In Episode 36, “Onwards and Upwards”, Blenheim Partners‘ Gregory Robinson speaks to Adrian Turner, a technologist and successful entrepreneur who was the Co-Founder of Borondi Group and Mocana Corporation, a smartphone and Internet of Things security company based in Silicon Valley. He was also the Founding CEO of CSIRO’s Data61, Australia’s largest data innovation network, and is Co-Chair of The Australian Cyber Security Growth Network. Adrian was the Chairman of Australia’s expat network, Advance.org, helping it grow from just over a thousand Australians in New York City to a network of 24,000 across 83 countries. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Digital Economy. A person who makes things happen, Adrian is currently working with Andrew Forrest and the Minderoo Foundation and leads the Minderoo Wildfire and Disaster Resilience Program.
Adrian gives us a rare insight into his Silicon Valley experience and how it all came together, sharing stories about the challenges of raising capital, bootstrapping a company to move forward, and the beginnings of tech giants and their founders who are now household names. We learn about the speed of decision making, the incredible spirit of entrepreneurship and the acceptance of failure as part of the journey. Greg and Adrian discuss his return to Australia armed with ideas, the desire to pay it forward and the tremendous success of Data61.
Adrian’s forward-thinking attitude has made him a pioneer in his industry, and in this discussion, we hear about his vision: his next venture and the new industries about to emerge. We also find out more about his role in the Minderoo Foundation to lead the development of a globally-relevant national blueprint for fire and disaster resilience, having fought the fires up close and how a crisis can be an opportunity in disguise.

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