Home Affairs’ new chief data officer in the Data and Economic Analysis Centre is experienced digital government and data specialist Pia Andrews, who moves over from her role as a strategic advisor at Amazon Web Services.
Prior to her almost two-year stint at AWS, where she published several papers and submissions about the responsible and ethical use of AI in government, Ms Andrews served in multiple senior public sector roles focused on data and digital government.
Over the last 15 years, she has worked for the Canadian, New Zealand, New South Wales, and Commonwealth governments, and before that served as an ICT policy advisor to former Labor minister and Senator Kate Lundy.
On her website, Ms Andrews, who has previously overseen open and big data policy/delivery for the Australian Public Service, said that “coming back to the APS feels like I’m coming home”.
“It is all the more exciting for the once-in-a-generation changes happening at all levels to become a better public sector for everyone, and I intend to do my part to help,” she said.
The new head of the Department of Defence’s Space Command is Major General Greg Novak, who took over from inaugural Space Commander Air Vice Marshal Cath Roberts on Wednesday. Mr Novak moves from his post as commander of the Australian Army’s 6th Brigade.
He will lead Space Command as it implements the Defence Space Strategy, the new Defence Space Capability Strategy, and the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review.
Air Vice Marshal Roberts said that “Major General Novak has extensive operational and space experience locally and overseas, commanding deployed forces and working with United States Strategic Command in strategic deterrence, space — as an operational domain — and integrated global operations”.
The new chief executive of AI-powered Quantium Health is former head of Westpac Brian Hartzer. Mr Hartzer, who has also led the Australian arm of ANZ in the last decade, has been a strategic advisor to Quantium since December 2020.
The new head of engineering at quantum firm Q-CTRL is Dimitri Koubaroulis. Mr Koubaroulis moves from SafetyCulture, where he spent more than seven years. He has previously worked at data-centric security provider Covata and at tech research services firm Silverbrook Research.
After nine years on the board of the Australian Information Security Association and seven years as chair, Damien Manuel has departed. Mr Manuel sits on the board of several organisations, is on the Cooperative Research Centres Advisory Committee at federal government think tank Industry Innovation and Science Australia, and is the general manager – regulatory at electronic conveyancing firm PEXA.
The chief executive of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Shaun Jenkinson, has been re-appointed to the role. Mr Jenkinson has been chief executive since September 2020 but has been at the organisation since 2010. He has previously led the Australian operations of global healthcare businesses Invacare and Abbott Laboratories.
Metal additive manufacturer Titomic has extended the contract of managing director Herbert Koeck for up to two years. Mr Koeck joined Titomic in July 2021 from US-based additive manufacturer 3D Systems after almost four and a half years at the company. Prior to that he managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Research Australia, a representative body for health and medical research and innovation, has appointed Martin Bowles as its new chair. Mr Bowles is the national chief executive of Calvary Health Care and takes over from outgoing chair Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre chief executive Associate Professor Annette Schmiede.
Fleet Space Technologies chief executive and co-founder Flavia Tata Nardini has been appointed to the board of Austmine, an industry association representing the mining, equipment, technology, and services sector.
Startup community and co-working space Fishburners has appointed Majella Campbell as chief operating officer. Over the last two years, she was working as head of product and has been at the company for more than three and a half years overall.
Canberra-based systems integrator A23 has appointed chief operating officer Natalie Legg as its new chief executive. Ms Legg replaces Simon Metcalfe, who has moved into the new role of chief growth officer.
Industry body AusBiotech has appointed two new directors to its board. They are John Skerritt, enterprise Professor in health research impact at the University of Melbourne, and Argenica Therapeutics chief executive and managing director Dr Liz Dallimore.
Last week, industry body Science and Technology Australia appointed University of Tasmania neuroscientist Dr Lila Landowski as its its new director.
The federal government’s shipbuilding organisation ASC has seen the re-appointment of chair Bruce Carter and chief executive and managing director Stuart Whiley. They will serve an additional two years from January 2024.
