NSW Transport cluster gets raft of new IT execs

Transport for NSW has lured the chief information security officer in charge of Virgin Australia’s loyalty program to oversee its new “joined-up” approach to cyber security.

Fred Thiele will join the agency from today as it’s first-ever group CISO after just over a year at Velocity Frequent Flyer.

He will oversee cyber security across the entire Transport Cluster, which includes agencies like Roads and Maritime Services, Sydney Trains, NSW Trains and the State Transit Authority.

A NSW Transport spokesperson told iTnews the position “represents a renewed focus on the joined-up approach to cyber defences across the Transport Cluster.”

Prior to joining Velocity in October 2017, Thiele spent two-and-a-half years as the head of cyber defence at the Commonwealth Bank.

He has also previously worked as a managing principal of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and co-founded professional services company Laconic Security.

Group CIO becomes permanent

Thiele’s appointment swiftly follows the confirmation of Richard Host’s gig as group chief information officer of the Transport Cluster becoming permanent just weeks ago.

The spokesperson said the position was made permanent in December, six months after Host joined the agency.

Host had been acting in the position following the departure of former NSW Transport IT chief Tim Catley earlier in the year.

He joined from the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation (DFSI), where he spent more than two years as CIO.

That move followed an almost decade-long run as CIO at Fire and Rescue NSW.

Not one, but two

In addition to finalising the role of group CIO, NSW Transport has also appointed a separate CIO to manage its portfolio of IT-enabled projects.

Former Australian Securities and Investment Commission CIO Wendy Bryant will step into the role this week.

She most recently spent a four-month stint as a cyber security and risk consultant with DFSI and before that spent a year and-a-half as the chief technology officer and chief security officer at the Australian Taxation Office.