David Ireland
InvestorPartner at Significant Ventures
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
About
A molecular biochemist with 15 years in early-stage innovation across renewable energy, behavioral science, and sustainability. Former GM at CSIRO with exits including RockingHorse Finance and ThinkAction.
Experience
- Cicada InnovationsNon Executive Directorcurrent2026 β presentGreater Canberra Area
- WWF-AustraliaNon Executive Directorcurrent2025 β present
- WWF-AustraliaGovernorcurrent2012 β present
- Additive AssuranceNon Executive Directorcurrent2023 β presentMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Vantari VRBoard Observercurrent2023 β presentCanberra
- Significant VenturesPartnercurrent2023 β presentCanberra
- The Australian National UniversityHonorary Professorcurrent2022 β presentCanberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- UniQuest Extension FundInvestment Committee Membercurrent2022 β presentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- The Growth DriversCo-Founder and Managing Directorcurrent2019 β presentCanberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Radian EnergyCo-Founder and Director2019 β 2025Australia
- ThinkActionCo-founder and Director2017 β 2023Washington D.C. Metro Area
- NSW CircularNon Executive Director2019 β 2022New South Wales, Australia
- PentaQuestCo-founder and Director2018 β 2022Australia
- Rocking Horse GroupCo-founder and Director2015 β 2022Sydney, Australia
- The University of QueenslandAdjunct Professor2017 β 2021Australia
- Kinetic Pressure ControlAdvisory Board Member2016 β 2021Delaware, USA
- NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA)Technical Review Committee Member2019New South Wales, Australia
- ThinkPlaceChief Innovation Officer2016 β 2019Canberra, Australia
- ThinkPlaceBoard Member2015 β 2016Canberra, Australia
- XPRIZEJudge2017 β 2019
Education
- Stanford UniversityVisiting Scholar - Fulbright Fellow
- AGSM @ UNSW Business SchoolGraduate Certificate, Organizational Leadership2013
- Vocational Language Learning CentreArabic - Certificate 22013 β 2015
- Australian Institute of Company DirectorsGAICD
- The University of QueenslandPhD, Biotechnology and Business Management2004 β 2007
- The University of QueenslandBachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honours, Biochemistry2002
- The University of QueenslandBSc/BBus, Drug Design and Development1998 β 2001
- Brisbane Boys'β College1993 β 1997
Skills & more
Analysis12Strategy31Management23Leadership9Strategic Planning13Translational Research2Economics of Innovation1Impact Investing1Venture CapitalInvestment StrategiesRisk ManagementCorporate Governance
+12 more
Due DiligenceStrategic PartnershipsBusiness PlanningBiotechnologyResearchSustainabilityManagement ConsultingContract NegotiationBusiness DevelopmentCommercializationPolicyFundraisingLanguages Arabic Β· English
From David's professional profile.
Colleagues at Significant Ventures
Fiona Hindmarsh
General Partner at Significant Ventures
Michele Troni
Partner at Significant Ventures
Nina Kuzmina
Principal at Significant Ventures
Peter Hodgson
Independent Chair at Significant Ventures
Rachel Zhao
Investment Analyst at Significant Ventures
Richard Cawsey
Investment Committee at Significant Ventures
Steve Hardy
Investment Committee at Significant Ventures
Tejas Tagra
Investment Team at Significant Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Where does David Ireland work?
- David Ireland is Partner at Significant Ventures.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; PCAST co-chair; former White House AI & crypto czarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,994 more
Also attended AGSM @ UNSW Business School27
Guy HedleyCo-Founder & Partner at Stoic VCKylie FrazerCo-Founder at Flying Fox VenturesNate WilliamsFounder, Managing Partner at UNION Labs VenturesMatthew KoertgeManaging Director at Titanium VenturesCharlie IllCEO at Investible Climate Tech FundLorenzo ManesHead of Operations at Rialto Ventures
+ 21 more
Also attended The University of Queensland114
Giuseppe IademarcoHead of Global Partnership at P101 VenturesJasmine BettesInvestor at Reinventure GroupEsther GilmoreGlobal Head of the Client Team at Generation Investment ManagementNilay ThakarPrincipal at ARCH Venture PartnersZenetta BurgerPartner at Giant Ventures Global LlpCherie ChouHead of Corporate Development at TNBAura
+ 108 more
Shared employers
Also worked at The Australian National University19
Gordon RausserAdvisory Board Member at Rembrandt Venture PartnersPrathamesh JainInvestor at A91 PartnersAlex SmolaCEO and Co-Founder of Boson AI at PICUS CAPITALAakash JainPartner - North America, Europe, & LatAm at VU Venture PartnersArjan van der HoutExecutive Director at Rabo Corporate VenturingElaine SteadPrincipal at Main Sequence Ventures
+ 13 more
Also worked at The University of Queensland22
Taryn PietersePartner at RampersandSean MishraSenior Associate at Neu CapitalAlec WatsonSenior Analyst at Neu CapitalPeter KambourisDirector, Element Zeta at TiE Women Global Pitch CompetitionHayley FittlerInvestment Associate at NextGen VenturesBeliz OzturkInvestment Associate at Shearwater Capital
+ 16 more
Also worked at CSIRO31
Sakura HollowayInvestment Director at Future Planet CapitalCindy StewartAdvisor at Siddhi CapitalTracieAdvisor at Skalata VenturesMichelle DeakerFounding Partner and Managing Director at OneVenturesBill BarteeManaging Partner at Main Sequence VenturesMike ZimmermanPartner at Main Sequence Ventures
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