Turn Queensland's ideas into impact.

Queensland has the ideas, research capability, entrepreneurs and ambition. The opportunity now is to connect them, turning more of Queensland's ingenuity into investment, new industries, thriving businesses, high-value jobs and outcomes that matter.

DETSI is seeking an exceptional Chief Innovator to help shape the next chapter of Queensland's innovation economy.

This is not a conventional government leadership role. It is an opportunity to influence an entire innovation ecosystem, connecting research, entrepreneurship, industry, government and capital to move great ideas from discovery to market, and from potential to impact.

The Opportunity

As Queensland’s Chief Innovator, you will provide strategic leadership across the State’s science, innovation and commercialisation ecosystem, aligning research capability, entrepreneurship, industry demand, investment and government priorities to accelerate innovation and economic growth.

Working alongside the Queensland Chief Scientist and leading the Office of Commercialisation, you will strengthen pathways from discovery and validation through to investment readiness, commercialisation, market adoption and scale. You will connect founders and scale-ups with research, industry, investors, funding and markets, helping Queensland capture greater value from its ideas, talent and research capability.

Central to your role will be building and leveraging relationships across government, universities, research organisations, industry, entrepreneurs, investors and innovation precincts. You will identify emerging opportunities and capability gaps, strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and help attract and align public and private investment with Queensland's innovation priorities.

As a visible advocate for Queensland,



you will represent the State in strategic innovation, commercialisation and investment forums nationally and internationally. You will also provide authoritative advice to the Minister, Director-General and senior leaders on innovation priorities, investment, commercialisation opportunities, risks and ecosystem performance.

Ultimately, your impact will be measured by stronger connections, more ideas reaching market, greater investment and industry engagement, and more Queensland businesses and innovations positioned to grow and compete.

What Are We Looking For?

We are seeking an accomplished executive and system leader with demonstrated experience across innovation, commercialisation, investment attraction, entrepreneurship and/or economic development within complex stakeholder environments.

You may come from government, industry, technology, research, universities, investment, venture capital or the start-up and scale-up ecosystem. What matters is the scale of your leadership and the impact you have created.

You will understand how successful innovation ecosystems work and bring the credibility and relationships to influence across research, industry, government, investment and entrepreneurial communities. You will demonstrate a track record of bringing different interests together, building influential partnerships and converting ideas and opportunities into tangible commercial, economic or public outcomes.





Strong commercial acumen will be essential, together with an understanding of research commercialisation, founder pathways, venture and capital markets and industry demand. You will be equally credible with founders, researchers and investors as you are with Ministers, Directors-General and industry leaders.

You will be a strategic and influential leader with the judgement to navigate complexity, competing priorities and risk. A compelling communicator and advocate, you will inspire others, build shared ambition and lead with integrity, accountability and a commitment to an innovative, diverse and inclusive culture.

Why Queensland. Why Now.

Queensland has an chance to convert exceptional science, research and entrepreneurial capability into greater economic value, attracting investment, accelerating commercialisation, supporting innovative businesses to grow and developing globally competitive industries and talent.

As Chief Innovator, you will have the opportunity to influence the connections between science, research, entrepreneurship, capital, industry and government across an entire State.

The opportunity is significant: more Queensland discoveries reaching market, more businesses scaling, greater investment, stronger regional innovation ecosystems and new industries and high-value jobs created here.

If you have spent your career turning possibility into progress, this is an opportunity to do it at State scale.

**For a confidential discussion, contact Justine Eden or Kim Ritchie at Eden Ritchie Recruitment on [0412 156 920](tel:0412 156 920) [email protected] For more information, or to apply, please visit https://edenritchie.com.au/chief-innovator/

Applications close 16 October 2026.**

📌 Chief Innovator (Brisbane)
🏢 Eden Ritchie Recruitment
📍 Brisbane