Chris Vella - Round 1, 2018 Champion

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Helping small businesses to thrive in a digital environment

Hailing from a family of IT professionals, Chris Vella has been immersed in technology his whole life. Seeing his father run a successful IT business in Mackay exposed Chris first-hand to how technology can improve local businesses. It was this upbringing that ignited his passion for educating others about the benefits of using and adopting the latest technology.

Chris is a Senior ICT Systems Engineer at Mackay Regional Council who dedicates his spare time to providing IT services to individuals, small businesses and start-ups. As a pioneer member of the co-working innovation hub Split Spaces, Chris helps by managing all the IT requirements for the hub and keeps the space technologically active.

As President to Startup Mackay Inc, Chris helps foster the local startup ecosystem through the promotion of events and meetups, teaching members start-up and technology techniques, and helping local start-ups find investment to pursue their ideas. He also focuses on fostering technology and entrepreneurial skills through multiple youth initiatives. Chris recently joined as a committee member of the Mackay IT Network, a community group dedicated to promoting a strong and sustainable ICT industry in the Mackay-Whitsunday region, and is an active participant in Young Professionals (YP) Mackay.

As a Community Digital Champion, Chris will continue to educate others in the use of technology by:

  • encouraging participation and providing mentorship at Startup Weekend and Startup Weekend Youth events, connecting people, teaching them how to develop a start-up, and encouraging them to learn new skills while collaborating with others
  • mentoring young people in learning how to code as a volunteer CoderDojo tutor
  • fostering a passion for technology and entrepreneurship through mentoring of youth and facilitation/support of events such as hackathons, think tanks and pitch nights
  • volunteering his time at Split Spaces to provide IT services for start-ups and small businesses
  • contributing to the Mackay IT Network Business Event by connecting businesses with local IT professionals to support their journey in becoming more tech savvy.


Chris is nominated by: Split Spaces

Helping small businesses to thrive in a digital environment

Hailing from a family of IT professionals, Chris Vella has been immersed in technology his whole life. Seeing his father run a successful IT business in Mackay exposed Chris first-hand to how technology can improve local businesses. It was this upbringing that ignited his passion for educating others about the benefits of using and adopting the latest technology.

Chris is a Senior ICT Systems Engineer at Mackay Regional Council who dedicates his spare time to providing IT services to individuals, small businesses and start-ups. As a pioneer member of the co-working innovation hub Split Spaces, Chris helps by managing all the IT requirements for the hub and keeps the space technologically active.

As President to Startup Mackay Inc, Chris helps foster the local startup ecosystem through the promotion of events and meetups, teaching members start-up and technology techniques, and helping local start-ups find investment to pursue their ideas. He also focuses on fostering technology and entrepreneurial skills through multiple youth initiatives. Chris recently joined as a committee member of the Mackay IT Network, a community group dedicated to promoting a strong and sustainable ICT industry in the Mackay-Whitsunday region, and is an active participant in Young Professionals (YP) Mackay.

As a Community Digital Champion, Chris will continue to educate others in the use of technology by:

  • encouraging participation and providing mentorship at Startup Weekend and Startup Weekend Youth events, connecting people, teaching them how to develop a start-up, and encouraging them to learn new skills while collaborating with others
  • mentoring young people in learning how to code as a volunteer CoderDojo tutor
  • fostering a passion for technology and entrepreneurship through mentoring of youth and facilitation/support of events such as hackathons, think tanks and pitch nights
  • volunteering his time at Split Spaces to provide IT services for start-ups and small businesses
  • contributing to the Mackay IT Network Business Event by connecting businesses with local IT professionals to support their journey in becoming more tech savvy.


Chris is nominated by: Split Spaces