About Me

Zoe Piper has over 18 years experience across management consulting, technology, manufacturing and investment. Operating at the intersection of policy, practice and research, she is actively engaged in a broad range of roles and appointments.

As the Partnerships Lead for Data61, Zoe is responsible for driving collaboration across industry, research and government. Here she leads the development of Expert Connect, a publically available platform facilitating access to research expertise. Zoe also serves as a Director of the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) and a mentor for CSIRO’s ON Prime pre-accelerator program.

Zoe was recently seconded part-time to the Office of Innovation and Science Australia where she was a member of the task force developing the 2030 Strategic Plan to help guide investment in Australia’s innovation, science and research systems. She also has extensive prior experience with government programs, including serving as ACCI’s Productivity Unit Manager (delivering under the Productivity Education and Training Fund) and providing input into multiple projects under the Securing Australia’s Future program.

In 2009, Zoe cofounded Ecolour, an Australian-based manufacturer of premium quality, non-toxic paint that is distributed across the country from its Byron Bay and Melbourne stores. Zoe continues to serve as Director of the organisation, with Ecolour now used by hotel chains, hospitals and leading developers. In 2015, Zoe was invited to tell the Ecolour story at the 2015 Shared Value Leadership Summit in New York where she outlined how the company is cleaning up the air we breathe inside and out. Zoe was a finalist in the 2015 NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards (Emerging Entrepreneur category), and an ACT finalist in the 2017 IML Australian Leadership Excellence Awards (Owner/Entrepreneur category).

Zoe has a strong interest in cross-sector collaboration, new business models (including social entrepreneurship and creating shared value) and building career adaptability. She regularly speaks on these topics, and has served on a range of committees and judging panels, including the CRC Association Excellence in Innovation Awards, Australian Export Awards, Enactus National Competition, and Centre for Workplace Leadership Survey of Australian Leadership (SAL) Steering Committee.

Zoe is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders (formerly chairing the AIM ACT Regional Advisory Committee) and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has studied in the USA, Europe, and China, and her qualifications include an MBA, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Communication. Zoe is currently undertaking a PhD (Public Policy: cross-sector leaders) at the Australian National University.