The major CIO and CTO shifts in 2024

In January 2024, eHealth NSW appointed Richard Weir as its chief technology officer and executive director of service delivery. Weir joined eHealth NSW from DXC Technology, where he led technology delivery for Commonwealth Bank.

Victoria University brought its digital and campus infrastructure functions together and appointed Stuart Hildyard to lead the new department as chief digital officer. The university said it was looking to “reset and refine the organisation to meet the university’s future needs”.

In February, Home Affairs’ long-time CIO Radi Kovacevic was elevated to lead the technology and major capability group on an acting basis. He has served as CIO since May 2019.

The Tasmanian Department of Health elevated Brent Feike into the role of CIO in February. His appointment followed the departure of previous CIO Warren Prentice.

Mid-February saw Australian Digital Health Agency (AHDA) formally elevate John Borchi to the role of chief technology officer following the departure of Dr Malcolm Thatcher. Borchi had held the role on an acting basis since July 2023. 

March kicked off with NAB's Stevie-Ann Dovico taking over as CIO of Beyond Bank from Fiona Floyd. As the new CIO, Dovico was tasked with leading Beyond Bank’s national technology team while also driving a refreshed digital strategy.

March saw Qantas appoint Andrew Walduck as its new group chief information officer. Walduck is best-known for being a former CIO and chief digital officer of Australia Post.

In April, the Australian Space Agency’s first chief technology officer, Aude Vignelles, announced her departure from the organisation. She has since founded her own consulting firm, Vignelles Space. Jarrod Powell was named as general manager, national space capability, technology and programs.

The Australian Tax Office’s long-time head of technology, chief information officer (CIO) and second commissioner, Ramez Katf, left on April 30. Former deputy commissioner of strategy and architecture Matthew Hay has been acting in the CIO role since. The role was finally advertised in November.

Energy Queensland appointed Sharyn Scriven as its permanent CIO in May. It had advertised the role in March, at which time Scriven had been acting in the CIO role since August 2023.

In June, Queensland Rail recruited Darren Cavanagh from Transport for NSW as its group executive of digital and information. Cavanagh had been Transport for NSW's group CIO for almost two-and-a-half years, and Sydney Trains CIO for about seven years prior to that.

The Northern Territory's Department of Corporate and Digital Development (DCDD) appointed Bruno Braga as the new executive director of digital government. Braga joined from Queensland's Mater Group where he was the director of data and digital solutions.

The University of Notre Dame Australia named Eoghan Hogan as its CIO in July, where he will drive the institution’s digital transformation journey. Hogan previously ran a similar program at Torrens University. Its previous CIO Darryl Kefford moved internally to another C-Level role.

In August, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank appointed Nathalie Moss as chief information officer on an interim basis. She replaced Andrew Cresp, who left the bank after four-and-a-half years.

August also saw the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) appoint Jamie Crank as its data and technology chief following a three-month search. Crank was previously the ASX's general manager of trading and markets.

Australian Football League (AFL) CTO and general manager of technology Rob Pickering left in September after a three-year transformation "touching all aspects of enterprise systems, IT operations, infrastructure, and football technology". He has since been appointed CTO of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in the UK.

In October, VicRoads Registration and Licensing Services made Crispin Blackall its permanent chief technology officer after three months in an interim role. Blackall previously spent 22 years at Telstra.

In October, Glen Smith was named CIO at Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst. He was previously the CTO of HammondCare, and also held leadership roles at Australian Red Cross and Ramsay Health Care.

Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MBDA) hired Kieran Armstrong as its new CIO, replacing Rod Barlow. Armstrong is now tasked with carrying out MBDA's ongoing three-year transformation program.

In October, shopping centre operator Vicinity Centres' appointed former Australia Post CIO Munro Farmer as its new group head of technology. His role will include helping the company "leverage cutting edge tools and AI capabilities”. 

GMHBA, a Geelong-based private health insurer and healthcare provider, appointed Kathryn Young as its new chief information officer. She is now overseeing works associated with GMHBA's "single largest technology investment” it has ever made.

In November, Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) hired Aussie Broadband CIO Anna Clive. She had been Aussie Broadband’s first CIO, leading technology strategy and transformation, as well as security, network and digitisation programs of work.

The end of the year saw St Vincent’s Health Australia bring in Rachel Andrew as its chief technology officer, after initiating a search in late June. She joined from Alliance Airlines, a carrier known for its services to mining sites, where she was CIO for almost two-and-a-half years.

As 2025 approached, cancer care provider GenesisCare hired former Healthscope CIO Brett Winn as its chief information and digital officer. He has also previously held health-related CIO roles at the likes of Blackmores Group and Medibank.

In the last days of 2024, Coles Group’s chief technology officer of three-and-a-half years John Cox was revealed to be leaving in early 2025. His replacement will be Mike Sackman, a former technology executive with a number of UK retail chains.