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Tan Le

    About Tan

    Tan Le (BCom (Hon), LLB (Hon)) is Founder & CEO of EMOTIV, a neuroinformatics company advancing understanding of the human brain using electroencephalography (EEG). She is a technology innovator, entrepreneur, business executive and sought-after speaker.

    Today, EMOTIV's award winning technology (Red Dot Award, AutoVision Innovations Award, Australian Internatintaiononal Design Awards, Australian Engineering Excellence Awards) is a recognized world leader and pioneer in the field of mobile EEG & brain computer interfaces with researchers in over 100 countries.

    Tan is the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious 2018 Innovation Research Interchange (IRI) Achievement Award as a pioneering leader in the development of mobile EEG systems and in advancing understanding of the human brain;  G'Day USA Global Innovation Awards, Advance Global Australian Award for ICT, AutoVision Innovations Award, Monash University Distinguished Alumni Award. She was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2013. She has been featured in the Who's Who in Australia list since 1999, Fast Company's Most Influential Women in Technology in 2010 and Forbes' 50 Names You Need to Know in 2011. She has also been an Ambassador for the Status of Women since 2001. Named Young Australian of the Year in 1998, Ms Le's story is featured in the National Museum of Australia. She was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2009.

    In 2018, a portrait of Tan was added to the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia- an honor bestowed on prominent Australians whose life sets them apart as an individual of long-term public interest.

    In September 2020, Tan was appointed to the Group Board of QBE Insurance, a general insurance and reinsurance company. QBE offers commercial, personal and specialty products and risk management solutions. QBE is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and employs more than 11,700 people in over 27 countries. Tan was appointed Chair of the People & Remuneration Committee from May 2022. 

    Board experience

    Non Executive Director | Chair of People & Remuneration Committee, Member of Audit, Operations & Technology, Governance & Nomination Committees

    2020Present
    QBE

    QBE is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and headquartered in Sydney. QBE is a general insurance and reinsurance company. Across our operations we offer commercial, personal and specialty products and risk management solutions to our customers. Our purpose is to give people the confidence to achieve their ambitions.

    We employ more than 11,700 people in over 27 countries.

    Global Future Council on Technology for Mental Health

    20192020
    World Economic Forum

    Technology – particularly social media, chatbots and digital voice assistants – is affecting individuals’ mental health positively and negatively. The Global Future Council on Technology for Mental Health will address the potential and the pitfalls of technology and mental health. Focus areas could include detecting suicidal ideation directed at social media posts or voice-controlled devices such as Alexa or Siri, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). The Council will examine: understanding the strengths and limitations of AI/ML for mental healthcare applications; promoting the appropriate use of AI/ML within the mental healthcare system; and highlighting areas of work needed to facilitate the broader use of AI/ML in improving mental health.

    Chair | Monash Global Leaders Network Advisory Committee - USA West Coast

    20182020
    Monash University

    The Global Leaders' Network Advisory Committee draws on the skills, expertise and connections of the University's most significant alumni in the Bay Area to assist in enhancing the global alumni experience and build the alumni network in their location; assist in attracting philanthropic support to Monash and to assist in enhancing the student experience of current Monash students.

    Board of Stewards - Shaping the Future of Information & Entertainment

    20162018
    World Economic Forum

    Many challenges facing today’s leaders cannot be addressed by a single government, industry, company or other institution alone. The issues are often too complex, interrelated and rapidly evolving. A broader, interdisciplinary mobilization of expertise and resources is required.

    The Stewardship Board is comprised of government ministers, CEOs and leading experts, who assume an informal, collective sense of stewardship for the public-private dimension of international cooperation and progress on shaping the future of the World Economic Forum's systems towards a sustainable flow of information, content and data to inform, entertain and educate, while empowering society. 

    Global Future Council on Neurotechnologies & Brain Science

    20162018
    World Economic Forum

    A member of the foremost interdisciplinary knowledge network dedicated to promoting innovative thinking on the future. 

    The network convenes the most relevant and knowledgeable thought leaders from academia, government, business and civil society to challenge conventional thinking and develop new insights and perspectives on the key global systems, as well as the impact and governance of key emerging technologies: Neurotechnologies, AI, Robotics, Precision Medicine, Blockchain and their societal and business applications.

