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Wayne Gerard

Founder & CEO at Partner Ventures (Prtnr)

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Wayne Gerard

About Wayne Gerard

Wayne Gerard is founder and chief executive of Partner Ventures (Prtnr), an Australian investment business that invests in technology, financial services, property and infrastructure. He also hosts 7 Questions, Prtnr's podcast of conversations with Australian founders and investors.

He spent 10 years as an Army officer before joining Boeing. He co-founded RedEye, an engineering information platform for large asset owners, which was acquired by US industrial technology company Fortive in December 2023. Gerard was Queensland's Chief Entrepreneur in 2021–22, was engaged by QIC in 2023 to establish the Venture Capital Development Fund, is an Adjunct Professor at QUT, and sits on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Committee.

On Day One's History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem, he argued that attracting talent into the startup ecosystem is mission critical.

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4 episodes

Start hereWayne Gerard says attracting talent into the startup ecosystem is “mission critical”His own interview, recorded while he ran RedEye, on why attracting talent is mission critical for Australian startups.

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 3

With Michael Batko, Petr Adámek, Peter Devine, Rohit Bhargava, Terry Hilsberg, Peter Bradd, Zrinka Tokic, Rachael Neumann, Zoe Piper, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Murray Hurps, Rachel Yang, Yolanda Redrup, Peta Ellis, Sarah Pearson, Niki Scevak, Colin Kinner, Mark Pesce, Colette Grgic, Ian Gardiner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Melissa Widner, Cameron Adams, Georgie Turner, Baden U'Ren, Evan Thornley, Alan Noble, Kate Jones, Kate Cornick, James Alexander, Dharmica Mistry, Emily Rich, Lars Rasmussen

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 5

With Mark Pesce, Steve Grace, Eloise Hall, Isobel Marshall, Darryl Lyons, Megan Sebben, Phil Ireland, Sam Jockel, Samantha Finnegan, Arthur Sinodinos, Peter Devine, Tim Fung, Peter Tippett, Trevor Folsom, Dean McEvoy, Moira Were, Kate Jones, Daniel Flynn, Mick Liubinskas, Peter Bradd, Rachael Neumann, Chad Renando, Annie Parker, Aaron Birkby, Rachel Yang, Melissa Widner, Sarah Pearson, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, Bruce Tulloch, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner, Niki Scevak

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 6

With Leslie Delaforce, Darryl Lyons, Megan Sebben, Nicole O'Brien, 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

Go straight to the good bits.

Key moments from Wayne Gerard says attracting talent into the startup ecosystem is “mission critical”.

  1. 0:19Special Interview Series Introduction
  2. 0:34Meet Wayne Gerard
  3. 1:14Role as Chief Entrepreneur of Queensland
  4. 2:01Wayne's Background and Journey to Entrepreneurship
  5. 3:03Transition from Army to Boeing
  6. 4:54Building RedEye
  7. 5:47Entrepreneurial Mindset and Key Questions
  8. 8:05Importance of Total Addressable Market
  9. 9:01Evolution of the Startup Ecosystem in Australia
  10. 10:43Catalysts for Growth in the Startup Ecosystem

In their own words.

“You can't force this stuff. Founders are going to do what founders do.”
Wayne Gerard — Wayne Gerard says attracting talent into the startup ecosystem is “mission critical”The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · 13 September 2022

The path so far.

  1. Now

    Founder & CEO · Partner Ventures (Prtnr)

  2. 2012–2023 · Scale-up

    Co-founder & CEO · RedEye

  3. Earlier

    Early career role · Boeing

  4. Earlier

    Army Officer · Australian Army

Sources: podcasts.apple.com, aicd.com.au

Partner Ventures (Prtnr) on Day One

Partner Ventures, also known as Prtnr, is an Australian firm that invests in and helps build companies focused on sustainable innovation.

1 person · 4 episodes
Partner Ventures (Prtnr)

Across the network.

Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026

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