OpenAI adds former TikTok, Airbnb exec Brent Thomas to Sydney team
The appointment lands as the federal government considers reforms to Australia’s copyright licensing regime to ensure AI companies pay for content.
OpenAI has appointed veteran tech lobbyist Brent Thomas as head of public policy for Australia and New Zealand as the federal government contemplates new copyright licensing regimes to better balance AI training interests with those of copyright holders.
Thomas is currently director of strategic relations at New Zealand-based agtech unicorn Halter. Capital Brief can reveal he will start at OpenAI on 30 March.
He has previously served in senior public policy and corporate affairs roles at TikTok, Airbnb, MasterCard and eBay.
At TikTok, Thomas’ most senior role was campaign director for global public policy. He previously led global public policy for Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan for the social media business. At Airbnb he worked his way to director of public policy for the APAC region.
