Simon Baker

Simon Baker is a globallyrecognised leader in the online real estate and marketplaces industry, withover 25 years of experience shaping the digital transformation of propertyplatforms worldwide. He is currently a Co-Founder and Partner at Fusion 4 Ventures,a specialised investment and advisory firm that helps PropTech businessesrapidly scale with a view to high-impact exits.

Simon is perhaps best known forhis transformative leadership as CEO of the REA Group (ASX: REA) from 2001 to2008. During his tenure, he turned the business around, growing annual revenuesfrom $4 million to $155 million, turning a $4 million EBITDA loss into a $35million profit, and increasing the company’s market capitalisation from $8million to $1 billion. His success laid the foundation for REA’s status todayas one of the world’s most valuable real estate platforms.

A serial investor and companybuilder, Simon has made over 50 PropTech and marketplace investments acrossfive continents. These include major success stories such as Grupo Zap(acquired by OLX), Mitula Group (acquired by Lifull), PropTech Group (acquiredby MRI), and Redbubble (ASX-listed).

He brings a unique combinationof boardroom leadership and operational experience, having served on the boardsof seven listed companies (across the ASX, NASDAQ, and NYSE), including asChairman of four, and has taken four companies through the listing process. Hisdeep insight into scaling and exiting digital businesses makes him asought-after advisor and mentor to founders and CEOs.

Simon is also the founder of theProperty Portal Watch and Global Online Marketplaces Conferences – havinghosted over 38 conferences across 14 years – and is the driving force behindOnline Marketplaces, the leading global news and insights platform for theindustry.

With Fusion 4 Ventures, Simoncontinues to support and accelerate the next wave of PropTechinnovation—offering capital, strategy, and a proven global network to helpcompanies thrive in an increasingly competitive market.