Scott Farquhar
Co-founder; board director & special adviser (stepped down as co-CEO Aug 2024), Atlassian
Scott Farquhar is an Australian technology entrepreneur and investor, co-founder and former co-chief executive officer of the software company Atlassian. He co-founded Atlassian with Mike Cannon-Brookes in 2002 and served as joint CEO until stepping down at the end of August 2024, after which he remained a board director and special adviser.
Fast facts
| Role | Co-founder; board director & special adviser (stepped down as co-CEO Aug 2024) |
|---|---|
| Company | Atlassian |
| Sector | Enterprise / collaboration software (SaaS) |
| Headquarters | NSW |
| In role since | 2002 |
| Education | University of New South Wales (Bachelor of Science, Information Technology) |
| Other roles | Co-founder of Skip Capital (investment firm); board of the Tech Council of Australia; philanthropy |
Background
Co-founded Atlassian in 2002 with Mike Cannon-Brookes; joint CEO until end of August 2024; remains on the board
Career timeline
- 2002Co-founded Atlassian with Mike Cannon-Brookes
- 2006Named Australian Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young alongside Cannon-Brookes
- 2015Led Atlassian's NASDAQ IPO as co-CEO
- 2024Announced in April he would step down as joint CEO at the end of August; remained on the board and as special adviser
Notable
- Born in Parramatta, Sydney; attended James Ruse Agricultural High School
- Often described as an 'accidental billionaire' after Atlassian's growth far exceeded the founders' modest early ambitions
- Co-founded the Skip Foundation and investment firm Skip Capital with his wife Kim Jackson
- After leaving the co-CEO role, focused on philanthropy, investing and mentoring technology CEOs
- Named, with Mike Cannon-Brookes, to Forbes' 'Global Game Changers' list in 2017
Frequently asked questions
What is Scott Farquhar known for?
He co-founded Atlassian in 2002 and served as its joint CEO until stepping down at the end of August 2024.
Why did Scott Farquhar step down as Atlassian co-CEO?
He announced in April 2024 that he would resign as joint CEO to focus on family, philanthropy and the wider technology industry, remaining on the board as a special adviser.
What does Scott Farquhar do now?
He focuses on the Skip Foundation and Skip Capital, philanthropy, investing and mentoring technology leaders, while remaining an Atlassian director.
Public profiles
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Farquhar
- https://www.forbes.com.au/covers/magazine/atlassian-billionaires-on-ai-startups-and-aussie-tech-growth/
- https://www.atlassian.com/blog/announcements/scott-farquhar-ceo-transition
- https://www.forbes.com/profile/scott-farquhar/
Last verified 2026-07-13. Professionally-public, sourced information only.