The Churchill Club shares more than just a namesake with the Silicon Valley not-for-profit organisation.

The original Churchill Club first met on November 12, 1985. It was founded by Rich Karlgaard (now publisher of Forbes magazine) and Tony Perkins (former editor-in-chief of AlwaysOn). The vision was simple; to create a space for “important people to say important things”.

Churchill Club has changed and grown over the past three decades, but the focus on sparking discussion has remained steady.

2005: THE AUSTRALIAN CHAPTER

In 2005, Peter Lewis was working as an Australian consul general in San Francisco. He was also a board member of the Silicon Valley Churchill Club. This turned out to be a fruitful combination, as conversations started between Peter and the rest of the board over the need for an Australian branch.

After identifying a clear gap in the way that local technology companies spoke (or rather, didn’t speak) to one another, it was decided that Peter would bring the Churchill Club initiative down under.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Considering the growth and reception that the Churchill Club has seen since it was first launched, it’s clear that there was a real need for it within Australia. Since 2015, when Bec Kempster took over management as CEO, further strategic developments have continued to build on the strength of the organisation.

This has included the appointment of a board, incorporation as an association, and, of course, a laser focus on connecting curious minds with the next big thing in emerging technology.

As we continue to grow and shift, we invite you to join the conversation and discover “what’s new, next” in the rapidly changing landscape of technology.