Firmus Technologies Strengthens Leadership for Sovereign AI Push
▼ Summary
– Firmus Technologies appointed Kirsty Godfrey-Billy as CFO and Grant Dempsey as incoming Board Chair following a $330 million equity raise to strengthen governance.
– The company is launching Project Southgate, a sovereign renewable-powered AI campus in Tasmania developed with the Tasmanian Government.
– Grant Dempsey brings extensive experience from roles at JP Morgan, IFM Investors, and as a director on multiple ASX-listed companies, focusing on institutional maturity.
– Kirsty Godfrey-Billy joins with a background as Xero’s CFO, recognized for her work in international expansion and financial transformation, including being named Deloitte’s CFO of the Year in 2023.
– Outgoing Chair Ted Pretty will remain as a Non-Executive Director to ensure continuity, having guided the company from startup to scale-up phase.
Firmus Technologies is strategically enhancing its executive leadership team following a major $330 million equity financing round. The company has appointed Kirsty Godfrey-Billy as Chief Financial Officer and Grant Dempsey as incoming Chair of the Board, moves designed to support its next phase of institutional growth and technological expansion.
These leadership additions arrive as Firmus prepares to launch Project Southgate, a sovereign artificial intelligence campus in Tasmania powered entirely by renewable energy. Developed collaboratively with the Tasmanian Government, this initiative represents a significant step in the company’s global infrastructure strategy.
Grant Dempsey brings extensive financial and governance expertise to his new role as Chair. His background includes serving as Head of Investment Banking for Australia and New Zealand at JP Morgan, along with holding the CFO position at TPG Telecom and Alumina Limited. Currently, Dempsey chairs the Investment Committee and sits on the board of IFM Investors, a global institutional manager overseeing approximately US$170 billion in assets. He also serves as a non-executive director for several ASX-listed entities, including a2 Milk Ltd, Megaport Ltd, and Sims Metals Ltd.
Dempsey’s appointment underscores the company’s commitment to strengthening governance as it transitions from a scaling startup to an established institution.
“Firmus is expanding quickly and building the leadership, operational, and governance capabilities needed to sustain that momentum,” Dempsey remarked. “As the company continues to grow, the board will keep evolving to support its global objectives, delivering large-scale infrastructure alongside the financial results our customers and partners anticipate.”
He added, “This is an important new chapter for the business. I look forward to supporting the board and executive team as the company matures and navigates a deliberate path forward.” Outgoing Chair Ted Pretty will remain involved as a Non-Executive Director, ensuring leadership continuity after guiding Firmus through its initial startup and scaling phases.
Co-CEO Tim Rosenfield acknowledged Pretty’s contributions, stating, “Ted’s leadership as Chairman was instrumental in establishing Firmus within the AI sector, shaping our foundational partnerships and international growth. As we enter this next stage, we thank him for his lasting influence and ongoing guidance as a Non-Executive Director.”
Kirsty Godfrey-Billy joins as CFO after nearly ten years at Xero, where she oversaw the company’s international expansion, financial transformation, and inclusion in the ASX50. Her career spans listed technology firms, capital markets, and global scaling initiatives, earning her Deloitte’s CFO of the Year award in 2023.
“I was attracted to Firmus by the clarity of its mission, a company with strong technical ambition, a talented team, and a credible plan to scale AI responsibly from both an environmental and social perspective,” Godfrey-Billy commented. “The innovations the team has developed and deployed in Australia and Singapore over the past five years are remarkable. This is genuine innovation that could establish a new global standard for AI deployment. I am excited to collaborate with the team as we continue to grow.”
Co-CEO Oliver Curtis expressed enthusiasm about the new appointments, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Kirsty and Grant to the team. These are leaders who grasp our mission to build efficient AI infrastructure and recognize Australia’s potential to export AI capacity and expertise worldwide. Achieving these goals demands world-class talent, which is precisely what these appointments bring.”
(Source: ITWire Australia)
