Episode Summary:
Malcolm Turnbull was the 29th Prime Minister of Australia between 2015 – 2018, in which time he launched the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA), which aimed to drive innovation and Australia’s startup ecosystem. Malcolm also has a long history of investing in and founding companies, having established an investment banking firm in 1987, as well as becoming a partner of Goldman Sachs in 1998. Since leaving parliament in 2018, Malcolm has returned to the world of business, and has joined the board of directors of Kasada, an Australian cybersecurity company. In his conversation with Adam, Malcolm discusses his belief that innovation has become a “no-no word” in Australian federal politics over the last several years, and what he would do to promote innovation were he to have a second shot as prime minister.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:30 Meet Malcolm Turnbull
00:43 Malcolm's Early Involvement with Tech Companies
01:52 Challenges in Raising Funds for OzEmail
03:11 Changes in Investor Confidence in the Tech Sector
03:50 Malcolm's Entrepreneurial Journey
06:25 Transition from Law to Business
08:31 Focus on Innovation in Politics
10:29 The National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA)
12:34 Outcomes of NISA
13:44 Cultural Challenges in Government Regarding Innovation
14:42 Aspirations for a Second Wave of NISA
16:54 Current State of the Australian Tech Ecosystem
18:41 Future Focus for Government Investment in Research
20:39 Encouraging Use of Australian Technology
21:11 Importance of Innovation in Startups
23:16 Adapting to Rapid Change in the World
25:11 Closing Remarks and Future of the Startup Ecosystem