The major CIO and CTO shifts in 2022

Former Melbourne Water chief technology officer Geoff Purcell took over James Cook University’s digital strategy as its chief digital officer (CDO) in January 2022. By November, Purcell had reshaped the university's IT operating model and created four new tech roles, including a CISO, and heads of IT quality and digital partners. 

Ticketek’s parent TEG promoted Tane Oakes to the role of CTO in January 2022. As a long-time employee, Oakes came with nine years experience within the company, including seven years as an enterprise architect and two years as a solutions architect. 

Tim Hogarth was appointed to ANZ Banking Group’s revitalised chief technology officer position in February 2022. Speaking to iTnews Hogarth said he would work "closely with the business to help them think about the longer term direction of technology”. Later in 2022, Hogarth helped unveil new career progression options for ANZ engineers, centred on the "mastery" of their technical skills. 

The federal Department of Health lost its chief information officer Daniel Keys back in February to Canberra-based IT services provider xAmplify. Keys, who spent 20 years in the Australian Public Service, joined xAmplify as its head of futures and innovation in March. 

February 2022 saw WA Health appoint Jonathan Smith as its chief information officer after a brief stint as acting technology chief. He took over on a permanent basis in December 2021 at the department’s shared services arm, Health Support Services (HSS). Under the CIO title, Smith took charge of a yearly operational IT spend of $140 million, as well as more than 400 staff. 

ABC chief digital and information officer Helen Clifton left the national broadcaster in March 2022 for an executive role in the digital division of the UK's National Health Service (NHS). Clifton was the ABC’s first chief digital and information officer after landing the role in 2017. Damian Cronan was appointed her replacement in August 2022.

University of South Australia (UniSA) appointed Bill Le Blanc as its chief information officer  following the retirement of long-timer Paul Sherlock at the end of 2021. Starting in March 2022, Le Blanc now leads the information strategy and technology service unit.

Belong, Telstra’s budget brand, promoted its head of engineering Lambros Kallianiotis to the role of chief technology officer. Kallianiotis said he was “excited to step into this broader role at Belong” plus “keep the momentum behind our digital transformation program, create exceptional products and service experiences for our customers with the new capabilities technology will enable.” 

In March 2022, PEXA reinstated its chief technology officer role and named DuluxGroup’s IT and digital chief Eglantine Etiemble to fulfil it. In a later iTnews Podcast, Etiemble reflected on the "fabulous and very energising" move to PEXA, a company still in an early stage of its growth.

Australian insurance company Integrity Life  selected Ashish Khurana as its chief technology officer in March, focused on developing the insurer’s technology and digital systems to uplift partner and customer experience. Khurana previously held the CTO role at Denmark's Saxo Bank for close to four years, and spent time at Westpac and Macquarie Group. 

BankVic’s chief information officer Scott Wall moved to Bank Australia in March 2022 to take up the role of chief transformation officer. He now has oversight across a wide remit including project management, change management and transformation strategy execution. Prior to BankVic, Wall held senior technology and transformation roles with ANZ, Barclays Bank, SkyTalk, Deutsche Bank and Bankers Trust. 

In April Mattress and furniture e-tailer Koala appointed Emma Pudney as its chief technology officer to run the company’s e-commerce platform, digital product management, internal IT, UX and engineering operations. The company said Pudney’s background in “cloud management and web systems” and leadership skills made her suitable to lead Koala’s technology operations. 

April 2022 saw Victorian Department of Health chief information officer Steve Hodgkinson call time on a seven-year career to join Victoria Police as its chief digital officer. Hodgkinson told iTnews that his time leading the business technology and management branch at Health had been a “wonderful privilege”, despite changes brought by successive restructures.

Youi Insurance's chief digital and information officer Loren Fisher left in April 2022 after four years, to take on the CIO role at The Lottery Corporation, which was created from the demerger of Tabcorp. Fisher's "broad IT experience, and [Youi] role balancing the needs of a high performing cross-functional technology team with regular direct communication with the board and regulators, made her a stand-out candidate" for the new role.

In April 2022, BAE Systems Australia introduced a new chief information and digital officer (CIDO) role, filled by Michael Salas, who returned to Australia after four years spent stateside. He took responsibility "for leading further digital transformation across the company and within critical defence programs that BAE Systems is delivering for the Australian Defence Force".

iSelect created a chief technology officer role and brought in Courtney Shergold, a former general manager of digital platforms and delivery at energy distributor Jemena, to take on the role. In May 2022, Shergold told iTnews that the move to iSelect offered “a fantastic opportunity to lead and further transform their technology division”. 

Insurance company Allianz Australia appointed David Gillespie, formerly of Alinta Energy,  as its chief information officer in May 2022. Gillespie’s skills and expertise were seen as critical to the insurer's ongoing technology transformation.  Gillespie replaced Mike Wood, who left the role in October 2021 for Suncorp as CIO of its insurance division.  

