Our Story.

Founding Chair

Susan is one of the co-founders of Scale Investors, and its inaugural chair. Susan is an active angel investor through Scale and dedicated to supporting innovation and participation by women as both entrepreneurs and investors. She is an experienced chairman and company director serving on the boards of major Australian listed and privately owned companies. Her current appointments are Independent member of the Investment Committee for IFM investors, Chair of The Wheeler Centre, Chair of Countrywide Renewable Hydrogen, board member of the Melbourne Theatre Company and Fishermans Bend Development Board. She is an entrepreneur and co-inventor of two software systems. Susan has extensive experience in technology commercialisation, policy development and strategy consulting. She has contributed significantly to the innovation, IT and arts policy agendas in Australia. 

She was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for service to Australian society in business and an AM in 2019 for significant service to business and to women. In 2021 Susan was appointed to chair the Alice Anderson Fund, the $10 million angel sidecar fund established by the Victoria government that co-invests in women-led start-ups with private sector investors.

Co-founder

Carol is a co-founder of Scale Investors and one of Australia’s most dynamic business and community leaders with a diverse career across property, the arts, finance, investment, entrepreneurship, government and health. Carol is highly regarded as a public commentator and agitator on issues of gender equality, women’s leadership, governance and business.

Carol has been recognised for her leadership via a range of honours including her 2019 appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia, an Honorary Doctorate from Monash University, induction into the Australia Property Hall of Fame, and a Centenary Medal.

Carol has chaired and participated in numerous listed and private company boards and has also chaired major government boards and conducted significant inquiries on behalf of government. Carol’s current board roles include the Reserve Bank of Australia, EQT Holdings Limited and Qualitas Property Partners.

Throughout her career Carol has been a passionate advocate for women in leadership, particularly in business, politics and the media. As Chair of the Trawalla Foundation and the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia, she has catalysed a range of practical solutions, including the Pathways to Politics Program for Women, the Panel Pledge, and the Women for Media database. Carol is also the Founding Chair of Our Community, a member of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board, and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership Advisory Board, Kings College.

Carol is a skilled venture investor, having been an early investor in numerous transformative start-ups, including Australian unicorn Temple & Webster.

Co-founder

Annette is co-founder of Scale Investors and recognised as a leader in empowering women and supporting entrepreneurship. With 30 years professional and commercial experience, Annette has gained extensive local and international experience in implementing large, complex change agendas.

Her executive career has included a range of senior roles with Minter Ellison (CEO & Managing Partner), EY (Asia Pacific Accounts Leader and Global Growth Markets Leader), the International Accounting Standards Board and the Australian Accounting Standards Board.  She was also one of the founding developers of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), working closely with organisations around the world on the adoption and implementation of IFRS. This included the European Commission, the Committee of European Securities Regulators, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the International Organisation of Securities Commissions and the Australian Accounting Standards Board.

Annette was a driving force behind the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and her many years judging the awards provided rare insight into the ingredients necessary to build a globally scalable business.

Co-founder

Laura is a co-founder of Scale Investors and was its inaugural CEO. She was instrumental in establishing Scale as an operating entity and was responsible for sourcing the investments which have subsequently led to some of our most successful exits. Laura’s more than 20 years of experience working in venture capital, impact investing, micro finance, corporate finance and strategy consulting roles in the UK, Australia and India have been recognised in numerous accolades including Westpac AFR 100 Women of Influence 2016, Telstra Business Women of the Year Innovation Finalist 2014, Williamson Fellowship 2012. Laura now resides in the UK and is a Finance Director.