Launching Digital Irish Melbourne

Around thirteen years ago, I arrived in Australia, much like many other Irish folks, with high hopes and a one-way ticket in hand. After spending four years in Sydney and the last nine in Melbourne, my journey took an unexpected turn about a year ago when I was made redundant. Although it was a challenging experience, it gave me the push I needed to start my own business and reflect on how little I had engaged with the Irish community here in Australia. It was time to change that.

Throughout my time here, I've always felt a spark of excitement whenever I crossed paths with Irish entrepreneurs and business leaders, particularly in the payments industry, which is my focus. These individuals have provided me with some of the best advice and genuine feedback, reminding me of the strength of our community.

As I explored my network, I connected with some fantastic, like-minded people in Sydney, Stephen Mullan who was in the process of establishing the first Chapter of Digital Irish in Australia. Together with 朱心迪 , David Eccles and Richard Ennis we launched Digital Irish Australia in Sydney.

Irish people have a unique work ethic—driven by hard work, innovation, and a strong sense of community. I’m thrilled to be part of this network and excited for what’s ahead as we continue building bridges between the Irish-Australian tech scene.

Digital Irish’s Mission Since 2013

Digital Irish began its journey as a volunteer-driven non-profit back in 2013. Its mission? To promote Irish innovation and support Irish innovators around the globe by building impactful business connections across the Irish diaspora. The organisation has since become the go-to network for Irish startups expanding globally, offering a “soft landing” by providing valuable connections to talent, customers, partners, and investors.

With a strong presence in New York and London, Digital Irish has hosted pitch events, networking sessions, and learning workshops with top entrepreneurs and industry experts. Now, we’re bringing that same spirit and network to Australia, and our next stop is Melbourne.

Launching Digital Irish in Melbourne

After supporting the success of the Sydney launch earlier this year, which took place in May and July, we brought together Irish founders, executives, and industry professionals. We knew we had to replicate that experience here in Melbourne.

Starting Digital Irish Melbourne was a group effort. A few months ago, Tiarnan McCaughan , Alan FitzGerald , Aisling Curley , Brendan Tremble GAICD , Conor Buckley , Fergal Coleman , and Louis J Sisk met for the first time to plan how we would launch Digital Irish in Melbourne. It has been a pleasure to work with these fantastic people who are passionate about fostering the Irish-Australian tech ecosystem. We knew that the key to success was to involve the community right from the start—to hear what our fellow Irish tech professionals wanted and needed from this network.

This led to an interactive and engaging pre-launch session in Melbourne. We brought together founders and leaders from across the tech industry to discuss the direction and vision of Digital Irish in Australia. The feedback was invaluable. We learned that the desire for a dedicated Irish tech community is strong, and there’s a real appetite for regular networking events, knowledge sharing, and mentorship. On the day, we received some exciting feedback through three main breakout groups, C-Suite, Founders and Industry Professionals. Odhran O'Brien Killian O' Sullivan Luke Halpin Paula O'Toole Noel Gallagher Ceola Flannery Fergus G Akanksha Malik Peter O' Connell Simon Mcilwaine Tig McConnell Joe Acton Ciarán O'Grady Maggie Carty Linda Connolly Alan Crabbe Hugh O'Donnell Alan Sharvin Fergal O'Connor

?So, What’s Next?

The enthusiasm from our pre-launch event confirmed that there’s a real need for an Irish community focused on technology and innovation here in Australia. Now, we're excited to announce the official launch of Digital Irish in Melbourne!

Join us on Tuesday 8th October at The Melbourne Celtic Club as we set the stage for future initiatives and hear from some of the Irish tech innovators who have made their mark in Australia. We’ll be welcoming speakers who will share their experiences, challenges, and successes within the Australian tech scene.

Digital Irish is already the most active network of Irish tech leaders in New York and London, and we’re thrilled to continue that legacy here in Australia. We look forward to seeing you at the launch of Digital Irish in Melbourne!

RSVP HERE