Hugh Williams is the principal of Via Alto Advisors, a technology advisory practice. He currently advises Ocado Technology (UK) and ASOS (UK). He has also advised private equity and venture capital firms including Permira, BGH Capital, TDM Growth Partners and Rampersand.

Hugh is a co-founder of Australian charity CS in Schools. In 2023, CS in Schools is working with over 150 schools and more than 250 teachers to deliver world-class coding classes to over 50,000 students across Australia.

Hugh is also an Enterprise Professor at the Melbourne Business School, an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University, a member of the board of the State Library Victoria, and a council member of Janet Clarke Hall.

Prior to becoming an advisor, he was a Vice President at Google and eBay, and a Partner at Microsoft. Early in his career, he spent over 10 years researching and developing search technologies, and 5 years running his own startup and consultancy.

He is one of the inventors of Infinite Scroll and he holds 38 US patents with another 41 US patents pending. He has published 115 works, mostly in the field of Information Retrieval. He is the author of two books, including a best-seller on programming that sold over 100,000 copies. He has a PhD in Computer Science from RMIT University in Australia.

Outside of work, Hugh is an obsessive fan of the Seattle Mariners, a 26-year Richmond Tigers member, and a Queens Park Rangers supporter. He was once the drummer in Snout.

If you’re interested in Hugh’s background, visit his linkedin profile.