Announcing: Our First Speakers for the Merton Lawyers Startup Board Conference 2026
In March, we announced the sneak peek of the return of our flagship Merton Lawyers Startup Board Conference, occurring at the prestigious Sydney Opera House on Monday September 7th.
Very quickly, we realised the interest in this type of curated experience and specialised education, with a high proportion of rapid expressions of interest indicating significant demand.
We’ve arrived at the moment to begin announcing our first wave of speakers, followed swiftly by our presenting partners and the process of advising successful registrants of their participation on the day.
”Australia’s most ambitious companies in technology, energy transition, life sciences and beyond are redefining what’s possible - and world-class governance is the catalyst that transforms ambition into enduring impact. Merton’s Board Conference 2026 is being carefully curated to deliver clear, practical insight into global best practice at the board level. Our intention is simple: to equip Australian innovators - and the investors who back them - with the governance capability, judgment and networks required to scale with confidence and compete on the world stage.”
- Anthony Curtin, Merton Lawyers Co-Founder
Our Expressions of Interest remain open until July 3rd 2026 - but please don’t delay registering for a spot - as we prepare for this incredibly special event, curated with the best of the best gathering together.
Details:
When: Monday September 7th 2026
Where: Sydney Opera House, followed by a private dinner at the iconic Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Who: Venture Capitalists nominating a designated portfolio company founder.
SPEAKERS (A-Z)
CHARLES CARNEGIE - Managing Director, 21networks (Sydney, AUS)
21networks is a small Australian family office, investing permanent capital in companies at the Seed and Series A stages. They invest in companies that have valuable positions in important networks, working with organisations to map and manage their critical networks. Their maps help leaders to navigate more successfully, mitigate risk and improve performance.
More Details: https://www.21networks.com/
Connect with Charles on LinkedIn HERE
“Charles is one of those rare people who has seen best-practice governance across Australia, the US and globally - as an operator, an investor, and now as a mentor to the next generation of founders coming through the Australian startup ecosystem. He has strong views on what good looks like, and I think that’s exactly what this conversation needs.”
DANIEL G. WEISS - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Angeleno Group (Los Angeles, USA)
Founded in 2001, Angeleno Group (AG) is a pioneer in providing venture and growth capital for next generation clean energy and climate solutions companies. AG invests opportunistically in a range of deal types, with a strategy that is sector-focused, stage-agnostic and research-driven.
Since its founding, AG has become one of the largest dedicated ENR growth equity investment firms, making investments on a global basis with investment professionals operating in the U.S., Asia and Australia.
More Details: https://www.angelenogroup.com/
Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn HERE
“Daniel has been one of the most important voices on energy, climate investment, and the infrastructure needed to power the next generation of technology - and he’s done it at a global scale. His connection to Australia runs deep, and the conversation he and Jamie will have on stage is going to be genuinely different to anything else you’ll hear this year.”
JAMIE MONTGOMERY - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, March Capital (Santa Monica, USA)
March Capital is a top-tier venture growth firm based in Santa Monica, CA and has invested globally since 2014. With $1.65B+ in capital over 4 funds and deployed across 25+ market-leading technology companies, March seeks out entrepreneurs with a provocative vision to lead the future, generally investing in AI enabled enterprise software businesses poised for hyper-growth.
"Today is the most exciting time in the history of technology investing. There are real opportunities for Australian entrepreneurs to innovate and grow massive businesses. At March Capital, we're happy to partner with them, and with Australian investors who want access to the world's most dynamic companies. I've been coming to Australia for forty years, and this is a real moment for Australian companies to build and scale globally.” - Jamie Montgomery
More Details: https://marchcp.com/
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn HERE
“Jamie has been coming to Australia for forty years and he understands this ecosystem better than almost anyone based in California. Having attended his Montgomery Summit (Monty) the last two years and seen firsthand the calibre of what he’s built, it feels significant that he accepted our invitation — a fireside conversation with Jamie is not something you forget.”
NATALIE KARAM - Partner, Sidley Austin LLP (San Francisco, USA)
Sidley is an international law firm with 160 years of experience navigating the legal moments that matter most - complex transactions, high-stakes disputes, regulatory challenges and crisis situations where precision and judgment are non-negotiable.
With 2,300 lawyers across 21 offices in the world's major financial and commercial centres, their reach is genuinely global. Lawyers fluent in more than 75 languages bring the cross-border acumen and cultural awareness that complex, multi-jurisdictional work demands.
More Details: https://www.sidley.com/en
Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn HERE
“Nat is one of the most sought-after tech and VC lawyers in the US, and the fact that she originally comes from New South Wales gives her a perspective on Australian founders that very few people in her position have. She was a standout on last year’s liquidity panel and I can’t wait to have her back - the questions she asks cut straight to what founders actually need to know.”
RADEK SALI - Chairman, Light Warrior Group (Melbourne, AUS)
Light Warrior Group is a principle driven investment group for Ventures and Investments. They’re passionate about assisting and supporting outstanding founders and business owners who have a social conscience and are looking for investment, strategic and operational guidance in growth industries.
Light Warrior Investments manage and are actively looking to further develop a portfolio of globally diversified investments that have a socially responsible and environmentally conscious charter and outlook. Central to all Light Warrior investment decisions is its shared value ethos: that business growth is only sustainable in the long-term if it benefits all stakeholders; and that business has a responsibility to make positive contributions to society as a whole.
More Details: https://lightwarrior.com/
Connect with Radek on LinkedIn HERE
“Radek built Swisse from an Australian consumer brand into a global business and negotiated one of the most significant exits the local FMCG sector has seen. What excites me about having him at the conference is that he’s now applying that same lens - purpose, culture, long-term value - to his investment work, and he has a lot to say about how those principles show up at board level.”
SHANNON MARSHALL - Executive Director & Investment Specialist, J.P. Morgan Private Bank (New York, USA)
J.P. Morgan Private Bank manages over $2.7 trillion in global client assets, offering high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals dedicated teams of advisors, bespoke wealth management, estate planning, and exclusive access to alternative investments.
More Details: https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/
Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn HERE
“Shannon has built something remarkable at JPMorgan in one of the most competitive environments in the world, and her seat on the board of the American Australian Association tells you everything about where her priorities sit. She genuinely cares about the Australia-US corridor and brings a level of real-world insight into capital and wealth strategy that you simply don’t get from most speakers.”
(HOST) ANTHONY CURTIN - Co-Founder, Merton Lawyers (Melbourne, AUS)
Merton Lawyers is an Australian law firm specialising in startup and venture capital law, combining deep commercial experience with a clear focus on results for founders, investors, and scaling companies at every stage of growth.
Through Project Frontier, launched in 2021, Merton connects professionally scaling Australian tech companies with the top-tier Silicon Valley law firms that form the legal backbone of the venture ecosystem.
Through Project Odyssey, their VC capability-building research program active since 2023, Merton works to strengthen board governance and unlock growth potential across the Australian venture ecosystem, culminating in the annual Startup Board Conference.
More Details: https://www.mertonlawyers.com.au/project-odyssey
Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn HERE
