About

Sydney-based technology leader, author, and community builder. AI product practitioner, public commentator, and active voice at the Australia–India intersection.

Nikhil Kulkarni

Nikhil Kulkarni is a Sydney-based technology leader, author, and community builder with nearly two decades of experience across India and Australia. He was a founding member of Atlassian's Central AI team and played a key role in launching Rovo, Atlassian's AI product, signing the first enterprise customers and leading them through to success. Before Atlassian, he built products at Flipkart that touched millions of users, from e-commerce logistics to digital media.

Beyond his corporate career, he serves as an Ambassador for the LBW Trust, sits on the NSW Management Committee of the Australia India Business Council, and was Program Director of New India House at SXSW Sydney 2025. He is the author of My Summer of Cricket, a published commentator in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, and Canberra Times, and an avid quizzer who has appeared on Mastermind. He was awarded Australia's Global Talent Independent visa, granted only to the world's brightest global talent.

The longer story

Nikhil's career began in India's startup and technology ecosystem, where he built data-driven products in high-growth environments. At Flipkart, he helped launch Flyte, India's first legal MP3s and eBooks store, and led Smart Fulfilment, an on-premise warehousing product that strengthened logistics for tens of thousands of small and medium businesses.

Parallel to his corporate roles, he volunteered in India's software product ecosystem, eventually becoming a part-time Fellow at iSPIRT, designing and scaling programs that supported thousands of software product entrepreneurs and helped shape engagements between startups and senior policymakers, including India's Minister for IT.

After moving to Australia in 2018, Nikhil rebuilt his career in a new market and grew into senior leadership at Atlassian. As Group Product Manager in the Central AI team, he was the founding PM lead for Rovo, signing the first enterprise customers and seeing them through to success on stage at Atlassian Team '25. He also led a company-wide initiative that improved Jira Cloud performance by 30% in a year. After 7.5 years at Atlassian, he is now active across advisory, community, and public commentary work.

Speaking

Nikhil speaks on AI and responsible technology, product management, migration and identity, and Australia–India relations. He has spoken at 15+ engagements across keynotes, panels, fireside chats, webinars, and guest lectures, representing Atlassian at global forums and speaking at events including SXSW Sydney.

Topics include:

To invite Nikhil to speak, get in touch.

Right now

Independent, following 7.5 years at Atlassian (impacted by the 2026 layoffs). Currently focused on advisory work, community leadership, writing and commentary, and the India launch of My Summer of Cricket. Open to strategic conversations, speaking engagements, advisory roles, and mentoring.

Values