Our team

Paul Dillon

Co-founder & CEO

Paul is passionate about creating economic opportunities for people in regional and rural communities, particularly through entrepreneurship, innovation and digital transformation.

Originally from Swan Hill in the Victorian Mallee, Paul’s journey saw him develop a broad range of digital skills and experience over 15 years while living and working in France and the UK. A highlight of his time abroad was managing the online presence for Allianz Global Assistance over nine years, overseeing 40 corporate websites for the travel insurer, social media strategy, online reputation and a domain names portfolio across 30 countries.

Paul returned to his home town in 2014 with his young family and, acutely aware of the opportunities presented by the digital economy, began channelling his energy into building a regional ecosystem - a “Regional Rising” - to nurture innovation and entrepreneurial activity and create economic outcomes in regional communities. This included opening a coworking space - operating as a social enterprise with a focus on creating social and economic benefit - as well as coaching and developing workshops and programs to build digital capability.

Paul enjoys building partnerships with stakeholders at all levels to support entrepreneurs (particularly early stage and youth), startup and existing businesses, industry and the broader digital transformation of communities, including working with educators to develop people with the skills for the jobs of the future (STEM).

In 2020 Paul and his family returned to Warrnambool, where he studied at Deakin University almost 30 years earlier.

Leighton Wells

Co-founder

Lara-based entrepreneur Leighton Wells, founder of Pivot Summit, a major technology event that brought Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to Geelong in 2017.

Leighton, an advocate for STEM subjects, studied biochemistry at university and progressed into marketing roles with scientific instruments companies including Agilent and tech companies including MYOB and ADP Employer Services (NASDAQ: ADP), earlier in his career prior to Pivot Summit.

He is also an experienced marketing professional, having worked in senior marketing roles over 20 years for companies such as OfficeMax (NYSE: OMX) and Dexion (part of GUD Holdings, ASX: GUD). He is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute.

Leighton lives in the township of Lara, outside Geelong with his young family, wife and two daughters.