Michael Malone (businessman)

Michael Malone is an Irish/Australian technology entrepreneur and business executive. He was the founder and Managing Director of the Perth-based telecommunications provider iinet starting the business in his parents' garage. He is a pioneer of dial up access back in 1993 before the Internet became mainstream. Over the years he has been an advocate for Internet consumer rights as well participating in metadata debate. He was recently appointed as a non executive director of the NBNco in 2016.

Michael Malone
Born1969 (age 51–52)
Ennis, County Clare
EducationPostgraduate Diploma in Education
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Alma materThe University of Western Australia
OccupationDirector NBN Co 2016-current

Director Seven West Media 2015-current
Director Speedcast 2014-current
Director Superloop 2014-current
Director Dreamscape 2015-current
Chairman of Diamond Cyber Security 2014-current

Managing Director of iiNet 1994-2014
Known forISP Entrepreneur
Internet consumer rights
Technology pioneer
businessman

Early life

Malone was born in County Clare, Ireland and migrated to Australia in 1978 with his parents and two brothers.[1]

Education

Malone has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Post Graduate Diploma in Education from The University of Western Australia.[2]

Business career

Michael Malone and Michael O'Reilly founded iiNet in 1993, starting the business in a suburban garage in Perth as iiNet Technologies Pty Ltd. It began as one of the first Australian ISPs to offer TCP/IP Internet access, as opposed to the store-and-forward techniques (such as MHSnet) that were then in use at other ISPs. It claims it was the first ISP to offer PPP access in Australia, and to be the first to base operations on the then new Linux operating system.

The company outgrew its suburban home in 1995 and moved to CBD office accommodation yet its early growth during the Internet boom was hampered by the ability of Telstra (not releasing Bigpond as an ISP until 1997) to cope with the demand of needed telephone lines, and by the sheer competitive pressure in the Perth market, which had a comparative oversupply of low-cost providers. In 1996, iiNet successfully expanded into the Adelaide market under the name light.iinet.net.au (named after Colonel Light), in partnership with locals John Lindsay and Leigh Hart.

During his executive tenure at iiNet, Malone aggressively grew iiNet by acquiring other leading ISPs all over Australia. He grew the company to become the second largest ISP in Australia. He was also a passionate advocate for Internet consumer rights in regards to privacy as well contributing to the metadata debate.[3] Malone was a lead witness and spokesperson in the Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v iiNet Ltd copyright case that was successful in the High Court of Australia.[4]

Malone stepped aside as Managing Director in early 2014 after taking a three-week holiday in Argentina which was supposed to be a three-month to six month sabbatical.[5][6] In 2015, iiNet was acquired by TPG Telecom.[7][8]

Malone has served on the board of Seven West Media, SpeedCast, Superloop and Dreamscape Limited. He is the chairman of a Perth-based information security company Diamond Cyber.[9][10]

He joined the board of nbnco in 2016.[9] In October 2017, whilst a member of the NBN board he stated that people unable to be connected to the NBN because of connection issues who comment on that should be penalised.[11]

References
  1. Echo, Billy Cantwell, Irish (2014-06-27). "9 Irish-Australians Who Made It Big In Business". Business Insider Australia. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  2. ltd., nbn co. "Michael Malone appointed to nbn Board | nbn - Australia's new broadband network". www.nbnco.com.au. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  3. "Malone on metadata laws: 'they suck'". 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  4. "iiNet defeats AFACT in High Court Case". 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  5. Ramli, David. "'Long dark road ahead': iiNet boss Michael Malone walks away after 20 years". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  6. Philipson, Graeme. "iTWire - Michael Malone resigns from iiNet". www.itwire.com. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  7. "TPG's iiNet takeover is 'bittersweet' for Michael Malone". iTnews. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  8. Ramli, Tess Ingram and David (2015-07-27). "iiNet founder Michael Malone finally backs TPG Telecom takeover". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  9. Tucker, Harry (2016-04-22). "Former iiNet CEO and founder Michael Malone has joined the NBN board". Business Insider Australia. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  10. "Our Company: Security Through the Offensive Lens | Diamond Cyber Security". Diamond Cyber Security. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  11. Ben Grubb, (30 October 2017), Send complainers to the end of the queue, says NBN director, Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 October 2017
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