David Thodey is a business leader focused on innovation, technology, digital transformation and telecommunications.

He is currently Chair of Xero, a global cloud-based accounting solution and Ramsay Health Care, a global hospital group.

He was appointed as the 19th Chancellor of the University of Sydney in July 2024.

Mr Thodey co-chairs the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, an Australian non-profit established to help preserve the Great Barrier Reef.

Previously, Mr Thodey was Chair of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and Tyro, Australia’s largest independent payments company.

Mr Thodey is active in public policy and led an Independent Review of the Australian Public Service (APS). He also chaired a NSW Government appointed Panel to lead an independent review of Federal Financial Relations. Most recently, Mr Thodey led a user audit of the myGov government services digital portal.

In 2020, Mr Thodey was Deputy Chair of the Federal Government’s National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCC) Advisory Board, supporting the Government to navigate the challenges faced during the early stages of the pandemic.

Prior to his non-executive career, he had a successful career as CEO of Telstra, and before that, CEO of IBM Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Thodey was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Technology from Deakin University and Honorary Doctor of Business from both University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney.

He was made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for ethical business leadership.