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Appen provides accurate and reliable human annotated datasets that fuel AI and machine learning for some of the world’s biggest brands.  With more than 25 years of industry knowledge, Appen powers many of the AI interactions we experience every day.

Our crowd solutions and expertise empower businesses to achieve their AI goals and make a significant impact in their industry.

Join us as we shape the future of AI and unlock its limitless possibilities.

Our leadership team

Ryan Kolln

Chief Executive Officer

Andrea Clayton

Chief People Officer

Andrew Ettinger

Chief Revenue Officer

Roc Tian

SVP and General Manager, Appen China + JK

Justin Miles

Chief Financial Officer

Eric de Cavaignac

Chief Transformation Officer and General Manager of Crowd

Brian Haskett

Senior Vice President of Client Management and Operations

Carl Middlehurst

Vice President of General Counsel

Helen Giddings

Vice President of Delivery for Major Accounts

Robert Page

Vice President of Delivery for Strategic Accounts

Appen careers

Join our global team of passionate and talented individuals who are working together to shape the future of AI.

At Appen, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects and collaborate with experts from around the world.

Visit our careers page to explore current opportunities.

Board of directors

Richard Freudenstein

Non-executive Chair

Richard was appointed Chair in October 2021 and has been a non-executive director since August 2021. Richard is a director of Coles Group Limited (ASX: COL), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) and Cricket Australia. Previously, he was Chairman of REA Group Ltd. He is a former director of Ten Network Holdings Ltd (ASX: TEN), Foxtel and Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad, and was previously a member of the Advisory Board of artificial intelligence software company, Afiniti Ltd (2017–2022). Richard has extensive experience as a media executive in Australia and overseas. He was previously the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Foxtel (2011–2016), CEO of The Australian newspaper and News Digital Media at News Ltd (2006–2010) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at British Sky Broadcasting (2000–2006). He is currently Deputy Chancellor and Fellow of the Senate at the University of Sydney. Richard has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.

Richard is a member of the People and Culture Committee.

Ryan Kolln

CEO and Managing Director

Ryan Kolln is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Appen. Ryan brings over 20 years of global experience in technology and telecommunications, along with a deep understanding of Appen’s business and the AI industry. His professional career began as an engineer, with a focus on mobile network data engineering in Australia, Asia and North America. On completion of an MBA from New York University, Ryan joined The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2011 as a strategy consultant. During his time at BCG he specialised in technology and telecommunications and gained deep strategy expertise across a variety of growth and operational topics.

Steve Hasker

Non-executive Director

Steve has extensive experience as a CEO, COO and Advisor in the US. Since March 2022, he has held the position of President and CEO of Thomson Reuters. He was a Senior Advisor to private equity firm TPG Capital (2019–2020) and CEO of CAA Global, a TPG Capital portfolio company (2018–2019). At Nielsen Holdings PLC, Steve served as Global President and COO (2015–2017) and President, Global Products (2009–2014). Steve was a partner with McKinsey (1998–2009). Before that, Steve spent five years in several financial roles in the U.S. and other countries. He holds an MBA and a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University.

Steve is Chair of the People and Culture Committee.

Robin Low

Non-executive Director

Robin has extensive finance, risk and business experience from her 28-year career at PricewaterhouseCoopers where she was a partner specialising in assurance and risk, mainly in financial services. She was previously deputy chair of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. Robin is an experienced non-executive director, holding other current ASX directorships with IPH Limited (ASX: IPH) and Articore Limited (ASX:ATG). Her previous ASX board roles included CSG Limited (ASX: CSV), AUB Group (ASX: AUB) Limited and Marley Spoon SE (ASX: MMM). Robin is also a director of the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and the Sax Institute, a member of Anacacia’s Business Advisory Council and she is a member of the Audit Committee for the University of NSW. Robin has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Robin is Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Stuart Davis

