Murray-Darling Basin Authority names new CIO

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MBDA) has hired Kieran Armstrong as its new CIO, replacing the outgoing Rod Barlow.

Armstrong will continue to work with the authority's 2023-2025 digital strategy, which is focused on optimising its cloud platforms and infrastructure, improving data management and improving staff productivity.

He joined MDBA from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), where he was acting branch head of ICT enabling services.

He also previously spent four years at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) as a senior director in its IT department.

“Kieran brings a wealth of experience leading large-scale ICT operations, fostering collaboration, and delivering transformative digital and data outcomes,” said MDBA chief operating officer Katrina Tonkin.

Modernisation and transition

MDBA is almost halfway into a three-year digital transformation program, part of which has seen its environment transition to a hybrid-cloud model using Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365.

Key initiatives include modernising MDBA’s underlying infrastructure and technologies; transitioning workloads to the cloud and re-architecting the network and end-user technologies to improve reliability.

Looking ahead, Armstrong will focus on continuing enhancements MDBA’s cyber security measures, improving data and information management practices and digitising and automating workplace services and processes.

In addition, MDBA has also been building a platform to support a $66 million upgrade of its river modelling environment.

The upgraded environment, which was first earmarked for integration by July, but has now been pushed back until the end of 2024, will combine the Murray–Darling Basin’s 24 independent river models into a single platform.