New female Fintech CEO announced while industry faces a gender diversity problem.

Australia, 21 July 2022: Jess Renden has been appointed as the new CEO of Australian crypto exchange, Cointree, becoming the first woman to lead the exchange. 

Jess joined Cointree in 2017 after a successful career at SMSF and corporate compliance software provider, BGL, and takes over from Founder, Shane Stevenson who started Cointree in 2013 and lead the company to great success over his eight-year tenure.

Jess Renden said, “Since joining in 2017 I’ve simply loved it, it’s a non-stop, 24/7, cutting edge industry, and I really believe that we’re only scratching the surface of what’s to come for the sector”.  

While the space has boomed in recent years, it has long been male-dominated with the majority of founders, workers, and investors being men but Jess believes the industry is changing with more women entering the space.  

“While in years past men have been the major adopters, we’re seeing more women investing in crypto and being quite successful also,” said Jess.

Research conducted by Cointree in December of 2021 found that while 68% of current crypto investors were men, intending users were 50% more likely to be women.

Jess said, “I’ve been in the technology industry for the last 17 years, and over this time have seen more opportunities open up for women, but there is still more work to be done on representation.” 

Just 31% of technology workers are women according to the Australian Computer Society, 2022 Australia’s Digital Pulse report, compared to 48% of the Australian workforce as a whole.

With Jess at the helm, Cointree plans to make it easier for people to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, and increase awareness of blockchain technology and its many benefits.