Annie Parker to run Tech Central

News | The Greater Sydney Commission today announced two exceptional Executive Directors to lead the delivery of the Tech Central and Westmead Health and Innovation Districts.

Following an international search process, Annie Parker and Liza Noonan have been appointed to lead the delivery of the Tech Central and Westmead Districts respectively.

Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Mildwater said,

“Annie is a globally recognised startup ecosystem leader, having built multiple startup programs around the world for Microsoft, Telefonica and Telstra. She is also an advocate for equity and inclusion, which she led in her most recent role in the Startups team at Microsoft, and she has built programs that grow the broader community, teaching technology and entrepreneurial skills to communities that need them.

“Liza comes to us from CSIRO where she was Director Company Creation, Director Global and leader of the ON Accelerator, Australia’s first national science and technology accelerator supporting publicly funded research achieve real world impact faster.

“She was the founding CEO of Springboard Enterprises Australia and spent over ten years at Alcatel-Lucent (now Nokia) in senior strategy and innovation management roles spanning UK, European and Asia-Pacific markets.

“These appointments come at a critical time as we plan for Greater Sydney’s future. Knowledge intensive industries will fuel our future economy, attracting investment and talent. These industries need cities that can deliver a concentration of talent, infrastructure and ideas. Greater Sydney’s innovation precincts will be home to world-class research and cutting-edge companies, supporting outstanding research, innovation and collaboration,” Ms Mildwater said.

“And our innovation districts are more than just places to work. As magnets for talent and investment, they must be great places to live, and diverse and vibrant centres of creativity and culture, leisure and innovation,” she said.

“Together with the signature buildings and vibrant public spaces that come with them, each centre needs a sense of place, the right balance of work hubs and housing outcomes, and the necessary amenities surrounding them.”

“I’m thrilled that this opportunity has lured two extraordinary women back to Sydney and look forward to working with Annie and Liza to realise the enormous potential of Tech Central and Westmead,” she said.