Monday, 7 August, 2023 - 09:28
Where is all the venture capital in WA?
While there is a lot of conversation about our economic uncertainty, it is also good to reflect on the massive companies that have been founded during recessions.
Derek Gerrard
Co-Founder, Managing Director / Purpose Ventures
Most Notable Role
Derek Gerrard is the co-founder and managing director of venture capital firm Purpose Ventures, which helps organisations find & achieve their greater societal purpose. He is also chair of Meridian Global Foundation, a charitable investment and giving circle, and chair of digital health technology company Curve Tomorrow.
Mr Gerrard had previously co-founded consulting and corporate advisory firm Go Capital Australia, and Greensense which is a sustainability consultancy & technology provider and the preferred supplier of climate change consulting services to the local government sector.
He has been involved in advisory and board roles including as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Spacecubed's Plus Eight project. He was previously an entrepreneur-in-residence at RAC WA's Better Labs venture fund and was head of Innovation Bay in Perth, a not-for-profit networking group connecting people passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship and technology. Mr Gerrard also held senior management roles including as associate director of Change Corporation, project manager of Barclays Bank in London, and a management consultant at PwC.
He holds a Bachelor of Business in Information Systems from Edith Cowan University.
Mr Gerrard was the recipient of several awards including Business News' 40under40 Awards in 2011, WAITTA's Best Product award in 2012, iinet Innovator of the Year in 2013, and WAITTA's Achiever of the Year in 2019.
