Meet Councillor Andrew Rowse

Melbourne has all the right ingredients for entrepreneurship to flourish, according to Councillor Andrew Rowse.  

Our world-class parks and gardens, education opportunities and thriving culture make Melbourne an incredible city to live in – which is why it’s the perfect breeding ground for innovation and entrepreneurship, according to Cr Rowse.

He wants to help more startups flourish with practical solutions, and ensure that global talent wants to live and work in Melbourne. He sees this as the foundation for Melbourne’s economic future.

With almost a decade of experience in Melbourne’s innovation industry, Cr Rowse ran for Council in 2024 to help unlock more of the city’s potential in this space.

“I know how important innovation is for our future economy – especially as Victoria is the only state where our biggest export isn’t dug out of the ground, it’s our minds.”

“We’ve got all the right ingredients, but there are opportunities to help new businesses flourish. That’s why I wanted to step up.

“I’m not someone who likes to sit on the sidelines and complain – I’d rather roll up my sleeves and get involved,” Cr Rowse said.  

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From engineering to entrepreneurship

Cr Rowse’s career has been anything but linear – an advantage in a role where he helps businesses across industries to succeed.

He started out as a mechanical engineer and even led a university motorsports racing team before moving into sports marketing and event management. 

Later, he studied entrepreneurship, founding a startup developing robotic technology to help with rehabilitation for stroke survivors.  

“That experience opened my eyes. I realised I love helping others succeed – whether its researchers commercialising their work or startups finding their feet.”

More recently, he has worked to build the University of Melbourne’s research translation and startup training programs, as well as the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre.

Driving innovation through local government

As portfolio head for Innovation and Education, Cr Rowse knows the industry is fast-changing by its nature – and local government is well-placed to adapt to support it.

“My goal is to support our startup and research community to grow strategically as the city matures. Local government is close to the action – we can be more agile than other levels of government. That’s our superpower.”

In his first year on Council, he has represented the city at major innovation and trade events in India and China, meeting with founders, investors and leaders.

“Seeing how rapidly change happens in cities like Shanghai and Bangalore motivates us to think bigger, but it also reinforces what we already do incredibly well.”

When he’s overseas, Cr Rowse sees himself as an ambassador for the city.

“I say if you’ve got one day in Australia, go to Sydney. But if you’ve got a week, come to Melbourne,” Cr Rowse said.

“We don’t have an Opera House or Eiffel Tower – Melbourne is a city to be experienced, not visited. 

“Everyone finds their own version of the city, and that’s what makes it special.”

That’s the message he takes to investors and entrepreneurs.

“When I’m speaking to someone who could be the next major tech founder, my job is to show them why Melbourne is the best place to build a business.”

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Crafting the pitch for Melbourne

For Cr Rowse, Melbourne’s global appeal is rooted in its unique and local experiences, which is why he looks for opportunities to get involved beyond his portfolio.

Early in his Council term, he addressed more than 12,000 people at a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performance.

“As a massive fan of the MSO and classical music, that was a ‘pinch yourself’ moment – like wow, how did I get here?”

“It’s moments like these that remind you what makes Melbourne special – with music, cultural and sporting events every day, there’s an energy to the city that makes people want to live here.”

Cr Rowse is determined to make sure Council decisions focus on people, not politics.

“Every issue is complex, yet the decisions we make have to be black-and-white.”

“I want us make decisions based on evidence, what the community is telling us, and ultimately what’s best for Melbourne.”

To do this well, Cr Rowse wants more community input.

“Democracy should be a participation sport, and every resident, visitor and worker should have a seat at the table.”

“I encourage everyone to bring their ideas to us. Tell us about your experiences, share any evidence that will help us make decisions.

“When people do that well, solutions can happen surprisingly fast.”