Business Women Australia Podcast Show: Designing The Future with Marion Burchell
In this engaging, powerful episode of the Business Women Australia Podcast Show, we sit down with Marion Burchell, Managing Director of Azolla Holdings and one of Australia’s leading voices in innovation, technology, and public policy.
From her trailblazing role as the first female CIO for the WA Government to her groundbreaking work in open data, innovation strategy, and ethical tech, Marion shares bold insights into how the future is already unfolding — and what leaders must do to shape it with purpose.
We explore the convergence of AI, robotics, and generative technologies, and dive into the critical questions of our time:
How do we ensure humanity, ethics, and inclusion keep pace with innovation?
What future are we designing?
And how must we lead the way forward?
If you’re a CEO, Business Owner, Manager, change-maker or future-thinker, this episode is a must-listen.
About Marion Burchell
Marion is an experienced strategy, innovation and change agent in the public and private sectors. She is renowned for getting things done as well as bringing a different perspective. Marion is currently the Managing Director at Azolla Holdings, a management consulting practice that is focused on leveraging her quality networks to deliver bespoke solutions to clients. Previous to establishing Azolla Holdings, Marion was a Director at Deloitte co-leading the Civil Government practice, a member of the national open data and the national GovLab team.
Marion was the first female Government Chief Information Officer for Western Australia delivering whole of government to deliver better services to people using technology. During this time she drove the social inclusion and digital divide agenda, created the cyber security CRC in WA, created greater transparency and governance of the GovNext-ICT reform, and laid the foundation for the inter-jurisdictional data sharing initiative.
As Executive Director, Policy and Governance, Marion led the State’s first innovation strategy, implemented programs to grow the startup ecosystem, and drove the development of the Open Data policy, supporting hackathons that delivered real-world solutions. She headed the whole-of-government innovation agenda, earning a Premier’s Award nomination for cross-agency collaboration.
With experience across water, agriculture, intergovernmental relations, social policy, and digital reform, Marion is nationally and internationally published in public sector innovation and public participation. Her co-design work has been recognised as best practice globally.
Holding degrees in Science, Sociology, and Policy and Planning, and a Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School, Marion embraces a multidisciplinary approach. She is vice-chair of WAITTA, a board member of a local tech company, SingularityU Perth Chapter licence holder, and a senior associate at Intermedium.
About Lyn Hawkins
Lyn is the Founder and National Director of Business Women Australia and a management consultant and leadership coach. She is known for her practical focus on achieving growth and transformation. Lyn advises some of Australia’s most successful professional firms and business leadership teams. She is also the WA Director of the Private Wealth Network and mentors Commerce students at UWA. Lyn has held senior roles with KPMG, HHG Legal Group, HLB Mann Judd and Telstra, in addition to General Management roles with technology-based businesses.
About Business Women Australia
BWA brings together business women from all sectors, industries and states;
- business owners and entrepreneurs
- executives and managers
- professionals
- women on boards
- emerging leaders
- women who desire growth and high level connections
Business Women Australia is focused on key areas of development;
- Leadership
- Business Improvement
- Personal and Professional Growth
- Connections and Friendship
Join as a member today via https://businesswomenaustralia.com.au/membership/