Qld’s nation-leading chief entrepreneur role could be axed

Queensland’s chief entrepreneur role is on the chopping block as part of a government shake-up after sitting vacant for more than a year, prompting calls from the business community for it to stay.

Australian investor and entrepreneur Steve Baxter was the state’s second every chief entrepreneur and says the program should continue.

Queensland’s nation-leading chief entrepreneur role could be axed as part of a state government shake-up of the science and innovation sector.

The chief entrepreneur job has been vacant since Julia Spicer’s two-year term ended in May 2024.

The state government now says it is reviewing the unpaid role, which was launched by Annastacia Palaszczuk in 2016 to grow Queensland’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

A spokeswoman for Science and Innovation Minister Andrew Powell declined to say whether the government would appoint anyone to the role.

“We’re currently considering the role of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur as part of a refreshed approach to science and innovation in Queensland,” she said.

It is understood a shortlist of candidates for chief entrepreneur was provided to Labor minister Leanne Linard prior to the October state election, but she deferred the decision.

The chief entrepreneur – as part of Advance Queensland – is tasked with helping people get their business off the ground, work with government to identify problems that can be solved with innovation and connect talent to companies.

Businessman and investor Steve Baxter was named Queensland’s second chief entrepreneur in 2017.

He said the position should continue.

“There is a lot to having an active outbound approach to entrepreneurship and the Chief Entrepreneur was a good way to do that,” he said.

“With the Olympics in seven years, having this as part of the business landscape in Queensland would be value accretive.

“I think if the role had remit across various sectors that Queensland has capacity in – extractive industry, tourism, defence, tech – and it stays to a cheer leader and promoter role then it could be a material addition to Queensland.”

Separately, the state government has announced a review into funding issued by Advance Queensland to start-up businesses.

It was launched due to concern about a lack of information about the success or failure of companies that received cash.

Originally published as Qld’s nation-leading chief entrepreneur role could be axed