Fishburners, Australia’s largest startup community, is expanding its leadership team with the appointment of Majella Campbell as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The move comes on the heels of Fishburners’ strategic vision to expand and deepen its influence on the Australian startup ecosystem as it continues to advance innovation in Australia, aligning with the broader goals outlined by CEO Martin Karafilis earlier this year.
Campbell served as Fishburners’ former Head of Product, where she played a crucial role in shaping the organisation’s product development strategies and growth. Her extensive background in technology positions her as a key player in executing the organisation’s goals of fostering innovation among startups.
“I am thrilled to announce Majella Campbell’s well-deserved promotion. Majella has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to our organisation’s mission. Her hands-on approach and visionary guidance played a key role in the success of our product development efforts. She brought a practical and collaborative mindset to the team, fostering innovation and ensuring our products met the dynamic needs of the market. Her promotion to Chief Operating Officer is a reflection of her proven ability to lead effectively and think strategically. I am confident that Majella will continue to bring valuable insights and drive initiatives that contribute to the ongoing success of Fishburners for many years to come,” said Karafilis.
Australia stands at the forefront of global innovation, and Fishburners, under the leadership of Martin Karafilis and Majella Campbell, continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future landscape of the startup ecosystem. As the country’s leading startup community and the voice for early stage companies, Fishburners remains focused on empowering and nurturing the brightest minds, providing not just a space, but a thriving ecosystem for collaboration, mentorship, and growth.
“I’m honored to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer at Fishburners. I believe in the potential of startups to drive positive change in our country, and I’m excited to contribute even further to an organisation that is dedicated to supporting and fostering innovation from the earliest stages and beyond,” said Campbell.
“Despite challenging market conditions for a lot of startups, Fishburners has seen significant growth over the last year. I’m excited for the startups in the space at the moment, where I’m able to witness first hand their ability to seize opportunities in the current market conditions and truly start to thrive,” said Karafilis. “There’s something special about having an entrepreneurial team that live and breathe startups, Majella is a fantastic case of someone who can offer support and insights unlike many others through her lived experience and startup knowledge. Ultimately creating the best support system we can for our co-working space, digital products, events, programs resources and education.”
Founded in 2011, Fishburners has been a cornerstone in Australia’s startup ecosystem, supporting over 45,000 founders, aiding Aussie startups to raise over $600M of capital, creating thousands of jobs, and providing resources, events, education and workspaces for innovators across Australia. As the largest and leading startup community, an anchor tenant of the Sydney Startup Hub, Fishburners continues to be a beacon for entrepreneurial endeavors.
The Australian startup community has seen notable success stories emerge from Fishburners, such as Koala, V2 Foods, MadPaws, Hyper Anna, Uber Car Share (formerly Car Next Door) and Jayride just to name a few.