Linda Kristjanson is a leading figure in the education sector with a keen interest in entrepreneurial development, having fostered innovation programs and early startup companies throughout her academic career, which spans three decades across Australia, Canada and the United States.

She is the former Vice Chancellor and President of Swinburne University of Technology and is passionate about developing the support needed to help young researchers, graduates and world-class academics optimise their bright ideas. Under her leadership, Swinburne consolidated its position as an internationally-ranked university known for delivering high quality, relevant research and educating confident, future-ready graduates.

With Linda’s guidance, Swinburne established an office in the Silicon Valley in collaboration with CSIRO to provide PhD students with the opportunity to grow and launch in a vibrant innovation precinct. In 2002, Linda was named the Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year in recognition of her entrepreneurial work in health, science and innovation. Linda is Chair of the Board of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.

She was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Development at Curtin University. In 2017, Linda was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, in honour of her distinguished service to tertiary education through leadership and governance roles.