Leadership grounded in enterprise responsibility
I have led a private equity-owned business as Managing Director, CEO and Board Director; held Co-CEO and acting CFO responsibilities in an ASX-listed technology company; and worked across a portfolio of education and digital businesses. These roles required decisions about strategy, people, customers, cash and the operating model, with accountability for the results.
At Open Colleges, I led a turnaround through leadership renewal, operating-model change and commercial recovery ahead of a private equity exit. At Gooroo, I helped commercialise machine-learning technology and develop the disciplines of a listed growth business. At Open Universities Australia, my responsibilities extended across digital transformation, new ventures, multiple business P&Ls, marketing and sales.
Earlier work at Google and in SEEK’s investment and education environment established deep commercial and digital expertise and experience coordinating teams across international markets. That combination remains central to how I assess a business and lead change.
Private equity and regional operating leadership
My current portfolio roles include Business Operating Partner for Lumens Capital Partners and Operating Partner for Vanta Global. Through ROI.Partners, I work on investment assessment, commercial due diligence, regional strategy, portfolio performance and technology commercialisation.
I understand the relationship between the investment thesis and the operating work it demands: stronger management, better information, disciplined use of capital, customer growth and a credible path to improved performance.
My APAC perspective combines experience in Australia and New Zealand with international commercial operations and market-specific execution. I work with investors and leaders who need to connect a global ambition with the realities of the region.
Executive responsibility and governance
I am Chief Financial Officer of Universities Admissions Centre, a role I commenced in July 2025. I operate ROI.Partners alongside that executive responsibility, with clear mandates and respect for the confidentiality of each professional relationship.
My governance background includes corporate and advisory chair roles, a former Non-Executive Director role at Governance Institute of Australia, with the appointment announced in November 2024, and independent membership of Hunters Hill Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee. These experiences add oversight, assurance and stakeholder accountability to my operating perspective.
Strong governance and strong leadership reinforce one another. A board needs a reliable view of the business; management needs clear expectations, constructive challenge and the authority to execute.
How others describe my leadership
My LinkedIn profile has 94 recommendations. The supplied recommendations include perspectives from former managers, direct reports, executive colleagues and business partners across different stages of my career.
The accounts repeatedly connect commercial and analytical judgement with the ability to mobilise people. They describe strategy translated into delivery, disciplined measurement, practical Agile ways of working, digital and marketing expertise, and leadership that builds trust and gives teams room to contribute.
Those are observations of work, not simply a list of capabilities. The excerpts below provide a starting point; my public profile gives readers access to the wider professional context.
“His accomplishments span across finance, IT, marketing and sales, bringing to each a rigourous, robust accountability with foundations firmly grounded in digital. His accomplished leadership and influencing skills have made a profound impact both at a senior executive level but also at a cultural level across the entire organisation – which is the true mark of the man.”
“He describes visions and sets goals that seem unachievable but then leads the way to achieve the impossible. Jose does this not only by creating and fostering high performance teams, but also through hands-on leadership when required.”
“I have never worked for or with any member at executive or director level who always and consistently puts the members of the team before himself while always remaining true and loyal to the company vision and ethos.”
Selected excerpts from LinkedIn recommendations · View my public profile
Professional foundations
My academic foundations include a Bachelor in Business Management and Organization, majoring in Finance Management, from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and a Graduate Certificate of Business (Management) from Monash University. I completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors' Company Directors Course in 2014 and hold the professional designations GAICD, MIPA and MAFA.
I completed INSEAD's Asian International Executive Programme in Singapore in November 2016. Through Stanford Center for Professional Development, I also completed Financing Innovation: Valuing Projects and Firms and Building Business Models. This learning adds depth to my work on regional leadership, investment decisions and technology commercialisation.
My earlier development included a Diploma in Web Design from Dublin Business School, a Certificate in Training Skills from Clarity and the Google Advertising Professionals qualification awarded in 2007. They reflect foundations in digital business and helping people build capability.
ROI.Partners brings these professional foundations together with practical experience. It is where I apply that experience in service of boards, investors, founders and executives.
Values and contribution beyond business
Integrity, courage, humility and accountability guide my leadership. I believe in setting a clear direction, listening to the people closest to the work and taking responsibility for decisions, especially when the business is under pressure.
I lead SaferBusStops.org, also known as Protect the Journey, a community initiative focused on safer bus stops and transport interchanges in NSW. It reflects my belief that leadership includes turning community concerns into informed, practical action.
Foundations that still inform my judgement
Earlier roles included Senior Financial Analyst at Fujitsu Consulting, supporting the Senior Vice President of Development, pricing and strategy work at Carphone Warehouse, and accounting at Usera Plaza. These experiences built a foundation in financial analysis and commercial choices before my later executive responsibilities.
At SEEK, I worked as Operating Partner deployed within the investment portfolio, particularly IELTS Australia and IDP Education. At Open Universities Australia, my different appointments included Chief Digital Officer and Executive General Manager, combining transformation with multi-business leadership.
My current ROI.Partners portfolio includes Chair of MANA and BEING; Business Operating Partner for Lumens Capital Partners; Operating Partner for Vanta Global; Corporate Advisor to ECTOL and Talent Street; Corporate Advisor for the Americas for ICANA; independent membership of Hunters Hill Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee; APAC Mentor for Niu Ventures; and advisor to Dr Colin Benjamin, Chair of Life. Be in it. I am also the Founder of Sadeedra. My past portfolio includes Chair roles at Sprout, International House Sydney Training and PBL Education; Advisory Chair roles at InvestorGate and Vimbal.ai; and a Non-Executive Director role at Governance Institute of Australia.
International story on television
RTVE’s Españoles en el mundo profiled part of my personal journey in Melbourne in 2011. Explore that segment and selected coverage of my professional work.
Leadership built from the ground up
My leadership journey began with hands-on work, including cleaning toilets, and progressed through finance, commercial and digital roles to executive leadership, board directorships and chair responsibilities. I understand the business from the frontline to the boardroom, and respect the contribution of people at every level.
I can lead as CEO or Managing Director, as CFO, or across other executive functions in commercial growth, digital, technology and transformation. I bring financial discipline, customer insight and practical operating judgement to the whole enterprise, with the ability to move between strategic decisions and the work required to deliver them.
Angel investor and entrepreneur
I am an angel investor and entrepreneur, as well as an executive leader and adviser. Building ventures and committing my own capital sharpen how I assess opportunity, risk, commercial traction and the choices that matter to founders and investors.
My Founder roles at ROI.Partners, Sadeedra and AgQuote reflect an entrepreneurial perspective: identify an opportunity, build a credible proposition and take responsibility for making it work. My advisory experience with Zall Asesores adds a further commercial perspective. I bring that ownership mindset to investment assessment, business growth and portfolio transformation.