Dr. Larry Marshall is a Silicon Valley veteran, who has been CEO of 6 hi‐tech global companies, & currently chairs the American Chamber of Commerce. Larry is a scientist, entrepreneur & business leader experienced in creating new value from innovation. He invented the “eye‐safe” laser which enabled lasers to be used safely in public. He also invented the world’s first solid‐state green laser to treat blindness in diabetics, & enabled the Nasdaq IPO of Iridex. He took telecommunications company Arasor public, tripling its value. He was MD of Southern Cross Ventures, where he delivered the first Nasdaq IPO of an Australian‐venture backed start‐up commercialising science. He founded Australia’s 1st Cleantech VC with Softbank, and co‐founded Blackbird Australia’s most successful tech VC. He was the longest serving Chief Executive of CSIRO, playing a pivotal role in Australia’s response to the 2019 catastrophic bushfires & the COVID‐19 pandemic including the production of Australia’s first vaccine.
Under his leadership, CSIRO doubled the number of female & first nations staff, reaching 44% women in leadership – this diversity drove CSIRO’s innovation strategy, reversing its 30y decline & added $5B to the value it delivers annually. He led its first acquisition, created the national accelerator ON, largest Data science group, & Health science group, & first VC fund inside government now a global top decile $B fund. He increased pure science funding 400% to over $400m, which delivered innovation solutions to 30% of Australia’s emissions, & an 80% reduction in CSIRO’s own enterprise emissions. This nearly doubled CSIRO’s relative public trust making it Australia’s most trusted iconic brand. For the first time Thomspon Reuters ranked CSIRO in the World’s Top 20 innovation organisations, its first Australian entity.
Larry has served on 20 boards of global high‐tech companies & is a Fellow of Institute of Company Directors. He has a PhD in Physics, holds 20 patents & became a global leader in laser research, honoured as a Federation Fellow, & a Fellow of Academy of Technology & Engineering, & Institute of Physics Fellow. He is an inaugural member of STEM Champion of Change committed to tackling gender equality. He is a passionate supporter of the power of science & technology to drive the future prosperity & sustainability of Australia.
