Michelle Simmons, CEO and founder of Silicon Computing (and former Australian of the Year), has joined the Tech Council of Australia on its board of directors.
Key Takeaways
- Michelle Simmons, CEO and founder of Silicon Quantum Computing, has joined the Tech Council of Australia on its board of directors.
- Simmons’ SQC (Australia’s first quantum computing company) spun out of the University of New South Wales in 2017, with a bid to develop and commercialise a slew of quantum computing hardware.
- Simmons is a founding member of the TCA’s Australian Quantum Alliance, which is dedicated to creating a thriving domestic quantum industry.
Key background
Silicon Quantum Computing launched out of the University of New South Wales back in 2017, and is at the forefront of the race to develop the world’s first practical quantum computer. Back in 2023, the company sought to raise $130 million for its endeavour, but banked about $50 million in a Series A round instead, which took the company’s valuation to $195.3 million. The federal government tipped in $15 million of that raise to bring its total equity in SQC to $40 million and maintain its almost one-third ownership of the company.
Simmons, a former Australian of the Year and the co-founder of SQC, is also a founding member of the TCA’s Australian Quantum Alliance, which is dedicated to creating a thriving domestic quantum industry enabling innovation, jobs and economic prosperity.
Now, the professor is set to join the Tech Council of Australia’s board of directors, alongside leaders from software, fintech, AI and digital platforms.
“Michelle’s extensive experience in quantum computing and commercialisation brings a unique perspective and capability to our leadership team. Her appointment will help support the TCA’s goal of supporting the growth of the Australian quantum industry and deep tech,” TCA chair Scott Farquhar, said.
“It is an honour to be joining the TCA board at a time when our nation’s technology sector is at an inflection point. Technology is a vital pillar of our economy and I look forward to working with the TCA,” Simmons said.
Tangent
Quantum computing is having a moment this year, after Quantum Brilliance, an Australian-German company using diamonds to drastically reduce the cost of quantum computing, banked $32 million in its Series A round. Another quantum company spun out of the University of Sydney, DeteQt , raised $750,000 in its pre-seed round to innovate GPS-denied navigation systems using quantum technology.
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