Leadership shake-up at FinTech Australia ahead of growth phase

FinTech Australia, the national body supporting the country's growing fintech sector, has announced a series of key leadership changes as it prepares to fuel its next stage of growth. Sarah Gorman, formerly a Deputy Chair and three-times founder, has been elected Chair, taking over from Paypa Plane founder Simone Joyce. Meanwhile, the organisation's previous General Manager, Rehan D'Almeida, has been promoted to CEO, and Audacity Ventures' Brian Collins steps into the role of Deputy Chair.

The fintech industry in Australia is the nation's second-highest funded sector, raising more than $6 billion since 2020, while receiving $330 million last year alone for fintech startup funding. However, FinTech Australia is looking to boost these already impressive figures by providing more robust support for the industry.

Sarah Gorman brings to her new role valuable experience from her time at Melbourne-based Agri-Fintech, Digital Agriculture Services (DAS), where she served as Head of Growth and Marketing. A founding team member and investor of DAS, Gorman has more than 20 years of experience spanning advisory, entrepreneurship, narrative, and investment, both locally and globally. Gorman expressed her ambition for the role, stating, "I am driven by a genuine desire to help shape the future of Australia's fintech industry as it enters its next wave of evolution and growth."

Brian Collins complements the leadership team with his experience as a fintech founder, fund manager, and executive. His role at Audacity Ventures includes providing support services to fintech founders and developing some of the region's first dedicated fintech funds.

Simone Joyce, outgoing chair of FinTech Australia, ends a successful tenure to focus on the global scaling of her business, Paypa Plane. Though now based in New York, Joyce will continue to advise FinTech Australia on key industry matters. She noted, "It has been a great honour to serve this industry as Chair of FinTech Australia - and see the industry grow. I look forward to shifting my focus to the growth of Paypa Plane both in the US and in Australia."

FinTech Australia's decision to promote Rehan D'Almeida to the CEO position reflects his impressive achievements since taking up the role of General Manager in 2021. Under his leadership, FinTech Australia membership skyrocketed to 400 members and corporate partners, made more than 30 policy submissions, and conducted successful industry events and new initiatives, drawing global audiences. On his appointment, D'Almeida said, "Its an incredible honour to be recognised as FinTech Australia's CEO. We've seen FinTech Australia reach new heights...that's translated into commercial success for the sector. According to the last FinTech Australia, EY Census, over 81% of fintechs have hit profitability and are growing revenue - up from 77% in 2019."

In welcoming Gorman and Collins to their new roles, D'Almeida praised both appointments, stating that Gorman's "appointment yet again raises the bar in terms of the expertise and experience we have contained in our board" and that Collins' role is "important at a time when the industry is increasingly focused on unlocking critical funding for large, mid and early-stage fintechs alike." Highlighting the continued evolution of the sector, D'Almeida concluded, "We face new challenges ahead...But it's an exciting time for the sector, and it's bigger and more vibrant than ever before."