    Director

    20112013
    Scanadu Inc.

    Non-executive director of a fast growing, early stage start up developing consumer medical grade device products. Involved in strategic positioning & communication, product definition, key team hires & early stage financing rounds. 

    Director

    20032006
    PLAN International Australia

    Plan in Australia is part of Plan globally and is one of the world's largest community development organisations committed to ending child poverty. Plan works with children, their families and communities in 49 countries in Asia, Africa and Central & South America. Plan helps communities to help themselves, so that children have opportunities to develop into healthy, educated adults.

    Non-executive director of a non-profit involved in strategic decisions around development programs, technology adoption, governance & advocacy. 

    Advisory Board

    20002002
    RMIT University - Business in Entrepreneurship

    The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology is one of Australia’s original and leading educational institutions, producing some of Australia’s most employable graduates. With more than 60,000 students studying at RMIT campuses in Melbourne and regional Victoria, in Vietnam, online, by distance education, and at partner institutions throughout the world, the University is one of the largest in the country. 

    Advised on strategic direction, communication, curriculum, assessment & supporting frameworks for the creation and delivery of an undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship.

    Australian Citizenship Council

    19992001
    Australian Federal Government

    The Australian Citizenship Council was established in August 1998 as an independent body to advise the Minister of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on contemporary issues relating to Australian citizenship. 

    Work experience

    Founder & CEO

    Jul 2011Present
    EMOTIV

    Founder & CEO of EMOTIV,  the global leader in neuroinformatics. The company leverages large scale brain data to build machine learning models that advance understanding of the human brain and to augment & enhance human performance. 

    EMOTIV’s mobile brain sensors and cloud computing platform can monitor and analyze the detection of people’s cognitive functions in real-time and at scale. The company is partnering with Fortune 1000 companies, applying its advanced mobile and personalized neuroinformatics solutions to improve operations, enhance customer experience and create personalized evidence-based strategies powered by behavioral and brain insights.

    Co-Founder & President

    Dec 2003Sep 2010
    Emotiv Systems

    Co-founder & President of Emotiv Systems, a neuroengineering company that developed a breakthrough interface technology for digital media taking inputs directly from the brain. 

    President

    Sep 2000Dec 2003
    SASme International

    Co-founder & President of SASme Internation Pty Ltd, a wireless technology company. SASme was a pioneer in providing SMPP platforms to telecommunication carriers and content aggregators in Australia, with branches in Asia and Europe. Tan was part of negotiating a successful merger for SASme in 2003.

    Solicitor

    Feb 1999Aug 2000
    Freehills

    Freehills is an Australian-based international law firm, providing innovative, commercial legal advice to clients around the world, with the resources and expertise of around 1000 lawyers, including more than 200 partners across offices in Australia and South-East Asia.

    Education

    Executive Education, Global Leadership & Public Policy for the 21st Century

    2012
    Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government

    Bachelor of Commerce(Honours)/Bachelor of Laws(Honours)

    1998
    Monash University

    Recipient of Monash Distinguished Alumni Award 2011

    Books & Publications

    Honors & Awards

    Innovation Research Interchange (IRI) Achievement Award 2018

    Young Global Leader 2009 of the World Economic Forum

    G'Day USA Global Innovation Awards 2014

    National Geographic Emerging Explorer 2013

    Advance Global Australian Award for ICT 2012

    Monash University Distinguished Alumni Award 2011

    AutoVision Innovations Award 2011

    Forbes: 50 Names You Need to Know in 2011

    Fast Company's Most Influential Women in Technology 2010

    Who's Who in Australia 2008-2010 and Who's Who of Australian Women 2008-2010

    Featured in the Eternity Exhibition in the National Museum of Australia

    Featured in the Immigration Museum

    Voted one of Australia's 30 Most Successful Women Under 30

    Goodwill Ambassador for Australia to Asia

    Special Visitor to the United Kingdom as a guest of the British High Commission and Foreign Commonwealth Office

    Patron of the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program

    Ambassador for the Status of Women 2001

    Young Australian of the Year 1998