Chair Profile
‘Business is hard, but it should also be fun. I’ve had a corporate career full of highs and lows and the highs have all involved forming and leading awesome leadership teams. By fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, I’ve helped organisations increase revenue and improve employee engagement, consistently enabling CEOs and business owners to achieve significant business outcomes.’
David Francis is a seasoned executive and director with a corporate career spanning over two decades, leading technology and professional services organisations across Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. His extensive experience in these regions has honed his skills in strategic leadership and business optimisation.
As an advisor and business consultant, David has partnered with CEOs and business owners from a diverse range of industries to design and implement business strategies that drive growth and reduce risk. His strategic insights and practical approach have consistently delivered market-beating growth and successful M&A outcomes, having been involved in over ten acquisitions on both the acquirer and acquired sides.
David is a credentialled and experienced executive coach, with over 500 hours logged in CEO and leadership coaching. His coaching focuses on building confidence and executive effectiveness in CEOs and business owners in both public and private companies. His coaching methodology fosters leadership development, succession planning, and investor readiness, ensuring that leaders are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of their roles.
Career Highlights
- 20+ years of experience in leadership roles in major public and private companies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK
- Supporting successful M&A outcomes through more than ten acquisitions.
- Designing and delivering winning pitches to private equity and venture capital.
- Forming and leading high performing executive teams and advisory boards for small and mid-sized businesses