Mawson Ventures

Stephen Phillips, as CEO, runs day-to-day deal evaluation and portfolio management from the Brisbane office. Graeme Wood, as Chair and the firm's primary capital source, holds ultimate authority on allocation and major commitments. This two-person investment committee structure keeps decision latency low and removes the need for external LP consultation on individual deals.

The firm leverages Wood's earned credibility from the Wotif exit and Phillips's operator network from the We Are Hunted acquisition by Twitter. Brisbane's startup ecosystem, smaller and more relationship-driven than Sydney's, provides direct founder access without the auction dynamics common in larger markets. The Queensland university and accelerator pipeline is a known channel.

The firm operates as a balance-sheet investor backed by Graeme Wood's personal capital, not as a fund manager raising from external limited partners. There is no disclosed fund vintage, target size, or deployment window, which allows for indefinite hold periods on venture positions and real assets alike.

The Graeme Wood Foundation is a separate philanthropic entity that sits alongside Mawson Ventures within Wood's broader family capital architecture. It focuses on environmental grantmaking through the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network and supports arts access via Artology. The foundation does not make for-profit venture investments, though its mission preferences inform Mawson's thematic tilt toward climate and sustainability deals.

Spring Bay Mill is a 2,000-hectare former woodchip mill on Tasmania's east coast that Wood acquired and is redeveloping into a mixed-use hospitality, events, and cultural precinct. It operates as a direct real asset within Mawson Ventures, generating venue revenue while advancing a land-remediation and conservation mandate. Anna Cerneaz, a director of the Graeme Wood Foundation, oversees the mill's operations alongside the Prosser River Reserve.