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Nicole O'Brien

Nicole O'Brien

CEO at Fishburners

Startup Support

Nicole O'Brien is a highly experienced executive leader and social entrepreneur based in the Greater Sydney Area, Australia. She currently serves as the Director of Operations at the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC). With a strong background in building meaningful brands, marketing, communications, commercialization, financial management, and sustainability initiatives, Nicole is known for her strategic and hands-on approach. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Macquarie University, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Nicole has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people and communities through collaborative problem-solving to achieve sustainable growth and impact. Her previous roles include CEO of Fishburners, Director of Corporate Services at ACON, and Non-Executive Director at the AIDS Trust of Australia.

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In their own words

From Nicole O’Brien: The startup ecosystem is overwhelmingly positive · The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series
Surround yourself by other smart people. People that have been there before, that have got skills that can fill in some of those skills gaps you might not have.
▶ Nicole O’Brien: The startup ecosystem is overwhelmingly positive

Career

  1. Now CEO · Fishburners
  2. Until 2019 Company Secretary; Head of Strategic & Business Planning, Co · ACON Health
  3. Earlier Director of Marketing · YWCA NSW

Sources: thebusinessconversation.com.au

Key moments

Jump straight to the part of Nicole O’Brien: The startup ecosystem is overwhelmingly positive you want.

  1. 0:29 Meet Nicole O'Brien
  2. 0:35 Nicole's Role at Fishburners
  3. 0:56 Involvement in the Startup Ecosystem
  4. 2:20 Comparison with Silicon Valley
  5. 3:03 Australia's Investment Landscape
  6. 3:33 Right Track for the Community
  7. 4:26 Limitations of Isolation
  8. 5:34 Technology Bridging Gaps
  9. 6:40 Unique Aspects of Australian Entrepreneurs
  10. 7:28 Nurturing Entrepreneurial Mindset

Heard on

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Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem · 19 December 2022 The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 6 With Leslie Delaforce, Darryl Lyons, Megan Sebben, Wayne Gerard, Alex Carpenter, Evan Thornley, Baden U'Ren, Tim Fung, Trevor Folsom, Peter Davison, Craig Swann, Moira Were, Colette Grgic, Allan O'Connor, Rachael Neumann, Chad Renando, Annie Parker, Brendan Hill, Aaron Birkby, Malcolm Turnbull, Jodie Fox, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Yolanda Redrup, Andrew Nunn, Melissa Widner, Alfred Lo, Sarah Pearson, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner, Niki Scevak
▶
The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · 8 March 2022 Nicole O’Brien: The startup ecosystem is overwhelmingly positive

Fishburners on Day One

Fishburners Fishburners is Australia's largest startup ecosystem, supporting over 1,000 entrepreneurs annually through both physical and online platforms. 2 people · 4 episodes →

Connections

Spot something wrong? Suggest a correction Updated 25 September 2026

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