Ms Woodthorpe, who has held the position for the past seven years, will remain as chief executive until October 31.
In the meantime, AVCAL’s council has appointed global headhunter Heidrick & Struggles to find a suitable replacement.
AVCAL chairman John White said Ms Woodthorpe had done a great deal to improve the reputation and understanding of private equity, as well securing funding for the venture capital sector.
“Shortly after Katherine joined AVCAL as CEO, private equity was in the regulatory spotlight in the US, UK and Australia. Katherine was instrumental in assembling the evidence to show that private equity had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the Australian economy,” Mr White said.
Ms Woodthorpe has also been instrumental in building the research capability of AVCAL in order to demonstrate the value that private equity adds to investee firms, he said.
“The introduction of AVCAL’s Code of Private Equity Governance was another significant milestone for our industry,” said Mr White.
For her part, Ms Woodthorpe said she was particularly happy to have secured $350 million from the government’s Innovation Investment Fund for the venture capital industry.
“I am now keen to make a more hands-on contribution to innovation and commercialisation, which will include my role as chair of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre,” she said.
