Brian Kurtz

Industry Leadership Catalyst, ClimateTech.org

Brian is passionate about harnessing design, technology, and social innovation to transform the world. He partners with leaders at Fortune 100 multinationals and multilateral organizations to mount global movements, accelerate new ventures, and realize the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations. He is Partner at The Kurtz Group, a boutique consultancy and investment firm that has ushered executive leadership teams through periods of strategic growth for over thirty years.

Previously, as Chief of Staff to the Chief Technology Officer at Telstra, Australia’s largest Internet Telco and Media company, he spearheaded strategic development and implementation of the company’s global innovation agenda. His mandate included forming a world-class Industry Advisory Board, producing multi-city Hack-a-thons and launching a groundbreaking new innovation lab in the heart of Melbourne, Australia. He was recognized as a 'Responsible Leader' by the BMW Foundation for founding The League of Intrapreneurs Australia, a network of pioneers and innovators within leading institutions. Prior to Telstra, Brian played a key role in leading the national expansion of Impact Hub Australia, the country's foremost coworking community comprised of cross-sector leaders, entrepreneurs, tech startups, academia, corporations, NGOs and government innovators across three capital cities.

Brian is a global strategist with over a decade of experience in marketing, business development and leadership inside large corporations and lean startups. He has visited over 150 innovation labs on five continents and is a regularly featured speaker on innovation districts, intrapreneurship and cross-sector collaboration. His favorite cities are Barcelona, Melbourne and Berlin.