techUK and the Tech Council of Australia Sign Landmark Tech Partnership
techUK and the Tech Council of Australia (TCA) have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant milestone in technology industry collaboration between Australia and the United Kingdom.
Signed during London Tech Week at the UK Department for Business and Trade in the Old Admiralty Building and announced at the Aus-UK Chamber of Commerce Tech Week Event at Australia House in London, the agreement builds on the momentum of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which came into force in 2023. The FTA includes the world’s first innovation chapter which recognises the important role that innovation plays in stimulating competitiveness, increasing productivity, encouraging investment and promoting international trade. It also includes a strong digital trade chapter emphasising the importance of promoting trusted data flows, banning data localisation, and enabling digital trade facilitation.
The new techUK and TCA partnership is a practical step toward implementing the objectives of the FTA and formalises those ambitions at an industry level. techUK and TCA will work together to deepen cooperation and collaboration between tech sectors, with a focus on technology trade, regulation, investment, and innovation. This includes sharing knowledge and insights, aligning on regulatory and policy issues, and driving practical commercial opportunities for UK and Australian technology companies.
At the core of the MoU is a commitment to supporting technology businesses, especially SMEs, expand across borders. This means better access to markets, clearer insights into regulatory environments, and stronger connections to potential partners and investors.
The partnership will focus on emerging and critical technology areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital identity, fintech. These are sectors where both the UK and Australia have established industry strengths and where closer collaboration can unlock new commercial opportunities to bolster long-term digital resilience.
The UK Government’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for Australia and New Zealand, Louise Cantillon, welcomes the initiative stating,
“I am delighted to support this partnership between techUK and the Tech Council of Australia. The UK has the third largest tech sector in the world, is home to multiple unicorns, and investment is at a 20-year high, with VC Investors pumping $16.2 billion into UK tech last year. Likewise, Australia has demonstrated success at growing and attracting global tech companies in a variety of verticals such as Business Software, BioTech and PayTech. To truly recognise the economic potential of technology within our countries, we need to bring together founders, academia, trade associations, investors and government to drive ambition and share ideas and best practice. By working together through partnerships like these, we can unlock new opportunities, drive innovation and strengthen the position of our tech nations.”
Australia’s Trade and Investment Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland, Annika Barton noted,
“We are delighted to support this partnership, which coincides with the two-year anniversary of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement. It sends a strong signal the opportunities created through the FTA are being realised and backed by meaningful industry partnerships on the ground. The new partnership will raise awareness of the opportunity for commercial collaboration between our respective tech sectors and complement existing market expansion pathways such as Austrade’s new London Landing Pad program.”
techUK’s Deputy CEO, Antony Walker, stated,
“We are really excited to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tech Council of Australia. Tech already plays a huge role in the UK-Australia partnership through AUKUS, and with the brilliant FTA, which has a strong digital chapter. The UK and Australia are not just connected by history and language, but by a deep commitment to open markets, democratic governance, and a rules-based digital world. We are looking forward to working together, sharing knowledge and expertise, and creating opportunities for our respective members.”
TCA’s Chief Business Officer, Chris O’Connell, said,
“The TCA is delighted to partner with techUK. The partnership is about deepening channels of engagement between our technology industry sectors. It is about building stronger and deeper tech ecosystems by connecting startups, scaleups, investors, and policy experts. It is fitting that we launch this partnership at London Tech Week, where we are joined by over 70 Australian technology companies.”
Richard Basil Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Australia-UK Chamber of Commerce, in speaking of the announcement:
“The Tech Council of Australia and techUK are leading trade associations representing the strength, dynamism and strong collaboration between the UK and Australian tech sectors. Importantly, they both have this incredibly aligned and common focus – their partnership will advance shared digital economy goals and provides a framework for deeper cooperation on trade, investment, and innovation.”
About techUK
techUK is a membership organisation in the United Kingdom whose mission is to champion the technology sector and prepare and empower the UK for what comes next, delivering a better future for people, society, the economy and the planet. It is the UK’s leading digital technology membership organisation, with more than 1100 members spread across the UK. These companies range from leading FTSE 100 companies to new innovative start-ups. The majority of techUK’s members are small and medium-sized businesses. By working collaboratively with government and others, techUK provides expert guidance and insight for members and stakeholders about how to prepare for the future, anticipate change and realise the positive potential of technology in a fast-moving world.
About Tech Council
The Tech Council of Australia is the peak industry body for Australia’s tech sector. Providing a trusted voice for Australia’s technology industry, with over 170 members, the Tech Council comprises the full spectrum of tech companies. We aim to advise and engage with Australian governments, businesses, and the wider community to help support the ongoing creation, development, and adoption of technology across industries. Our vision is for a prosperous Australia that thrives by harnessing the power of technology.
If you would like to engage more with this MoU and our wider Australia-focused work, please email [email protected].
For media inquiries, please contact Sofia Polak ([email protected]) | 0434 275 449
For TCA’s international practice, please contact Erika Ly ([email protected]) | 0403 269 033
techUK International Policy and Trade Programme activities
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Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the Local and General Election and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation. As well as working for multiple charities on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from University of Nottingham.
