CIO Leadership Live: Australia

Lion's Director of Technology & Digital Transformation, Ram Kalyanasundaram, shares how one of Australia's leading beverage companies is rethinking its approach to enterprise IT. In this conversation with CIO Editorial Director Cathy O'Sullivan, Ram unpacks the "clean core" principle - what it means in practice, why it matters for long-term agility, and how Lion is applying it across a complex, mu...

icare Group Executive for Digital & Transformation Tanya Graham discusses leading the organisation’s transformation program, the power of shared goals when working with technology partners, and how technology is helping icare better support vulnerable people on their recovery journey.

Urbis Group Director for Transformation & Digital Connie Beck on developing the organisation’s GenAI platform, the importance of uplifting digital literacy, how they prioritise career development, and the skillsets she thinks will be most needed headed into 2026.

In this episode of CIO Leadership Live, Cathy O’Sullivan speaks with Mark Opitz, Group Head of ICT at Acciona Australia. Mark shares insights from his career journey, details Acciona’s digital transformation, and highlights impactful innovations like the Linksite tool and early adoption of AI and large language models. He also discusses his approach to change management, building vs. buying tech,...

In this CIO Leadership Live interview, HOYTS Chief Technology Officer Adam Wrightson sits down with Cathy O’Sullivan to explore how digital transformation is reshaping the cinema experience - from behind-the-scenes infrastructure to the palm of your hand. With nearly three decades at HOYTS, Adam shares how his team leads everything from traditional IT and cybersecurity to cinema projection, sound...

In today’s global tech landscape, local capability is becoming a strategic advantage for CIOs. In this CIO Leadership Live interview - in partnership with Brennan - Nick Sone, Chief Customer Officer at Brennan, explores why more Australian CIOs are turning to trusted, local partners who can deliver global capability - without the complexity and red tape of offshore integrators. As Brennan sets its...

HBF Health’s Sanjeev Gupta on how the organisation’s transformation programme has delivered benefits to members and staff, what he would have done differently, and how AI can be a force for good.

Ramsay Health Care’s Chief Digital and Data Officer Dr Rachna Gandhi on enhancing people-centred care through technology, creating a single source of truth for the organisation’s data, and overcoming technical debt to accelerate benefits for patients and staff.

Datacom CISO Collin Penman talks about the growing gap between leadership and employees when it comes to cybersecurity, how cyber fatigue is leaving businesses in Australia and New Zealand more exposed, and why AI-powered threats are now keeping security leaders up at night. Speaking to CIO's Cathy O'Sullivan, Penman dug into Datacom's State of Cybersecurity Index findings, and the reality is sobe...

Downer Group CIO Nicola Dorling on utilising AI to improve safety on sites and for predictive asset maintenance, the importance of balancing legacy tech with innovation, and fostering a strong team culture through the ‘Downer Difference’.

Seymour Whyte Chief Information Officer Hani Arab on dealing with legacy tech, where the organisation is heading with its cloud journey, and the emerging trends he anticipates in technology for the construction sector.

Milad Kruze, Executive General Manager for IT at the Salvation Army, discusses the organisation's multi-faceted mission, modernising disaster management software, implementing AI for community connections, and the importance of empathy, relationship building, and diversity in IT.

New Aim Chief Digital Product Officer Carrie Hu on being named Next CIO winner as part of CIO50 Australia, how she and her team are developing new platforms to support e-commerce, the key things needed to get buy-in for new initiatives, and how she’s generating interest in STEM careers through Inspiring Girls Australia.

IDC's Chief Analyst for Australia and New Zealand Linus Lai reflects on the year in technology, the ongoing challenges for CIOs in the region, and IDC’s predictions on digital technology spending for 2025.

WaterNSW CIO Leeanne Chau on how data is fundamental for operational modelling and leveraging innovation opportunities, why digital transformation is not just about technology but also about enabling people and processes to thrive in a constantly evolving environment, and the importance of partnerships, leadership, and diversity.

MinterEllison Chief Digital Officer Gary Adler on the firm’s hyperautomation strategy and how its benefitting internal and external stakeholders, driving digital fluency for the firm’s staff through a digital academy and dedicated GenAI time, and how to stay innovative in a changing world.

Ventia Chief Information Officer Melanie Evans on winning a CIO50 Team of the Year award, combating burnout through digital wellbeing initiatives, exploring how AI can help the organisation’s central focus on safety, and maintaining a balance between being compassionate and making tough decisions

CIO of the Year at the 2024 CIO50 Awards Kurt Brissett, Transport for NSW's Chief Innovation & Technology Officer, on delivering world-firsts in technology for transport users, how high staff engagement is translating into customer satisfaction, and why he is so passionate about creating careers in technology for veterans.

Fremantle Ports CIO Dan Kerr on how his team helps support the facilitation of trade in Western Australia through operational technology and data and insights,  the huge program of work rolled out to lift the organisation's IT maturity, and why a focus on engagement is crucial for team development.  

MUFG Retirement Solutions Technology Director Devan Naidoo on reshaping the organisation’s technology operating model globally, what growing up in apartheid South Africa taught him about work, how the company is leveraging AI, and the importance of having a diverse team at all levels.

Eastern Health Chief Information Officer Suma Shivalingaiah discusses starting her CIO role on the day of a ransomware attack and how cyber is a never-ending challenge, creating digital champions to improve tech adoption, and the need for more interoperability in healthcare systems. 

Rashays Chief Information and Technology Officer Nazih Battal on improving customer experience and engagement through technology, the challenges for the hospitality sector in uncertain economic times, and a career highlight working on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. 

Uniting’s Chief Digital Information Officer Andrew Dome on using augmented reality to provide regional telehealth services, the ways technology is lessening the admin burden of frontline staff, and how CIOs in the aged care sector come together to collaborate and deliver the best outcomes for the humans at the centre of their services.

Tabcorp Chief Information Officer Alan Sharvin on why the technology team is a 'plus one' for the business, how cost optimisation can be a powerful tool for innovation, and the excitement and tech challenges of the Melbourne Cup and racing carnival season.

RMIT University CIO Sinan Erbay on delivering supercomputing power to the university research community through its RACE Hub facility, pushing boundaries and building out their capabilities in emerging technologies through the university's Living Lab, and why he's a big believer in distributed teams and driving a customer-first approach.