Atlassian bulks up board

Software provider Atlassian has appointed Shona Brown and Heather Mirjahangir Fernandez to its board of directors.

Brown is a former member of the Google executive team, which she joined in 2003, serving as senior vice president of business operations until 2011, when she transitioned to a role leading Google's technology for social impact efforts.

She is currently an adviser and board member to a portfolio of technology start-ups and also serves on the board of PepsiCo, and is a director of a number of not-for-profit organisations.

Fernandez is currently the CEO and co-founder of a start-up in the digital health space. Previously, she served as a senior executive at online real-estate platform, Trulia, which was acquired by Zillow in 2015.

Prior to Trulia, Fernandez was an adviser at Morgan Stanley, director of the Impact Group at Blanc & Otus, and deputy press secretary for Senator John McCain's 2000 presidential bid.

Nine Entertainment has appointed Hugh Marks as chief executive officer (CEO). The announcement follows the retirement of long–term CEO, David Gyngell. Gyngell will remain on the board of Nine Entertainment as a non-executive director.

Marks first joined the board of Nine Entertainment in February 2013, prior to the company's initial public offering. He has 20 years' experience as a senior executive in content production and broadcasting in Australia and overseas.

Following the appointment, Marks has announced he will cease his involvement in other content and broadcasting companies.

Dr Alan Finkel AO has been appointed Australia's next chief scientist and will commence in the role in January 2016. He succeeds Professor Ian Chubb AC, whose term concludes at the end of 2015.

Dr Finkel is a prominent engineer, respected neuroscientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is currently the Chancellor of Monash University and is President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).

In his role as chief scientist he will provide independent advice to the government on science, innovation and commercialisation.