The appointment of AirTrunk chief executive Robin Khuda and Telstra CEO Vicki Brady to the board of the Business Council of Australia flags a strengthening pivot at the BCA toward the technology sector.
Announced on Friday, the appointments add significant tech industry weight to a board that had already signaled a shift toward innovation and technology, and its underpinning digital infrastructure.
Business Council president Geoff Culbert said the new additions to the BCA board represented a “doubling down on the critical growth drivers in the Australian economy” of digital infrastructure, connectivity and artificial intelligence.
The Business Council has been increasingly vocal on technology issues in 2025, flexing to occupy market segments would previously been territory claimed by the Technology Council of Australia (TCA) or the Australian Information Industry Association.
In just the last month, this activity has included the release of a landmark report on accelerating AI adoption in Australia, and its strident submission to government’s Strategic Examination of R&D.
AirTrunk chief executive Robin Khuda founded the data centre leader in 2016 before selling the company for a spectacular $24 billion last year, the largest ever data centre deal globally. Vicki Brady has been chief executive at Telstra for nearly three years.
“Robin Khuda’s track record as an entrepreneur in hyperscale data centres is second to none and significantly strengthens our board’s existing expertise in innovation and the digital economy,” Mr Culbert said.
“His experience will help shape the Business Council’s mission to lift Australia’s productivity and secure more opportunities for Australians as we work to become a regional hub for innovation in areas like AI.”
Mr Khuda had previously put his name forward as a nominee to the board of the Tech Council but was famously passed over – and was reportedly not interviewed or even contacted by the TCA board – in favour of WiseTech Global executive chairman Richard White.
Mr White subsequently resigned from the Tech Council board amid a storm of controversy over a series of allegations related to his private life.
Mr Khuda said he was looking forward to working with the BCA to make sure Australia developed into a leading digital economy.
He said to build Australia’s AI capability “we must ensure we are capturing investment in AI infrastructure and developing a vibrant ecosystem that enables the transition to a smart economy”.
“For Australia to capture the opportunity and investment that comes with AI, speed to market will be critical so we must ensure streamlined planning and approval processes and power allocation,” Mr Khuda said.
“We will also need to drive further investment in and acceleration of renewable energy projects, energy storage projects and transmission infrastructure to ensure the rapid growth in the digital economy is also sustainable.
“Workforce development and training will also be critical, ensuring we have the required resources to support both the energy transition and the growth of digital infrastructure.”
BCA president Mr Culbert also welcomed Vicki Brady, acknowledging “her deep experience in digital connectivity, technology, skills, and critical infrastructure will be critical to furthering Australia’s productivity agenda, which is central to our BCA advocacy efforts.”
“Together, these two new appointments to the board reflect the heavy emphasis the BCA is placing on the role of innovation and technology in building a stronger Australia for all.”
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