) commercialisation committee, to review and oversight the commercialisation of the UTS research IP. Bill is also on the board of Business Life Australia and Chairs the advisory board of Resonate Solutions Pty Ltd.
