Where does Les Delaforce work?

Les Delaforce is Venture Partner at Melt Ventures.

Where did Les Delaforce go to school?

Les Delaforce studied at Australian Institute of Company Directors (Company Directors Course); Curtin University (Master of Business Administration - MBA); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program).

Les Delaforce

Investor

Venture Partner at Melt Ventures · Research and Development at Rio Tinto Ventures

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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About

Les Delaforce leads research and development initiatives at Rio Tinto focused on artificial intelligence, robotics, and environmental analytics. He is a venture partner at Melt Ventures and non-executive director of AIM WA, with prior experience as founder and chief executive of a venture-backed AI data analytics company that exited in 2019. Delaforce previously managed innovation and technology portfolios at Minderoo and serves on several government and industry boards.

Experience

Rio TintoResearch and Developmentcurrent2024 — present
Melt VenturesVenture Partnercurrent2022 — present
AIM WABoard Membercurrent2026 — present
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and InnovationWA Aboriginal Business, Trade and Investment Board - Advisory Board Membercurrent2023 — present
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and TradeAustralian Advisory Board Member2025 — 2026
Minderoo FoundationHead of Indigenous Entrepreneurship & Impact Projects2020 — 2024Perth, WA
Water CorporationHead of Innovation2020 — 2021
DreamSpark CoManaging Director2018 — 2021Greater Perth Area
Tank Stream LabsState Director2018 — 2020Perth, Australia
CovocateCo-Founder & Managing Director2015 — 2019
Government of Western AustraliaWA State Government – Various roles2009 — 2015

Skills & more

Social Entrepreneurship4Innovation Consulting3Executive Development1New Business DevelopmentStrategic PartnershipsBusiness TransformationStartupsPartnershipsInnovation DevelopmentInvestment Strategies1Digital TransformationStrategic Corporate Philanthropy

+12 more

Organizational LeadershipStrategic LeadershipGovernmentChange ManagementStrategyProgram ManagementStakeholder EngagementProject ManagementBudgetsStrategic PlanningManagementTeam Leadership

Company Directors Course — Australian Institute of Company Directors
Design-Led Strategy: Design thinking for business strategy and entrepreneurship — University of Sydney

From Les's professional profile.

Colleagues at Melt Ventures

Alan Spicer

Operations & Governance at Melt Ventures

Clint Bruin

Engineer in Residence at Melt Ventures

Hamish Rogers

Analyst at Melt Ventures

James Douglas

Venture Partner at Melt Ventures

Jason Faulkner

Venture Partner at Melt Ventures

Nathan Kirchner

Venture Partner at Melt Ventures

Paul Howdle

Venture Partner at Melt Ventures

Steph Hinds

Managing Partner at Melt Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Les Delaforce?: Les Delaforce leads research and development initiatives at Rio Tinto focused on artificial intelligence, robotics, and environmental analytics. He is a venture partner at Melt Ventures and non-executive director of AIM WA, with prior experience as founder and chief executive of a venture-backed AI data analytics company that exited in 2019. Delaforce previously managed innovation and technology portfolios at Minderoo and serves on several government and industry boards.
Where does Les Delaforce work?: Les Delaforce is Venture Partner at Melt Ventures.
Where did Les Delaforce go to school?: Les Delaforce studied at Australian Institute of Company Directors (Company Directors Course); Curtin University (Master of Business Administration - MBA); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program).