Gary McLaren has over 25 years experience in the telecommunications industry. After senior roles at both Telstra and Siemens in the 1990s, Gary joined RequestDSL, Australia?s first DSL unbundled local loop carrier in 2000. In 2004, RequestDSL was merged with PowerTel by their common venture capital owner Telecom Venture Group. From 2005 to 2007, Gary provided management consulting services to AAPT and developed a startup business within AAPT called IProvide which focused on building AAPT?s SME business. In parallel, Gary also held executive director roles with Utiba, a mobile payments startup focused on the South East Asian market. Utiba was sold to Amdocs in 2013 for approximately $US25 million.

In 2009, Gary was appointed Chief Technology Officer of NBN Co and was responsible for developing and implementing the network architecture, design and integration of the NBN. He was directly involved in the negotiations of the industry restructuring deal between NBN Co and Telstra and responsible for NBN Co?s network technology procurement worth over $A7 billion.

Gary left NBN Co in mid-2014 and is now re-connecting with the Australian startup tech sector as both an angel investor and experienced mentor/executive to assist the growth of Australia?s entrepreneurial ICT sector. He recently became Vice President of TelSoc, Australia?s society for the advancement of telecommunications and the digital economy.

Gary has degrees from Melbourne University in Engineering and Law and is an Honorary Fellow of Melbourne University.