Justine Lum and Maxine Lee
About Skalata

Venture capital
for the real world

Big Picture

Create something worthwhile

We started Skalata to help founders build the next generation of great companies. The ones that create the jobs, industries, and the strong, diversified economies of the future. The ones that have a net positive impact – not just on the economy – but their community. They act as a force for good.

Building capability

Capital is a commodity. Everyone has a network. But the highest leverage investment we can make in a company is helping to build long-term capability through our founder support model.

Playing the long game

Navigating a company through the seed stage isn't linear or straightforward. We help founders overcome short-term challenges, while ensuring they don’t jeopardise their ability to achieve long-term success.
“Supporting companies with the ability to scale will create a sustainable, progressive Australian economy.”
Paul Little AO
Skalata Chairman
Paul Little AO
Our Values

What we stand for

We're proud critics of the status quo

We’re firm believers in the power of partnerships and have created a different VC model that includes those who share our vision and want to play a part. This allows us to access the capabilities of our university, corporate and government partners to help increase our impact.

We're about substance over hype

We love to work with people that possess a combination of confidence and humility. Every company has problems, but if you can’t see them, you won’t address them. We value long-term, sustainable growth rather that growth at all costs and hype machines.

We raise the bar

We’re not afraid to admit that we have high standards and believe that the benchmark can always be higher. We’re inquisitive and open minded and embrace feedback as an opportunity to improve.

We're kind & generous

Generosity and kindness are what ties everything together. Yes, we pursue excellence, yes we can have rigorous debates about how to improve but this is always done in the right way. We care about each other and are always respectful.

We're ethical, above all

Founders, investors and partners trust us with their companies, their capital and their reputation. We know this is a privilege, and act accordingly.
Partners

In our corner

If you want to grow for the long term, you can’t do it alone. Our partnership model brings together university, corporate and government partners to support our vision.
Team & Board

Meet the people behind the people

We’re a close-knit, collaborative group who have helped build and advise hundreds of companies at the seed stage here and around the world. When you work with Skalata, you work with all of us.
Rohan Workman

Rohan Workman

Co-founder & CEO

Rohan has been an integral part of the Australian startup ecosystem for over a decade as a founder, investor, advisor and director. He is responsible for fund strategy, portfolio construction, and overall investment fund performance.

Maxine Lee

Maxine Lee

COO

Maxine has been advising and investing in seed-stage companies for over a decade. She is responsible for Skalata's deal sourcing strategy, selection process and ensuring high-quality investment decisions are made.

Anthony Glenning

Anthony Glenning

Fund Manager

Anthony is a seasoned investment professional and Non-Executive Director with a career spanning over 25 years in the software development industry, 14 of those in California's Silicon Valley.

Paul Mann

Paul Mann

CFO

Paul has an extensive background in financial services gained in Australia and the UK. This includes 14 years of experience as CFO and acting MD of the Future Fund.

Sarah Abendschein

Sarah Abendschein

Administration Manager

Sarah has extensive startup and technology sector experience, having previously worked in San Francisco at Australian-founded PDF software company Nitro.

Tom Smalley

Tom Smalley

Investment Director

Tom brings a wealth of legal and financial experience to Skalata, having spent five years working for leading Australian corporate law firm King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) in the Corporate M&A team.

Justine Lum

Justine Lum

Head of Investor Relations

Justine brings a wealth of experience in both investment banking and law, having previously worked at Morgan Stanley, Macquarie Bank and international law firm, Ashurst.

Shahirah Gardner

Shahirah Gardner

Venture Partner

Shahirah is an award-winning entrepreneur and currently co-founder of Finch, a data intelligence company. She is one of Australia’s leading women in tech, and was recognised as the country’s “Rising Fintech Star” in 2018.

Claire Bristow

Claire Bristow

Senior Associate

Claire began her career in Academia, obtaining a PhD from Monash University where she went on to hold a Lecturer position. She previously founded her own startup, which scaled to a community of over 14,000 women.

Tuong Tran

Tuong Tran

Senior Associate

Tuong began his career in consulting at PwC, before moving to NAB where he provided finance to medium enterprises. He then founded two strategy design studios focused on delivering greater product-market fit for clients.

Rob Greco

Rob Greco

Senior Associate

Rob brings well-rounded startup experience, having worked at three startups in operations, sales and customer success roles across Australia and Canada.

Chris Camilleri

Chris Camilleri

Head of Operations

A certified Practising Accountant, Chris has held executive roles in Fund and Corporate Accounting. Prior to Skalata, Chris worked at the Future Fund as the Head of Finance.

Sam Henderson

Sam Henderson

Head of Marketing

Sam has over 10 years of international marketing experience, and has helped accelerate growth in both early-stage and ASX-listed financial and technology companies.

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Paul Little AO

Chairman

Paul has a wealth of experience building some of Australia’s most successful businesses. He is Founder and Chairman of the Little Group and has investments across a range of sectors including property and aviation.

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Linda Kristjanson AO

Director

Linda is a leading figure in the education sector with a career spanning three decades across Australia, Canada and the United States. She is the former Vice Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology.

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Martin Adams

Co-founder, Director & FARM Committee Chair

Martin has extensive experience in the strategic and operational management of high-tech global companies in a range of sectors including education, renewable energy & digital media.

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Sarah Morgan

Director & Investment Committee Chair

Sarah is an accomplished corporate advisor and board director. She is also Non-Executive Director at ASX-listed Nitro Software, Whispir, Adslot and Future Generation Global.

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James Crowe

Company Secretary & Advisor

James is a corporate partner at Norton Rose Fulbright specialising in technology-related M&A and venture capital. He has over 25 years’ experience at global firms in Australia and the US.

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Rohan Workman

Co-founder & CEO

Rohan has been an integral part of the Australian startup ecosystem for over a decade as a founder, investor, advisor and director. He is responsible for fund strategy, portfolio construction, and overall investment fund performance.