Craig O’Kane MBE

Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Craig began his career in 2003 as an in-house Chartered Surveyor for Prudential plc, he subsequently became an institutional Fund Manager for the investment arm of Prudential M&G with portfolio responsibility for over $1bn in UK real asset investments.

In 2009 Craig relocated to Australia and became the UK Government Director for the UK Department for International Trade advising on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of Australian companies and inbound capital infrastructure investments into the UK. In 2016 Craig became the Head of the British Consulate Brisbane and managed UK Prime Minister and Lord Mayor visits to Australia and New Zealand, including for the G20, and the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

In 2019 Craig became Director of the Office of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, within the Queensland Government, leading innovation initiatives for the State’s entrepreneurs. Here Craig worked closely with Chief Entrepreneur Leanne Kemp and Ministers and Director-Generals from the Queensland Government to assist regional startups and scale ups to grow their businesses, expand their international footprints and attain capital investment.

In 2021, Craig joined global blockchain pioneer company Everledger as Chief Operating Officer. Supporting teams across commercial, technology, and product, as well managing the finance and operational footprint of the company closely with Founder and CEO, Leanne Kemp.

Craig attended Hills Road College Cambridge and Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh where he attained a First Class Honours. He is a MRICS Chartered Surveyor, is CFA (IMC) qualified and has been honoured by Her Majesty The Queen with an MBE for his work in developing the political, trade and investment relationship between the UK and Australia.