Jack Zhang
Co-founder & CEO, Airwallex
Jack Zhang is an Australian technology entrepreneur, co-founder and chief executive officer of Airwallex, the global cross-border payments and financial-infrastructure company. A former software engineer and foreign-exchange specialist, he co-founded Airwallex in Melbourne in December 2015 and built it into one of Australia's most valuable fintech companies.
Fast facts
| Role | Co-founder & CEO |
|---|---|
| Company | Airwallex |
| Sector | Fintech / cross-border payments |
| Headquarters | VIC |
| In role since | 2015 |
| Education | University of Melbourne (Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science, 2004-2007) |
| Other roles | Investor (Capital 49) |
Background
Former software engineer and NAB algorithmic FX trader; co-founded Airwallex in Melbourne in December 2015 with Max Li, Lucy Liu, Jacob Dai and Ki-lok Wong; built it into a multibillion-dollar global payments company
Career timeline
- 2007Graduated from the University of Melbourne with a computer science engineering degree
- 2015Co-founded Airwallex in Melbourne with Max Li, Lucy Liu, Xijing Dai and Ki-Lok Wong
- 2015Became CEO of Airwallex, a role he has held since inception
Notable
- Moved from Qingdao, China to Melbourne, Australia at age 15 to pursue better opportunities
- Worked as a software engineer for financial-services companies in Australia and the UK and in foreign-exchange trading
- The idea for Airwallex grew from frustration with costly cross-border payments while running a Melbourne coffee shop
- Built Airwallex into a global payments platform serving tens of thousands of businesses worldwide
- Raised hundreds of millions of dollars from top-tier investors, making Airwallex a fintech unicorn
Frequently asked questions
What is Jack Zhang known for?
He is the co-founder and CEO of Airwallex, a global cross-border payments and financial-infrastructure company.
When and where was Airwallex founded?
Airwallex was founded in Melbourne, Australia, in December 2015.
Who co-founded Airwallex with Jack Zhang?
He co-founded it with Max Li, Lucy Liu, Xijing (Jacob) Dai and Ki-Lok Wong.
Public profiles
Sources
- https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/19/jack-zhang-helped-build-a-8-billion-fintech-startup-called-airwallex.html
- https://www.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/stay-connected/news-and-stories/jack-zhang-finding-success
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airwallex
Last verified 2026-07-13. Professionally-public, sourced information only.