The Australian Bureau of Statistics is seeking a new chief information officer as incumbent Steve Hamilton departs for an undisclosed “senior technology leadership role within federal government”, according to a spokesperson.
Mr Hamilton held the chief information officer/general manager of the technology and security division since 2017 and was responsible for all ICT functions and activities. He was also chief information security officer. During his time, he oversaw the 2017 Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, the bureau’s new data needs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the delivery of the 2021 Census.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the Australian Public Service. Before moving to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Mr Hamilton spent 25 years at the Australian Taxation Office, eight of which was spent as deputy commissioner at the ATO’s enterprise solutions and technology group with a total. He was also previously co-chair of the ATO’s Working with our partners in the Tax and Superannuation System Program Board.
Acting chief technology and innovation officer at Transport NSW Richard Host has formerly been appointed to the role. He had been acting in the role since April. Mr Host leaves his role as group chief information officer, where he had been since December 2015.
He has been in the NSW public service since January 2006 which includes a 10 years stint as the director of information technology/chief information officer at Fire and Rescue New South Wales. Before moving into the state’s public sector he spent five years as group technology officer at Coca-Cola Amatil, now known as Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
Western Sydney University’s chief information officer Daniel Saffioti has resigned. Although he spent just nine months in the role, he has been at the university since January 2015 and was formerly the deputy chief information and digital officer. Mr Saffioti was also an advisor on the Australian National University’s IT architectural board committee between July 2020 and June 2022 as well as at Tortuga Ventures between October 2021 and September 2022.
He was also previously chief information and digital officer at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation between January 2014 and December 2017. For more than 14 years, Mr Saffioti was also an Associate Professor in computer science at the University of Wollongong.
The chair of digital rights group Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) Lyndsey Jackson has stepped down after four years in the role, and five years with the group overall. Between March 2018 and October 2021 Ms Jackson was also a member of the Australian Internet Community Forum Committee in her capacity as EFA chair. This was an annual forum facilitating discussion on Australia-based internet policy.
In a statement announcing her departure, Ms Jackson said she hopes to “find a way to be involved in the Robodebt Royal Commission”. Ms Jackson is also the cofounder and chief executive officer of precision agriculture firm Platfarm, which was launched in December 2018.
The University of Curtin has appointed Professor Timothy Carey as the inaugural chair of country health research and innovation. He will also oversee the WA Country Health Service-Curtin Research and Innovation Alliance signed in 2021. Professor Carey is a respected researcher in psychology and health service delivery. He moves from his roles as Professor and Director at the Institute for Global Health Equity Research and Andrew Weiss Chair in Research on Global Health at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda.
There have been three new appointments to the Climate Change authority, taking its membership to nine. The new members are legal scholar Dr Virginia Marshall, biology Professor Lesley Hughes, and Chief Executive Women president Sam Mostyn. Some observers have suggested they were appointed to balance the business interests which had come to influence the Authority under the previous Coalition government.
Dr Marshall is known for her work on Indigenous water rights which includes national water policy and law reform as well as climate change. Professor Hughes is a well-regarded academic and has provided advice to government on scientific and policy issues including at the federal Climate Commission. Ms Mostyn has long career in executive and governance roles including on the boards of The Climate Council and the Centre for Policy Development.
Ms Mostyn was also appointed to the federal government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce two weeks ago.
An honorary doctorate from Victoria University has been awarded to former chancellor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist George Pappas. He was chancellor from 2010 to the end of 2019. After leaving management consultancy in 2002, he served in several roles across state and federal government including as under secretary of the Victorian Premier’s Department between 2003 and 2005. Mr Pappas also led an audit of the Federal Defence Budget in 2008 and chaired the federal government’s Defence Strategic Reform Advisory Board from 2009 to 2012.
Between 2005 and 2013 Mr Pappas served as chair of the Committee for Melbourne overseeing its support of new and innovative industries as well as promoting the city as a centre for higher education and biotechnology.
Optus head of data platforms and data management Matt McKenzie is stepping down following almost two years in the role. Beginning his career in 2001, some of the companies he has worked at include News Corp, Salesforce, and Telecom New Zealand.
The new Schneider Electric vice president of global supply chain and customer experience for Pacific zone is Tina Hu. Ms Hu moves from personal care and medical instruments manufacturer Kimberly-Clark where she was director of supply chain and manufacturing for ANZ. She has also previously held leadership roles at Gartner, Unilever, and Goodyear.
The Australian Public Service Commission has appointed Bianca Hill as assistant director, APS capability review. Ms Hill moves from her role as assistant director, financing solutions for nature at the former Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment.
Jane Fermor has been appointed assistant commissioner complaints at the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission. She moves from the ATO.
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