Digital Nation announces finalists for its inaugural Digital Nation Awards

Digital Nation, in partnership with ADAPT Digital Edge, proudly announces the finalists for the first-ever Digital Nation Awards, recognising outstanding leadership and innovation in digital transformation across Australia’s public and private sectors. 

These awards celebrate executives who are shaping the future of business by using technology to enhance customer and employee experiences, optimise financial operations, harness data and AI, strengthen governance, and drive enterprise-wide transformation. The finalists represent those bridging the gap between business strategy and digital capabilities, turning ambitious goals into scalable outcomes. 

The awards ceremony will take place on 24 June at The Fullerton, Sydney, following the ADAPT Digital Edge conference. The event will honour leaders across six categories. 

Purchase tickets to attend the Digital Nation Awards now.

The finalists are… 

Customer experience transformation champion 

• Marissa Powe, Executive Director Growth and Retirement, Colonial First State 

• Jaime Johnston-Smith, General Manager Contact Centre, Feros Care 

• Robert Lopez, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, Norths Collective 

• Cara Pring, Digital & CX Director, Winc 

• Kurt Brissett, Former Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, Transport for NSW (Now Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, Built) 

• Matt Baker, General Manager Members and Customer Experience, Venues NSW 

• Alexander Naoumidis, Head of Operations & CX, July 

Employee experience transformation champion 

• Kanella Salapatas, Global Head of People Data & Analytics, QBE 

• Kelly Mcfadden, Head of People and Performance, Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia 

• Zena Habib, Head of People Partnering ANZ, Real Pet Food Company 

• Anat Hassner, Chief People & Strategy Officer, Uniting NSW.ACT 

• Jodette Cleary, Chief People & Culture Officer, hipages 

• Lucy Wilson, Chief People Officer, Gumtree Group 

• Shenaz Waples, Group Executive People & Culture, Colonial First State 

• Helen Fraser, General Manager, Human Capital, Laing O’Rourke 

Finance transformation champion 

• Andrew Muller, Chief Financial Officer, Aurecon 

• Anna Pezzuto, Chief Financial Officer, Bulla Dairy 

• Michael Williamson, Associate Director Financial Services & Transformation, Monash College 

Data & AI transformation champion 

• Andrew Brain, Director for Data and Growth, Seven West Media 

• Anthony Perera, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Swinburne University 

• Carina Parisella, Tribe Lead for Head of Group Technology Workforce, ANZ 

• Sarah Dods, Region Leader, Advanced Analytics & AI, GHD Pty Ltd 

• Su-Ann Porter, Head of Analytics, Graincorp 

• Gemma Dias, Head of Data Governance, Tyro Payments 

• Ivan Wong, AI Product Lead, Rest Super 

• Ryan Klose, Executive GM and Chief Information Officer, Royal Flying Doctors Service 

• Samantha Lawson, VP AI, Optus 

Governance champion 

• Deborah Hook, Director Legal Operations, University of Sydney 

• Chris Grisdale, Head of Information Security, hipages Group 

• Iain Hart, Head of Risk, Crown Resorts 

• Matt Duckworth, Director IT Risk & Security, MetLife 

• Andrew Hottes, Chief Digital Information Officer, Cranbrook School 

• Jihad Zein, Head of Global GRC Information Technology, Toll Group 

• Dinesh (Dino) Velusamy, Governance, Compliance & Risk Specialist, Wurth Australia 

Digital transformation champion 

• Adam Wrightson, Group IT Director, HOYTS 

• Tanya Graham, Group Executive Digital & Transformation, iCare NSW 

• Erin Kanygin, Legal Transformation Lawyer, Gilbert + Tobin 

• Jeffrey Griffith, Deputy CEO, Devonport City Council 

• Nick Eshkenazi, Chief Digital & Transformation Officer, Astellas Pharma 

• Andrew Dome, Chief Digital Information Officer, Uniting NSW.ACT 

• Fabian Wolf, Chief Information Officer, IRONMAN 4x4 

• Tom Gao, Chief Technology & Digital Services Officer, City of Sydney 

• Jeroen Buwalda, Group Executive Transformation Technology & Operations, Colonial First State 

The finalists exemplify the power of collaboration between business and IT to deliver meaningful digital progress. 

Event details: 

• 4:00pm Panels with awards finalists on stage at ADAPT Digital Edge conference 

• 5:00pm Networking drinks with Digital Nation and ADAPT 

• 6:00pm Digital Nation Awards presentation 

• 8:00pm Close 

Purchase a ticket or a table at the Digital Nation Awards now. Limited availability.