Liza Noonan Appointed CEO of Cicada Innovations to Boost Deep Tech
▼ Summary
– Liza Noonan has been appointed as Cicada Innovations’ new CEO, starting November 3rd, 2025, bringing extensive innovation leadership experience from roles such as Executive Director of Innovation at Investment NSW.
– Cicada Innovations has a 25-year history of supporting over 400 deep tech startups, helping raise $6+ billion in funding and creating thousands of jobs in Australia.
– Noonan’s career includes senior positions like Global Director at CSIRO and founding CEO of Springboard Australia, focusing on building inclusive innovation ecosystems across global markets.
– The appointment aligns with Cicada’s mission to grow Australia’s deep tech economy by connecting founders with industry, policy, and global networks for scaling solutions.
– Noonan aims to position Cicada as a leading force in science-based innovation in the Indo-Pacific, supporting founders with the resources needed to tackle complex challenges and achieve global impact.
Cicada Innovations has named Liza Noonan as its incoming Chief Executive Officer, with her tenure set to begin on November 3, 2025. Noonan, who currently serves as the Executive Director of Innovation at Investment NSW, steps into the role at a pivotal time for the organization, which has spent a quarter-century nurturing Australia’s deep technology ecosystem. Over the years, Cicada has supported more than 400 startups, helped secure over $6 billion in funding, and been instrumental in creating thousands of jobs across the country.
Noonan’s professional background strongly aligns with Cicada’s core mission: fostering a sovereign deep tech economy built on scientific discovery, bold ideas, and tangible real-world impact. Before her role at Investment NSW, she held the position of Global Director at CSIRO, where she led major initiatives including the national ON Accelerator program and managed innovation partnerships across ASEAN and other global regions. Her earlier career includes founding and serving as CEO of Springboard Australia, an accelerator dedicated to high-growth companies led by women, as well as senior roles at Alcatel-Lucent. With professional experience spanning the United Kingdom, Europe, Singapore, and Australia, she brings a truly international outlook to the organization.
Katherine Woodthorpe, Chair of Cicada Innovations, expressed strong confidence in the appointment. “Liza brings extensive experience in innovation leadership, systems change and global collaboration,” Woodthorpe noted. “She deeply understands the shared missions of deep tech founders and public service leaders, working together to build a globally competitive sovereign tech economy.” Woodthorpe also highlighted the consistent theme running through Noonan’s career: a dedication to creating vibrant, inclusive, and well-connected innovation ecosystems. This focus, she said, matches Cicada’s own goals of growing Australia’s deep tech sector and backing ventures that take on society’s biggest challenges. The Chair also extended gratitude to Ingrid Marsh, who served as Acting CEO, praising her steady leadership during the transition period.
Incoming CEO Liza Noonan described the appointment as a career highlight. “Becoming the latest custodian of an organization so deeply purpose-driven and committed to supporting deep tech founders is a tremendous honor,” she said. She pointed out that in 2024, two-thirds of Australian venture deals were directed toward deep tech, signaling strong momentum and growing financial support. Still, she emphasized that more work is needed to raise Australia’s profile on the global stage.
“Deep tech demands time and patience, not just because the underlying science is novel, but because the problems being addressed are highly complex,” Noonan explained. “Founders need more than investors; they require access to industry networks, public policy experts, regulatory guidance, and peers from around the world.”
Noonan also stressed the broader opportunity for Australia. “We’re at a moment where the country recognizes it has both natural resources and intellectual capital to address planetary challenges, strengthen national sovereignty through intelligent productivity, and drive health system innovation. But to realize this potential, Australia must present itself as a cohesive global player, one that can attract and retain the talent, customers, and capital required to deliver impact at scale.”
Looking ahead, she expressed a clear vision for Cicada’s future. “I believe that over the next five to ten years, Cicada can become a leading force in accelerating transformative, science-based innovation, especially across the Indo-Pacific region. We can achieve this by becoming the go-to community for deep tech founders and by supplying the critical resources they need to scale on their own terms. I am excited to lead the charge toward this vision.”
(Source: ITWire Australia)
