Technology innovator returns to Australia to lead CSIRO

Dr Larry Marshall has been appointed the new chief executive of the CSIRO, bringing  25 years’ experience as an international technology entrepreneur and founder of six successful US companies in biotechnology, photonics, telecommunications and semiconductors.

“Dr Marshall has an impeccable record as a scientist, a technology innovator and business leader,” said the chairman of the CSIRO board, Simon McKeon.

“His wealth of experience in developing and applying science and technology makes him an excellent fit.

“The chief executive of CSIRO is probably the most important position in national science administration, so we conducted an extensive global search for an innovative scientist with strong business leadership qualities, and more than 70 candidates were considered.

“Dr Marshall combines commercial and scientific credentials with extensive global experience, making him the world class leader we were seeking for CSIRO.

“The board is confident that Dr Marshall will lead CSIRO in a manner which ensures that it continues to provide advice of the highest quality to government as well as provide best practice collaboration with the private sector.”

McKeon also thanked current chief executive Dr Megan Clark for her leadership of CSIRO for the past six years. Dr Clark will leave CSIRO at the end of December this year. Dr Marshall will join CSIRO in January 2015.

“Dr Clark leaves CSIRO with a legacy to be proud of, most notably for her long-term commitment to the global competitiveness of Australian science through the establishment of research precincts; and to major knowledge infrastructure projects such as the new research vessel,” McKeon said.

Dr Marshall was educated at Macquarie University (Sydney) where he took a doctorate in physics. He began his career in the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and has 25 years’ experience as an international technology entrepreneur and holds 20 patents protecting commercial products generating over $200m in revenue. He’s also an entrepreneur, raising over $100m in funding and creating companies with over $1bn in market cap, and an investor with $400m under management. He has lived in the US for 25 years.

Dr Marshall is managing director of Southern Cross Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, Shanghai and Sydney, specialising in growing Australian technology companies in Asia and US. He has a longstanding partnership with SoftBank China, China’s most successful VC firm, and co-manages the Renewable Energy Fund, founded in 2012, with them. He founded and/or was CEO of Light Solutions, Iridex, Iriderm, Lightbit, Translucent, AOC, Arasor and the Renewable Energy Fund; driving two of them to successful IPOs.

He currently sits on the boards of Mocana, Quantenna, Wave, Nitero, SBA, Advance, SXVP, REVCF and Laser Focus World, and serves as chairman of RIO, Crossfiber and Advance Innovation. He is co-chairman of Blackbird and Brismat. He is a passionate supporter of Australian innovation and Australian entrepreneurs.