Fishburners welcomes Jason Maletic and Paul Umbrazunas to Board of Directors

Fishburners appoints leading VC and Tech M&A lawyer Jason Maletic and investment banker / fintech entrepreneur Paul Umbrazunas, to its Board

Sydney, May 2025 – Australia’s leading tech startup community, Fishburners, has announced the appointment of two new Non-Executive Directors— Jason Maletic and Paul Umbrazunas—to its Board, strengthening its leadership team as it prepares for an exciting period of change.

I am delighted to welcome Jason and Paul to the Board, as we embark on a bold new chapter” said Bilyana Smith, Chair of the Fishburners Board. “Jason and Paul bring not only deep expertise across venture capital, commercial law and global finance, but also a shared passion for innovation, startups and continuous transformation. Their appointment will further enhance Fishburners’ strategic capability and enable us to seize the opportunities ahead while strengthening our position as a cornerstone of the Australian startup ecosystem.”

Jason Maletic is one of the leading Venture Capital and Tech M&A lawyers in Australia having acted across some of the most prominent transactions in the industry. He has advised founders, Australia’s leading venture capital funds and ASX20 companies through capital raises, M&A, IPOs, and corporate venturing deals. Jason also brings strong governance credentials, including prior non-executive director experience and leadership in director education on duties and compliance. His strong networks in the Australian startup and investor community, combined with his expertise in private capital transactions and growth strategy, make him a perfect fit for Fishburners’ ambitions to scale and expand its reach.

Jason said: “Fishburners is one of the most important and influential organisations within the Sydney Tech entrepreneur ecosystem. I am delighted to be joining the board of Fishburners and I look forward to working with the team to help Fishburners—and our founder community—scale to new heights.”

Paul Umbrazunas is a highly experienced financial services executive and entrepreneur with a background in capital markets, risk management and portfolio management with global investment banks including as a Managing Director with Credit Suisse Australia and Deutsche Bank London. Now Executive Chairman of fintech platform Goodstack Australia, Paul has led major digital transformation projects, overseen complex risk management and governance initiatives, and advised startups and well established corporates on funding, growth and innovation strategies. His deep understanding of capital markets, corporate transformation, and emerging technology trends will be instrumental in guiding Fishburners through its next stage of evolution.

Paul said: “Having attended a number of Fishburners events over the years, I was captivated by the vibrancy and drive of its community, team and everyone involved. I am delighted and excited to join the board and bring my skills and experiences to help Fishburners achieve their ambitious goals.”

Commenting on the appointments, Fishburners CEO Majella Campbell said: “Jason and Paul join us at a defining moment. As we reimagine what startup support looks like in Australia, we need bold thinkers who understand both the scale of the opportunity and the pace required to meet it. They bring the kind of insight, experience and edge that will help shape not just the future of Fishburners, but the conditions founders build in across the country.”

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What's Happening in Fishburners

Opportunities to grow with Fishburners

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Fishburners appoints leading VC and Tech M&A lawyer Jason Maletic and investment banker / fintech entrepreneur Paul Umbrazunas, to its Board

Fishburners Announces CEO Transition as It Embarks on a New Era of Growth

Overcoming Early-Stage Anxiety: How Two Founders Went From Idea to MVP Fast

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