Datatech | Australian Data Exchange | Joanne Cooper

From tech, to office equipment, to roller-skating rinks – Joanne Cooper was exposed to diverse businesses from a young age. Born to a captain of the Tech industry, Joanne’s father was involved in launching Australia’s first CPM luggable computer and first IBM Compatible PC Computer. One would say, her landing in tech would be inevitable however, in school, Joanne dabbled in other areas and held a natural attraction towards math and science. Meanwhile because of the time spent around her family businesses – dreams of becoming a professional skater were born. Fast-forward to now, Joanne boasts of her love for technology, and claims she landed exactly where she was meant to be, in an industry that has so many rich facets for ambitious females to explore and excel. 

We had the chance to speak with Joanne about her journey so far, and her company - Australian Data Exchange.

Jo Cooper -Founder and CEO, ID Exchange

Where did the idea for Australian Data Exchange come from?

In August 2015, I watched an episode of 60 Minutes called “Bugged, tracked, hacked.” It literally spurred me into immediate action to develop a simple but secure way to protect and control access to people’s valuable personal data and digital footprint.  

It was very clear to me that traditional consent tools were not presented in a manner to adequately activate legislation in the best interests of the individual.  This is where my idea was born – unifying data controls through Opt In and Opt Out instruments to easily enable compliant consumer-centric consent distribution across new consumer data-sharing platforms and ecosystems.

After developing and representing a number of global products under our holding company ID Exchange, COVID escalated our focus on the critical data-sharing needs of the Australian market. Australian Data Exchange was created to tackle the wider issues and opportunities in our local market, with the ability to export solutions to the world.

 Any key stats, data, reports, research you can provide to give flavour to the opportunity/problem?

Data-sharing is a trillion-dollar market. (Boston Consulting Group - March 2014). Countries around the world are enabling agendas like eHealth and Open Banking, while at the same time enacting strict privacy laws that create:

1.    A legal and financial problem for companies that ignore their customers privacy rights and

2.    A challenge for international trade with competing data sharing and privacy laws across the world.

3.    An opportunity for companies to maximise the value exchange with their customer’s data, by embracing privacy and adding value to their relationship.

4.    The opportunity for firms like Australian Data Exchange to bring to market Regtech platforms like digi.me’s data sharing platform, which enables interoperable, consented personal data to be shared privately and securely across borders and complying with prominent laws.

There are many papers that detail the growth of data which we believe is the new raw material and key ingredient of the fourth industrial revolution.

What does Australian Data Exchange do? Who is the solution for? What problem does it solve?

The goal is for businesses that see privacy as a burden and lack the imagination, to see it as a significant opportunity.

Australian Data Exchange provides products that automate complex legislation and platforms to safely unlock the value of personal data exchanges and access rights between business and consumers.

The digi.me data sharing platform allows businesses to offer their customers greater value and services in exchange for specific access to consented personal data. This data can span social, health, energy, finance etc. If a business has the imagination, it can create exciting, hyper-personalised services for their existing customers, while attracting new ones.

Opt In Opt Out platform allows businesses to offer customers greater value in exchange for their Opt In. If a customer chooses to Opt Out, the tools ensure the customer and business are legally notified with an Opt Out receipt. With a dashboard of their receipt’s customers can choose to Opt back in any time. It is in their control and self-determination, and that’s how we like it.

What is unique about Australian Data Exchange?

Our dedicated focus is on Privacy Enhancing technologies, consent management and data facilitation platforms that ethically and securely fast track the personal data economy.

Where do see your proposition in ten years’ time? 

We see Australian Data Exchange as the default managed services infrastructure utilised by Government and Businesses that expands upon the trusted use of personal data promoting a new breed of value exchanges and services in a transparent, interoperable, and permissioned manner. 

If you are not from a Tech background how has that impacted and what do you bring to the table?

I was born into the tech sector as my father was a captain of industry, launching Australia’s first CPM luggable computer and first IBM Compatible PC Computer. I hold a great love for the technology sector.

Biggest challenge you have faced so far?

Shifting a market with new enabling technologies. It takes perseverance, tenacity, and unwavering passion.

Provide an example of a good result you experienced with Australian Data Exchange

Gaining support of like-minded thought leaders, steering policy that opens the gates to innovation and delivering systems that can grow GDP, save lives and reinforce democracy and society level freedoms.  Also seeding National grade pilot programs that will establish new industry, driving higher revenue benchmarks, demonstrate efficient technologies and create jobs.

In what ways do you think female founders are treated differently?

It depends on the setting. In some ways female leaders are being rallied, in other times we are overlooked.  The important thing for me is removing myself from identity politics and staying focused on the deliverable of what I am doing, because when you can articulate and deliver a clear and outstanding technological benefit the gender battles diminish.

What is your focus now? And for the next couple of years? How has COVID impact your activity?

Businesses and Government collect huge amounts of personal data and much of it is unusable for secondary use for various reasons, so by deploying new G2C or B2C enabling platforms we can increase the velocity of accurate, permissioned, and rich data sharing.  By going direct to the consumer (as they are the only source “agent” in the data chain who has full 360-degree personal data access ownership rights) with privacy and consent maintained, we can unlock unlimited usage capacity. 

Opening the G2C/B2C data flow channel in a regulatory compliant and secure manner is vital for markets to curate vital solutions during COVID and beyond, such as individuals donating data for good or Real World Evidence (RWE) research, patient-centric healthcare, Insurance, Superannuation and other types of highly sought after applications. For example, Open Banking will achieve much more success when the data is interoperable with accounting, wealth, tax and social data and the value exchanges become more relevant to consumers.

Our focus will be on attracting developers and product managers to create innovative services built on our platforms that dramatically reduce systems costs, time to market and compliance risks for Businesses.   

Enhanced Government eServices will demonstrate how synthesized data will assist citizens with real time services that will catapult Australia’s digital transformation economy wide advantage and leverage the Consumer Data Rights regime across our key sectors of Finance, Telco and Energy.

What tips would you have for female entrepreneurs/females in start-ups? 

If you are overwhelmingly certain and passionate that you can drive change by forming your own business, do it.  My journey has been remarkable and the most exciting period of my extensive career.

In backing my abilities, I will always look back at this period with pride for believing and elevating my skills, ambitions, and compulsion to make an imprint on our connected society.  As a mother my journey also has fulfilled my innate need to set an example for my daughter, creating technologies knowing that they will serve to secure and protect future generations of digital natives with stronger ethics, privacy, trust as they transition into industrial defaults.  This is extremely gratifying.

What are the one or two lessons/principles/ you carry with you into everything you do?

Reset everyday with that single belief which is tied to your main goal and surround yourself with other empowering people offering different skills and perspectives who are equally aligned to your mission and success.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? 

I have this vision of hosting a series of annual dinner parties in exotic locations, bringing together the “coalition of the willing” to intersect deep stewards of industry with young, up and coming minds to transfer knowledge and harness the future of tech.

I would hope to be active on a few Industry Advisory Boards, but semi-retired, satisfied that I played my role with no regrets during this all-encompassing and at sometimes crazy “digital” revolution.

How do you balance your personal time and your ‘work’ time?  

Not well, but over the years I have become much better in reading my body signals and take micro breaks or “days out” when needed.  It’s lucky for me that Australian Data Exchange’s, “social good” pursuits is core to my own ethos so the company’s charter pulls me rather than me waking up each day to feel the need to push it.

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