Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 | 10 Entrepreneur Matthew Willie is the founder and CEO of both 9X5 Consulting and Education360. Helping transform organisations through the power of technology, Matthew recognises how important it is for businesses in this day and age to secure a proficient IT partner and this is exactly what he strives to deliver through his companies. Recognised with two awards for his work in the education sector, we had the pleasure of speaking with Matthew for more on his roles and responsibilities. Most Innovative Education Data Analytics CEO of the Year 2026: Matthew Willie & APAC Insider School Data Governance Excellence Award 2026 Based in Melbourne, 9X5 Consulting creates purposedriven, tech-based solutions designed simply to transform lives. It blends technology, process, and people with an open, diverse and trust-based approach, unlocking digital futures where individuals have the tools they need to thrive. A 100% Australian-owned company, 9X5 Consulting turns ambition into enterprise-scale impact and offers services relating to software, hardware, IT support, project management, digital architecture, strategy/advisory and more. This same commitment to purposeful, people-centred technology extends to Education360, a 100% Australian-owned education technology platform powered by 9X5 Consulting. Built specifically for Australian schools, Education360 exists to foster data-driven decision making empowering educators to spend less time on administrative work and more time building bright futures for their students. By bridging the gaps between internal and existing systems and eliminating the inefficiencies of fragmented data management, the platform redefines what it truly means to manage school data, going well beyond the generic solutions that currently exist in the market. One of the many things tying these interlinked companies together is Matthew Willie, who is the founder and CEO of both. Matthew has long been interested in technology, dating back to his days in high school with the Commodore 64. After completing a Bachelor’s in Business Computing, Matthew secured his first role with Hewlett-Packard, initially working on the helpdesk but quickly moving into programming. This marked the first of many tech-based jobs in numerous companies, from management and partner roles to heading up sales and strategy. After more than 25 years working for others, Matthew decided to go into business for himself, bringing together the best of what he learned over the course of his career, plugging the gaps in the way consulting services are delivered and creating technology solutions aligned with the needs of real businesses. He explained: “I believed there was an opportunity to build a company that combined strong technical capability with a practical, client outcome-focused approach.” This meant creating an organisation offering advice and solutions. The result was 9X5 Consulting, which Matthew leads with a combination of strategic oversight and hands-on involvement. He added: “While I always maintain a close view of the company’s financial performance and overall direction, I also remain actively involved in working with our development teams on new initiatives, particularly around our platform Education360. This includes shaping product direction, discussing new features and ensuring that what we are building continues to align with the real-world needs of our clients.” Perhaps Matthew’s primary responsibility as CEO is to ensure that neither 9X5 Consulting or Education360 get left behind and this is why staying actively involved in the evolution of technology is something he dedicates a lot of time to. Within Education360, this is particularly important, as schools are facing increasing expectations around their data and compliance. To this end, the platform has recently invested in its NCCD360 pillar, which has quickly become the leading NCCD compliance software for schools in Australia. As this area of the education data analytics platform continues to grow, the longterm vision for Education360 is to cement itself as one the most encompassing data platforms available, in Australia and globally. The key to doing so remains following the practical philosophy that technology should solve real problems and deliver measurable outcomes and Matthew is keeping this in mind as he continues to guide 9X5 Consulting, Education360 and their clients to a more positive, innovative and impactful future. Finally, in accepting these awards, Matthew took the time to thank those around him and the contributions they have made to both 9X5 Consulting and Education360: “While this recognition is individual, it reflects the collective effort of a highly capable and dedicated team. The success of the business and the ongoing growth of Education360 are the result of a team committed to delivering high-quality outcomes and continuously improving what we do.” Recognising his team only solidifies Matthew Willie as a truly excellent CEO. For more on how Matthew can turn challenges into opportunities and digital aspirations into realities, check out his LinkedIn page, or visit his companies at the respective links. Contact: Matthew Willie Company: 9X5 Consulting & Education360 Web Address: https://www.9x5.com.au/ & https://www.education360.com.au/ 9X5 Consulting & Education360
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