Aurora Energy hires entrepreneur as CIO

Tasmanian state-owned power company Aurora Energy has appointed technology executive and entrepreneur Grant Taylor as its new chief information officer following last month's departure of Mel Lukianenko.

Grant Taylor.

Taylor was previously the co-founder and managing director of specialist business consultancy Recon Solutions, as well as an executive general manager at online learning venture GO1.

Along with managing two start-ups, Taylor has previously held numerous senior positions across a range of industries, including as the business improvement consultant at Medibank and the GM of strategy and business improvement at Sensis.

In his new role, he will be responsible for implementing the power company's board-approved IT strategy, providing transparent reports on the cost of technology, managing outsourced service providers, and making sure the utility’s project management office operates efficiently.

“[Taylor] is a senior leader and management specialist, with a track record of success in creating new organisational capabilities, developing growth strategies, business management and the alignment of technology with customer and business needs,” an Aurora Energy spokesperson told iTnews.

“He has previously been responsible for the operation and transformation of large, complex IT portfolios, has experience in delivering programs of work across three continents and has run two successful start-up businesses.”

Taylor’s appointment comes after Lukianenko stood aside from the role for personal reasons on June 30, following more than six years at the utility.