Edtech platform Edrolo hires David Wright as new CEO

Australian edtech and educational resources company, Edrolo has appointed STEM and SaaS leader David Wright as its new CEO.

According to the edtech platform it has hired Wright to help spearhead its next growth phase.

A 30-year industry veteran, Wright said he has a deep commitment to advancing education and making it more accessible. He has extensive experience in scaling technology, particularly SaaS businesses, into global successes.  

He serves as Chair of the NSW Next Generation STEM Fund, acts as an advisor to CSIRO, and is the former Vice-President of Macquarie University. Wright will also join Edrolo’s board as a director.

Wright said he and Edrolo share the same fundamental belief that as a society we can do much better to prepare every young person for future success, and support every teacher to bring back joy to teaching.

“We are at a tipping point where the gaps in the future needs of teachers and students are now clear and measured progress is being made in other countries,” he said.

“I have seen firsthand that evolving technology like Edrolo’s can simultaneously and fundamentally improve the outcomes of students, teachers, and schools. Our goal is to partner with schools to move Australia from unacceptably low levels of performance in international levels of skills and competencies to the very top. No small endeavour, but I believe it is absolutely achievable.” 

Duncan Anderson, co-founder at Edrolo said after a 12-month search, he is "delighted" to have someone like Wright on the team with his experience.

“Wright’s hire marks Edrolo’s shift from a founder-led to executive-led business. Along with his CEO duties - Wright will join the board as a director - and we have also commenced the search for an independent chairperson. We’re on a mission to truly change education for the better, and we’re moving one step closer with Wright’s appointment.”

Edrolo, backed by some of Australia’s venture capital firms, including Blackbird, Airtree and Aware Super, raised $40 million in Series B funding in June 2022 and has experienced strong growth in its ten years in market.

It has grown from three founders to almost 150 Edrollers, is trusted by over 250,000 students in over 1,100 schools across Australia - including some of the country’s most reputable academic institutions, and sold over 200,000 printed textbooks.

Edrolo was born out of an inherent need for high-quality, flexible resources which engage students and make teachers’ lives easier. It develops resources that are highly interactive, engaging and visual.