2023 Guest Speaker Richard White - CEO & Founder, WiseTech Global
Mark This Date in Your Diary
17 November 2023
30th Annual 'Legends of Technology' Lunch (continuing Max Burnet’s tradition)
From its inception in 1994 as an idea in his basement in Newtown, Sydney, Richard has grown WiseTech into a more than $22billion+ AUD global technology company covering over 173 countries & employing 3000 staff worldwide. In April 2016, Richard listed the company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:WTC).
Since then, it has grown rapidly to be the major global supplier of logistics execution software & count 24 of the top 25 largest Freight Forwarders as customers.
A self-proclaimed 'tech-nerd', Richard has over 35 years' experience in software development, embedded systems & business management and over 25 years of freight & logistics industry experience. He has extensive knowledge of logistics operations, cross border and supply chain compliance, and a deep technical understanding of ecommerce & global industry & technology issues.
Other Experience
Founder, Real Tech Systems Integration (Systems Integration& the beginnings of Logistics Execution Software sold by WiseTech Global)
Founder, Clear Group (Distribution of Unisys computers, Phillips monitors & various computer products & software)
Shareholder & head of R&D, JANDS (Lighting Equipment Design & Development including development of world leading computerised lighting console)
Founder, Rock Industries (Lighting Equipment Design & Development)
Founder, Rock Repairs (Musical Instrument repairs & setups for the likes of The Angels, AC/DC, Cold Chisel, Carlos Santana
Industry Richard actively works to assist the logistics industry in a number of voluntary forums. He is a government appointed member of the Australian Border Force Customs Advisory Board. He consults freely to various industry associations and customs and border authorities in countries in which WiseTech Global provides electronic customs clearance.
He attends and speaks at many technical and industry forums in order to help develop the industry and understand and develop systems and processes to suit the international and domestic logistics regulatory environments. Richard works with the Australian Computer Society, ACS Foundation and a number of universities (including UNSW, UTS and the University of Sydney) and high schools on creating a pathway for students to enter the IT industry.
He is also a keen advocate of professional development and helps local IT business and entrepreneurs.
Supporting Education Initiatives Richard is passionate about developing Australia's future technologists. Having established the WiseTech Academy in 2019, Richard announced the establishment of his STEM Education Foundation in 2022, to which he is personally donating $50 million, to build an education platform available free of charge to Austrlaian primary, secondary and tertiary students. He is also actively collaborating with educational institutions to promote technology learning, including the launch of the 'Earn and Learn' WiseTech-funded program, initially available to UTS computer science/software engineering students.
Personal When not working, Richard enjoys playing guitar and reading about science and technology.
Qualifications & Awards
Richard is a Fellow of the University of Technology Sydney;
NSW Tech Entrepreneur of the Year 2016, Pearcey Foundation;
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) - Luminarie;
Adjunct Professor of UTS Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology (FEIT);
Masters of Business in Information Technology (MBIT) from UTS;
Honorary Doctor of Technology from UTS
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