David Swan - tech editor of the Age and SMH talks about Scott Farquhar
For more than two decades Scott Farquhar and his Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes have been the most important duo in Australia’s burgeoning technology sector. Now Farquhar is going it alone, announcing that he will step down as co-chief executive of Atlassian.
It’s not a stretch to say that what the entrepreneur does next will help determine the future success of the local industry, which has billions of dollars and thousands of jobs riding on its back.
Farquhar is just 44, has a cashed-up venture capital vehicle and an interest in fostering new generations of talent. “After 23 years, it’s time to pursue some other passions I have,” he told investors on last month’s earnings call.
“Specifically philanthropy, investing, and to help grow and build the global technology industry.”
He is a mentor to some of the leaders of other billion-dollar tech businesses: Canva’s Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht consider him a close friend, as does SafetyCulture chief executive Luke Anear.
Anear, whose business itself is now worth almost $3 billion, says what started out as a mentorship became a friendship over time. “Building a business is lonely ... there aren’t many people you can completely confide in, and Scott has been that person for me,” he says.
“Scott is many things to many people, but first and foremost, he is a family person. He cares deeply about his family, and even though they have had to make sacrifices to allow Scott to travel so much, he has set the example for balancing work and home life for the entire industry.”
As Anear puts it, of the Atlassian founders, Mike is the risk-taking visionary, and Scott is the more conservative realist.
“Scott is a nerd at heart, which means he goes deep on details. His knowledge of legislative frameworks and tax implications is as good as most specialised lawyers. He holds court with prime ministers and the highest dignitaries in the land, and his understanding of how technology can positively impact society is second to none.
“Without Scott, Mike, and their work at Atlassian, Australia’s technology industry would be a decade behind. It’s hard to quantify the tens of thousands of jobs, families, and lives that have benefited from Scott’s actions, but it’s fair to say that his impact on the world has been significant.”
Farquhar’s impending departure also ends one of corporate Australia’s great experiments: could two best friends successfully co-parent a company?
The answer, for two decades, was a resounding yes.
Read more in David’s weekend feature for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
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