Scott Farquhar (born December 1979) is an Australian billionaire, the co-founder and co-CEO of the software company Atlassian. Farquhar often carries the epithet of accidental billionaire after he and his business partner Mike Cannon-Brookes founded Atlassian with the aim to replicate the A$48,000 graduate starting salary typical at corporations without having to work for someone else.
With Cannon-Brookes, Atlassian, a collaboration software company with more than 51,000 large and small organisations as customers – including some of the biggest names in media, manufacturing and technology[8] – use Atlassian’s tracking, collaboration, communication, service management and development products. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of New South Wales’ School of Computer Science and Engineering. Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar were recognised for their achievements as the Australian IT Professional of the Year award in 2004, and Australian 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year. Farquhar has mentored through the Australian Businesswomen’s Network and gives guest lectures on entrepreneurship to MBA students and undergraduates.
In 2018, Farquhar spoke out against the Australian Government’s renaming of the 457 visas, saying the move damages Australia’s reputation as a place that people want to come to work.
