Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I’m a technology evangelist and Head of IT who thrives at the intersection of business, people, and innovation. With over twenty years of experience across EdTech, telecommunications, and digital transformation, I turn complexity into elegant, fit-for-purpose solutions that empower teams and deliver real outcomes. Currently leading IT strategy and operations for the Careers & Industry division at Navitas, I oversee a 21-person team spanning IT support, enterprise architecture, project delivery, and operations. I’ve restructured the team to be leaner and more agile—reducing headcount while increasing capability through smarter operating models and new specialist roles. I also established a dedicated IT Project Office and continue to drive cultural transformation grounded in collaboration, trust, and business alignment. I work closely with academics and business leaders to enable next-gen capabilities using Gen AI and emerging technologies. This includes the rollout of the Cogniti teaching assistant app (in collaboration with the University of Sydney) across ACAP and SAE, and the development of a personalised Study Planner that supports more accurate enrolment forecasting. I’ve also delivered full-stack cloud applications, analytics platforms, and ML PoCs—such as a Splunk-driven contract cheating detection system—always with a focus on solving real problems with precision and purpose. Beyond systems and strategy, I lead internal communities of practice in projects, data analytics, and innovation. I’ve influenced organisation-wide initiatives in IT onboarding, policy governance, and cloud architecture, and I actively champion simplicity in design, believing that “simple is hard work”—but worth it. My early career in the Middle East and South Asia with telco giants like Huawei, Motorola, and Nokia helped me develop deep systems thinking and an appreciation for delivering reliable, scalable solutions in high-stakes environments. I’m always keen to connect with those passionate about tech that serves people—whether in AI, architecture, digital experience, or business transformation.
As Head of IT, I lead technology strategy, operations, and project delivery across the Careers & Industry division, managing a 21-person team across architecture, project delivery, and IT support. I’ve driven a major transformation of the IT function—reducing headcount while increasing capability through smarter structures, the creation of a specialist Project Office, and a more agile operating model. I’ve led the rollout of Gen AI initiatives across our colleges, including integrating Cogniti (University of Sydney’s teaching assistant AI) and building a custom Personalised Study Planner to support better student forecasting and experience. I've championed enterprise-wide architecture alignment through the One-Navitas initiative and established internal Communities of Practice in projects, data, and innovation. My focus has always been on simplifying complexity, empowering teams, and using technology to serve real human needs.
I established and ran the Digital Program Office, overseeing a portfolio of over 40 projects ranging from digital enhancements and compliance to new product development. I introduced new governance processes, streamlined prioritisation using Smartsheets and Jira, and reported regularly to the Executive Steering Committee. This role was about connecting strategy to execution—designing a technology stack architecture aligned to business needs and championing scaled agile practices tailored to the division’s unique context. It was here that I began laying the groundwork for business-led innovation driven by transparency and effective delivery models.
At Deakin, I worked with senior leaders like the DVC(Education) and PVC(Teaching & Learning) to identify high-leverage problems that could be solved with agile, data-informed innovation. I built and launched the Learning Analytics for Teachers platform—an app co-designed with academics and backed by full-stack development and Spark-based ETL pipelines. I also led the creation of a Cloud Timetabling app for 15K+ students, which was so successful it was picked up as the university’s preferred model. My work helped build executive trust in analytics and showed how lean, user-centered technology can transform complex academic workflows.
I had the privilege of stepping into the Director role to lead a high-performing team of 17 cloud specialists. Together, we shaped the vision for premium online experiences for cloud learners, ensuring service design aligned with both educational quality and student expectations. It was a strategic and people-focused leadership role that set the tone for future digital initiatives.
In this role, I worked across the Cloud Campus roadmap to deliver consistent value across more than 40 initiatives. I used data insights to inform priorities and ensured each project was aligned to our overarching vision for online learning. This role deepened my expertise in data-informed innovation and stakeholder alignment.
As a consultant, I delivered several high-impact technology projects at Deakin University. I led the refresh of IBM Watson’s machine learning interface to align with a new digital experience, ensuring continuity of a system handling 15K+ queries a day. I also designed and implemented a new Recognition for Prior Learning system, and launched the DeakinSync portal—a streamlined, student-first digital entry point for the Cloud Campus. Each of these projects combined user-centered design, technical rigour, and strategic clarity.
Held a range of leadership roles across service delivery, project management, and solution architecture. Directed large-scale infrastructure programs for Gulf-based telco clients, including LTE rollouts and customer experience systems. Worked with executive stakeholders and technical teams to manage multi-million-dollar budgets, complex integrations, and enterprise-scale system design.
Progressed through key technical and leadership roles in cellular networks, customer support, and system integration. Delivered high-availability solutions across hundreds of radio, core, and transmission sites. Led integration projects, 24/7 support operations, and vendor management, including contract negotiations resulting in multi-million-dollar savings. Built foundational experience in scalable systems, infrastructure reliability, and cross-border delivery models.