Non-executive Director

Stuart is a director of NEXTDC Limited (ASX: NXT) and Chair of the Remuneration Committee, a non-executive director of Bank of South Pacific Limited and PayPal Australia Ltd where he serves as Chair of the Risk Committee at both companies. He has more than 30 years’ experience as an international banker with the HSBC Group where he was CEO, HSBC India (2009–2012), CEO and Executive Director for HSBC Bank Australia Limited (2002–2009) and CEO HSBC Taiwan (1999–2002). He was a member of the Australian Bankers Association from 2002–2009 and Deputy Chair from 2006–2009. Stuart holds a LLB from Adelaide University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Stuart is a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Vanessa Liu

Non-executive Director

Vanessa has a deep expertise of emerging technology trends and enterprise uptake of artificial intelligence, especially in the US market. She is the Founder and CEO of SaaS technology company Sugarwork and is a non-executive director of Goodman Group (ASX: GMG). Most recently she was the Vice President of SAP.iO, the early-stage venture arm of SAP. Prior, Vanessa was the Chief Operating Officer at Trigger Media Group, a digital media incubator. Before that, Vanessa was Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company’s Media and Entertainment Practice where she served clients in media and high-tech sectors on issues of digital media strategy, emerging market strategy, growth and innovation. Vanessa graduated magna cum laude with an AB in psychology from Harvard University and cum laude with a JD from Harvard Law School. She serves as President of the Harvard Alumni Association.

Vanessa is a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Lynn Mickleburgh

Non-executive Director

Lynn has experience as an ASX non-executive director, a board advisor and transformational leader of both Fortune 500 companies and high growth SaaS companies. Lynn is a former non-executive Director of ASX listed Altium Limited (ASX:ALU), where she chaired the HR Committee and served on the Audit and Risk Committee. Previously, she was Head of Business Optimisation at Atlassian Inc, VP Finance at Citrix Systems and held various global and operational roles at Adobe Systems and Apple Computer. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and an MBA in Business Management.

Lynn is a member of the People and Culture Committee.

Mini Peiris

Non-executive Director

Mini is a go-to-market advisor for high growth SaaS companies within the portfolio of Scale Venture Partners and is Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Doma (NYSE: DOMA), a real estate technology company. Prior to that, she was the CMO at Elementum (a Lightspeed company) and Ambra Health (acquired by Hg’s Intelerad). Mini spent 12+ years at cloud-pioneer company NetSuite (NYSE: N), from its early stages through to its IPO and beyond. She helped drive product growth as VP of Product Management, then went on to lead a global team as VP Worldwide Marketing that delivered go-to-market scale from US$100 million to US$750 million. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan.

Mini is a member of the People and Culture Committee.

Offices

US Headquarters

12131 113th Ave, N.E., Suite 100
Kirkland, WA  98034

Australia Headquarters

Level 6, 9 Help Street Chatswood NSW 2067

Toronto 

200 Bay Street, South Tower, Suite 2103, Toronto ON M5J 2J5

Exeter

Rockeagle House Pynes Hill Exeter, EX2 5AZ, Devon

Sydney

9 Help Street, Suite 6, NSW 2067

Cavite

BPO building 1 Suntech iPark Lancaster New City, Barangay Alapan II Imus Cavite, Philippines

Beijing

712, 7/F Metropolis Tower, No.2 Haidian Dongsan Street Zhongguancun Xi Zone, Haidian District Beijing, China

Shanghai

Unit 701 Block E Chamtime Plaza, No.6 Lane 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong District, Shanghai, China

Wuxi

Wuxi branch of Southeast University, 4th floor, Liye Building, Zone E No.99 Linghu Avenue Wuxi, Jiangsu, China

Tokyo

9F 1-5-1 Shin Marunouchi Building, Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan, 100-6509

India

Office 2, Eighth Floor, Tower 1, Sattva Knowledge Park, Raidurg, Hyderabad, Telangana, India - 500081

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