Steve Nichols was appointed to the role of chief information officer for Shell Energy Australia in May 2022. Under the role, Nichols oversees the digital transformation of the business and leads team of more than 100 supporting its platforms. 

AustralianSuper promoted its head of technology, strategy and planning Mike Backeberg to be its chief technology officer in May 2022. Backeberg called the change a “milestone” on his LinkedIn profile. Part of this role sees Backeberg concentrate on the business' technology roadmap. 

In June 2022, AGL’s head of technology for channels and operations Virginia Wilson moved into a newly created role of chief information officer position at Camp Australia. Wilson also now sits on the executive committee and leads Camp Australia’s technology team. 

Oil Search chief information officer Jackie Montado left in June 2022 after almost three years in the role. A few months later in September 2022, she joined Wesfarmers industrial and safety division as its new chief digital and technology officer (CDTO). 

Zip Co ended its hunt for an Australian chief technology officer in June last year, appointing George Gorman to the new position. The Australian buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider began its search in December 2021 after splitting the technology remit out of an existing 'chief product and technology officer' role - previously held by Patrick Collins - to create a CTO position. 

NBN Co's chief information officer of over three-and-a-half years, Debbie Taylor, left in July 2022, and has since taken up a CIO role at DIRECTV, a provider of cable and video streaming services. NBN Co's new CIO, Rob Sewell, joins from February 2023.

July 2022 saw ecommerce fashion brand A&S Labels appoint former Swimming Australia general manager of IT Michael Ciavarella as its first chief technology officer. At the time Ciavarella told iTnews that “it’s an exciting time to join the business” as he planned to put “people first, reduce silos and inspire through a vision and direction”. 

BankVic appointed Shane Kuret as its new chief information officer following the departure of Scott Wall earlier in 2022.  Prior to BankVic, Kuret was the general manager for technology for over two-and-a-half years at MyLife MyFinance, and also spent over 15 years at ME Bank.

In July 2022, Tyro Payments selected Paul Keen as its chief technology officer, as existing CTO Dave Coombes prepared to exit the company. Keen officially commenced the role mid-August and said he looked forward to joining Tyro "as they enter the next chapter in their growth story with further product innovation and tech excellence to best serve customers."

In August 2022, UNSW appointed Chrissy Burns as its chief information officer. Burns joined the Sydney-based university after a decade spent in various roles at the University of Technology Sydney, mostly as its CIO. Burns told iTnews that UNSW “is running a very large migration to AWS that will transform the way we use technology”. 

Tracy Wilson joined the Bank of Queensland in August 2022 as CIO core technology and group services, after more than three years as NSW Treasury chief information officer. Wilson is now responsible for the bank’s services experience to customers and employees and core technology platforms including all group services functions. 

Paul Bunker announced his retirement last September from the role of chief information officer at the State Revenue Office Victoria, citing a desire for a “sea change”. He held the role of director and CIO of business technology services role for over five years, after joining in 2017. He left the role in November 2022.

Global travel insurance provider Cover-More Group found a new chief technology officer, with Lisa Hilton joining the team to lead its digital strategy in September 2022. As group CTO of the Zurich-owned company, Hilton leads the development and delivery of its global technology strategy, and leads its architecture and engineering practices.

GHD's chief technology officer Paul Murphy took over the role of chief information officer in October 2022. The new role sees Murphy lead GHD’s transformation ambitions. Murphy replaced Elizabeth Harper, who retired in October 2022 after more than 12 years in the role. 

Ayten Ozenc stepped into the chief information officer role at ABN Group in October 2022. She joined from Tabcorp where she was a divisional CIO; her past experience also includes roles at Toll Group and Australia Post. 

Early November 2022 saw La Trobe University land Shainal Kavar as its chief information officer, replacing Stuart Hildyard who left in September. Kavar leads the information services team and supports the digital infrastructure that will allow the university to deliver its digital transformation and broader strategic objectives.

Anu Karunatilaka took on the chief technology officer role at Intrepid Travel in November 2o22 to lead the company's digital transformation and achievement of post-pandemic goals. As part of his new role, he oversees the design, development, security, delivery, and management of technology, and manages a global team.

In December 2022, Chemist Warehouse landed a new chief information officer with Damien Ballesty joining from Officeworks. Set to formally start in February 2023, Ballesty praised the company's innovation commitment, calling the retail chain "an inspirational $6.8bn success story who last year served over 130 million customers and had over 180 million website visits." 

In December 2022, Andy Weir accepted the role of chief information officer role at a new bank formed by the merger of Heritage Bank and People’s Choice Credit Union. He has also been appointed as People’s Choice Credit Union’s technology lead. Weir added he was “thrilled” to step into the role "at such an exciting time”.