The Tech Council of Australia CEO steps down

The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) has lost its CEO with Kate Pounder announcing her resignation, citing family health matters and choosing to limit travel commitments.

Australia’s peak body for the tech sector stated on Monday Pounder will step down from the role in early February. 

Recruitment for a replacement is already underway while Ryan Black, head of public policy at the TCA, will act as CEO while the search is carried out.

 Members of the TCA board are expected to farewell Pounder with members in an official event later this January. 

Pounder said, “I feel so incredibly privileged to have led this organisation for the past three years.” 

“I hope to continue to champion the industry in a personal capacity and look forward to watching the organisation grow and continue its impact by elevating and championing our incredible tech sector,” Pounder said. 

Pounder will stay based in Canberra as she supports a family health-related matter. 

TCA board chair Robyn Denholm noted Pounder’s role in launching and cementing the TCA as a critical industry body and raising the profile of the tech sector in Australia. 

“Over the last three years, Kate has worked tirelessly to ensure that the tech sector has a strong and unified voice on the national stage,” Denholm said.

“She has built a formidable team, bringing together policy, advocacy and building a large and diverse member ecosystem.” 

“The board thanks Kate for her contribution and looks forward to her remaining a close ally of the sector,” Denholm said.

 Pounder recently backed the federal government’s plan to introduce mandatory guardrails for AI development, stating the “approach is the best way to balance innovation with the need to ensure that AI is developed safely and responsibly.”

 Before the TCA, Pounder was managing director at Accenture for close to a year and a half and has experience working across multiple global consulting firms.