Tom Forbes
InvestorAssociate Director Commercialisation - Student & Early Stage Ventures at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Find your path to Tom
415 people in our graph share verified history with Tom — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
JillunlockedTom: together at Boeing (2011–2012)
×6Tom: together at Boeing
×4Tom: together at Queensland University of Technology
Tom: together at Australian Institute of Company Directors
About
Tom Forbes holds an Associate Director role in Commercialisation at Swinburne University of Technology, focusing on space, aerospace, and student ventures. He brings over 15 years of executive and CEO experience in SaaS businesses across rail, logistics, and terminals sectors, including a recent position as VP of Rail and Head of Strategic Business Development at Navis, where he expanded the rail sales pipeline and advanced the company's freight rail technology positioning. His background encompasses P&L management, high-growth strategy, talent development, and stakeholder relations.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Experience
- Swinburne University of TechnologyAssociate Director, Commercialisation: Space, Aerospace & Student Venturescurrent2026 — presentMelbourne, VIC
- Swinburne University of TechnologyHead of Commercialisation - Space, Aerospace and AI2023 — 2026Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- mDetectNon Executive Director2024 — 2026Melbourne, VIC
- NavisVP of Rail and Strategic Business Development2019 — 2023Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Navis RailChief Executive Officer2016 — 2020Chicago, Illinois, United States
- BiarriCEO2013 — 2016Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- JeppesenDirector of Business Management2008 — 2012Brisbane, Australia
- JeppesenBoard Member2008 — 2012
- JeppesenHead of Rail Product Management2007 — 2008
- JeppesenRegional Sales Manager, Asia2006 — 2007
- JeppesenSales Director2004 — 2005
- BoeingBoard Member, Boeing Australia2008 — 2012
- OzSoft LtdGeneral Manager2000 — 2004
- Digital Mapping SolutionsSupport Manager1999 — 2000
Skills & more
Profit & Loss Management1Digital MarketingSupply Chain Optimization1Railway SystemsRail Operations1Artificial Intelligence (AI)OptimizationStrategy Development2Solution Selling26P&L Management29Organizational Leadership14Transition Management3
+12 more
DivestituresBuilding RelationshipsStrategic ThinkingStrategyStart-upsCRMBusiness StrategyLeadershipManagementProject Portfolio ManagementBusiness DevelopmentAccount Management- Foundations of Directorship: Governance for Directors — Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Foundations of Directorship: Risk and Strategy for Directors — Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Foundations of Directorship: Finance for Directors — Australian Institute of Company Directors
From Tom's professional profile.
Colleagues at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Abhay Seth
Director of Commercial Innovation at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Alex Hadley
Manager, Intellectual Property Commercialisation at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Anu Mavilakandy
Manager, Intellectual Property Commercialisation at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Audrey Jean Baptiste
Head of Commercial Programs and Operations, Swinburne Innovation Studio at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Audrey Jean-Baptiste
Head of Commercial Programs, Swinburne at Climate Venture Capital Fund
Cynthia Bernard
Administration Support Officer at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Ge Li
Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Heath Evans
Associate Director, Climate Tech Hub at Swinburne Innovation Studio
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Tom Forbes?
- Tom Forbes holds an Associate Director role in Commercialisation at Swinburne University of Technology, focusing on space, aerospace, and student ventures. He brings over 15 years of executive and CEO experience in SaaS businesses across rail, logistics, and terminals sectors, including a recent position as VP of Rail and Head of Strategic Business Development at Navis, where he expanded the rail sales pipeline and advanced the company's freight rail technology positioning. His background encompasses P&L management, high-growth strategy, talent development, and stakeholder relations.
- Where does Tom Forbes work?
- Tom Forbes is Associate Director Commercialisation - Student & Early Stage Ventures at Swinburne Innovation Studio.
- Where did Tom Forbes go to school?
- Tom Forbes studied at Australian Institute of Company Directors (Member); QUT (Queensland University of Technology) (MBA, International Business); St Joseph's Nudgee College (High School).
Same school
Also attended Australian Institute of Company Directors199
John DysonInvestment Principal at Starfish VenturesHelen SounessVenture Partner at RampersandOliver RyanFinance and Operations at Skip CapitalTim HeasleyPartner at ArtesianKirsten BernhardtPrincipal at ArtesianJordan JeffreyPrincipal at Artesian
+ 193 more
Also attended QUT (Queensland University of Technology)91
Esther GilmoreGlobal Head of the Client Team at Generation Investment ManagementDon MeijEntrepreneur in Residence at StripesSam EdenInvestor at Square Peg CapitalAndrew PoesastePartner at RampersandFredrik BergenlidPartner at Fly VenturesReuben BramaInvestor at IDEO CoLab Ventures
+ 85 more
Also attended St Joseph's Nudgee College3
Shared employers
Also worked at Navis4
Also worked at Jeppesen2
Also worked at Boeing137
Jane MooneyCo-founder & VP, Strategy and Finance at Collaborative RoboticsJeff BabioneSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsJillExecutive Assistant at Thomson Reuters VenturesBrian BellFounder & Managing Partner at Team IgniteVeronica DaiglePresident, National Security Practice at Red Cell IncubationIlya TokhnerPartner - Strategic Partnerships at Ghaf Capital Partners
+ 131 more