Hunting season for artificial intelligence leaders continues within Australia’s banking sector with the news that ANZ has poached executive Kai Yang from HSBC, appointing him as the bank’s inaugural chief data and AI officer.
ANZ is the last of Australia’s ‘big four’ banks to create the senior AI-oversight role.
Mr Yang began his career with consultancy Deloitte, but swiftly transitioned to the Commonwealth Bank in 2003, eventually becoming its chief data officer. He most recently served as HSBC’s chief data and analytics officer for Asia and Middle East. It is understood Mr Yang will depart Hong Kong for ANZ’s Sydney-based role in July.
This is the second tech executive ANZ has lured away from HSBC – Donald Patra last year departed the global finance giant’s London office to become ANZ’s group chief information officer.
Westpac and the NAB appointed executives to oversee AI deployments last year. Another HSBC alumnus, Ranil Boteju, became CBA first chief AI officer earlier this month.
ANZ this week also confirmed cybersecurity executive Shane Ripley has stepped in as interim chief information security officer following Maria Milosavljevic retirement earlier this year from full-time work.
Mr Ripley, previously the bank’s domain lead cybersecurity risk, began his career as a UK government intelligence officer, and also worked with ANZ during the COVID years as a threat intelligence lead.
Professor Carolyn Evans will be the University of Melbourne’s (UoM) 22nd vice-chancellor, and will step into the role in October, succeeding interim appointment and UoM veteran Professor Glyn Davis.
An Oxford Law graduate, Professor Evans lectured and held senior roles at UoM for more than 20 years, departing in 2017 to become vice chancellor and president at Griffith University.
Professor Evans also succeeds Professor Emma Johnston, who passed tragically and unexpectedly in December last year.
“I recognise and respect the important role played by Professor Johnston in setting a bold agenda and I look forward to working with colleagues, students and partners in making its aspirations a reality,” Professor Evans said.
“I am committed to ensuring that Melbourne continues to be a global leader in the higher education sector, while demonstrating its value to the nation and to the communities it serves.”
Australia’s sovereign wealth fund has appointed long-serving portfolio manager Richard Brandweiner as its new chief investment officer, ending a near seven-month recruitment process.
Mr Brandweiner served as CEO of investment fund Pendal for five years through 2023, and in 2018 co-founded OpenDirector, a platform tracking director appointments, remuneration and performance across ASX and superannuation companies.
OpenDirector in a LinkedIn post said Mr Brandweiner will retain his role as its chair.
He succeeds Ben Samild, who departed Australia’s Future Fund last year after more than 12 years for a chief strategist role with the $160 billion Abhu Dhabi Investment Council.
Former Cisco executive Kishore Jayaram has joined cybersecurity and software giant Kinetic IT, stepping into its newly created chief transformation officer role.
Kinetic IT, announcing the appointment, said Mr Jayaram will front a modernisation of its services, using “sovereign capability, AI and emerging technologies”.
Global tech giant Cisco’s ANZ chief technology officer Carl Solder will join Curtin University’s Institute for Data Science as an adjunct professor.
Professor Solder, a Curtin graduate, will also work with Innovation Central Perth – an industry and research collaboration centre founded by Curtin and Cisco – as part of the role.
Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allen has announced appointments across 20 parliamentary secretary roles, following on from last week’s cabinet reshuffle.
The parliamentary secretaries will support government ministers across portfolio responsibilities in key policy areas, including finance (Treasury), infrastructure delivery, jobs and industrial relations.
Innovation was not among the ministerial appointments,. with Ms Allen scrapped the portfolio from Victoria’s cabinet in 2023. The state has not had a parliamentary secretary for innovation since 2009.
The full list of appointments is available here.
Green tech firm Eden Innovations has appointed former Thales and Raytheon executive Julie Bown as its strategic advisor defence.
The appointment follows the launch of its dedicated defence, military and infrastructure division earier this month, with the launch of EdenShield, a concrete additive product targeted at defence, security and critical infrastructure projects.
Digital startup and enterprise browser developer Island has appointed Hugh Darvall as APAC channel lead as it continues its expansion into Australia and New Zealand.
Island managing director Nick Lennon said the appointment followed “strong demand” pushed by rolling corporate AI adoption.
Semiconductor manufacturer Syenta has announced former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger will join its board.
Mr Gelsinger is a general partner at science venture capital fund Playground Global, which led off Syenta’s recently wrapped $37 million Series A funding round, alongside a $10 million investment from the National Reconstruction Fund.
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) is on the hunt for a cyber project coordinator, going to market for the level six public service position earlier this week.
ADHA is charged with rolling out the national digital health strategy, including My Health Record. The new executive will be tasked with overseeing the agency’s cybersecurity projects and overseeing its Cyber Solutions team.
Video game publisher turned AI infrastructure developer FortifAI has named Jamie Pope chief solutions officer for its recently acquired “data in motion” product Nol8.
University of Adelaide spinout Iondrive Technologies has named Kevin Hobbie its new vice president North America as it pursues commercialisation of its critical mineral extraction and recycling tech.
Posting about his appointment on LinkedIn, Mr Hobbie said “onshoring” Iondrive’s capabilities would be essential for energy independence in the US.
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