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Eva Hanly to lift Squadron Energy to new heights as CEO

EVA HANLY has been appointed chief executive officer of Squadron Energy, a company of Tattarang, Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s private investment group.

Squadron Energy is constructing the Clarke Creek wind, solar and battery farm which is set to power more than 600,000 Queensland homes; the Port Kembla Energy Terminal, through Squadron Energy group company Australian Industrial Energy; and is proposing the Port Kembla Power Station which will be Australia’s largest dual fuel turbine running on 50 percent gas and 50 percent green hydrogen before transitioning to 100 percent green hydrogen. The group is also a foundation investor in Sun Cable and majority owner of renewable power company Windlab.

Ms Hanly has more than 20 years experience in the energy and infrastructure sector, following senior roles at WorleyParsons, Origin Energy and Transurban.  

Ms Hanly was previously with Transgrid, Australia’s largest energy network business, where she was a group executive, responsible for transitioning Transgrid into new businesses and services to support the energy transition.

She also led the functions for corporate strategy, commercial, innovation and technology, new energy ventures, and policy reform and economics.

Tattarang chairman Andrew Forrest AO said Ms Hanly’s experience as an operational leader in capital intensive industries across construction, transport and energy would help Squadron Energy achieve its mission to overcome Australia’s serious energy challenges.

“Australia has the potential to become a green energy superpower if we seize on the opportunities that are right before us,” Dr Forrest said.

“I am delighted that a person of Eva’s leadership capability and vision has chosen Squadron Energy to continue her great career and help lead the way in the acceleration of the decarbonisation of Australia’s economy.”

Squadron Energy has a significant portfolio of infrastructure assets in development that will provide substantial amounts of renewable power as well as support the energy system’s transition to renewable power sources.

Squadron Energy Chairman John Hartman welcomed Ms Hanly’s appointment.

“Squadron Energy has an important portfolio of projects for both the future and the present, with transitional sources of energy, and large-scale renewable sources of power,” Mr Hartman said.

Eva Hanly said she was humbled to lead an Australian-owned renewable energy company with such a bold mandate.

“Rapid decarbonisation can be achieved, and we need leaders like Andrew and Nicola Forrest who are willing to deploy capital to this critical challenge,” Ms Hanly said. “Their vision to see Australia become a green energy superpower is compelling and I am thrilled to play a role in the realisation of that vision.

“Squadron will focus on speed to market, energy affordability and energy security to grow a significant portfolio of renewable generation and the infrastructure needed to support a reliable energy transition. This is a once in a generation opportunity to partner with the Federal and State Governments to support them in ensuring we transition to renewable energy without any interruption to supply,” Ms Hanly said.

Squadron Energy targets investments in renewable power and energy-related infrastructure that supports the energy system’s transition to 100 percent renewable energy. It does not invest in coal, oil sands, or crude oil, or in any developments in sensitive marine environments.

Eva Hanly commences the role on July 4. 

www.squadronenergy.com

www.tattarang.com

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Rubrik appoints former CIA chief information security officer Michael Mestrovich

RUBRIK has named former CIA chief information security officer, Michael Mestrovich, to the company’s CISO role.

Mr Mestrovich will lead Rubrik’s internal data security efforts and provide top-level cyber security and cyber policy expertise to propel Rubrik’s mission to ‘secure the world’s data’.

Rubrik now brands itself as the Zero Trust Data Security Company and is finding world leaders in data security to help power that brand.

“Today (May 26) we added one of the world’s most prominent security experts to our leadership team,” Rubrik CEO and co-founder, Bipul Sinha said.

“We believe it’s essential to combine expertise from both the private and public sectors if businesses and governments want to stand a chance against cyber criminals. Michael’s understanding of the changing cyber-landscape and exceptional leadership experience will be paramount for our federal, state, and local customers, as well as private companies who are preparing for inevitable cyber attacks.” 

Mr Mestrovich joins Rubrik with more than 20 years of distinguished IT and security leadership, most recently serving as CISO for the CIA, leading the agency’s cyber defence operations, developing and implementing cyber security regulations and standards, and directing the evaluation and engineering of cyber technologies.

While at the CIA, Mr Mestrovich also served on a rotational detail as the Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer for the US Department of State, where he was responsible for managing the department’s $2.6 billion, 2,500 person global IT enterprise.

Before Mr Mestrovich’s career in the public sector, he was a systems engineer at Cisco Systems and served in the US Air Force.

“With increased vulnerabilities in existing infrastructure and legacy security solutions, organisations’ most critical asset – data – is more vulnerable than ever,” Mr Mestrovich said.

“I made the decision to return to the private sector at this critical juncture to work with the company that is pioneering the next frontier in cyber security: data security. I am thrilled to join the world-class team at Rubrik and look forward to working together to secure the world’s data.”

www.rubrik.com

Rubrik recently staged its FORWARD Conference, focussed on helping business leaders understand and prepare for cyber attacks. The conference’s keynote sessions and reports from IT and security leaders can be viewed here.

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Susan Forrester appointed Data#3 non executive director

MAJOR Australian IT services and solutions provider, Data#3 Limited (ASX:DTL) appointed Susan Forrester to its board of directors on March 30.

Ms Forrester has served as chair and non-executive director on multiple ASX-listed companies over the past 12 years, with broad experience in setting strategic direction as well as specific responsibility for corporate governance and compliance. With experience drawn from a career in corporate law and human resources, Ms Forrester’s strengths lie in strategy and governance within industries that are undergoing rapid change, according to Data#3 chairman Richard Anderson.  

“After an extensive search process as part of the company’s ongoing renewal program, we are delighted to bring someone with Susan’s knowledge and experience to the board,” Mr Anderson said. “As we build on our leading position in a buoyant and rapidly evolving IT market, Susan’s expertise will be most valuable and we welcome her to Data#3.”

A qualified lawyer, Ms Forrester has an EMBA from the Melbourne Business School, and is a fellow and councillor of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is also a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to business through governance and strategic roles and as an advocate for women.

Ms Forrester is currently the chair of Jumbo Interactive Limited (ASX:JIN) and a non-executive director of Plenti Ltd (ASX:PLT).

Ms Forrester said, “I am very excited to be joining Data#3, having followed and admired for many years this Queensland based national technology company. I look forward to contributing to the board at a time when the business is performing strongly and is focussed on strategic growth opportunities such as evolving its solutions and services to deliver the digital future for its customers.”

 

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Engineers Australia CEO wins prestigious Women in Industry award

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA CEO Bronwyn Evans has received the 2022 Women in Industry Excellence in Engineering Award, presented at a ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday night, April 7.

Dr Evans was acknowledged as “an outstanding engineer and trailblazer in her field” – she was the first woman to graduate from electrical engineering at Wollongong University and her career has taken her from industry and academia to the boardroom.   

The first woman to occupy the role of CEO at Engineers Australia, Dr Evans was previously the first female CEO of Standards Australia, where she was instrumental in improving the standards development process and was elected to a global role on the ISO’s governing President’s Committee.

Dr Evans has held many non-executive positions, many on a volunteer basis, in areas including Industry4.0, STEM, industry-academia connections, construction and innovation.

Dr Evans is a chartered engineer and honorary fellow of Engineers Australia.

In 2021, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Swinburne University and appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for significant service to engineering, to standards and to medical technology.

In accepting the award, Dr Evans said there was still much work to do to increase the number of women in industry.

“Nights like tonight are important so we can celebrate our successes,” she said. “However, we still need to have difficult conversations about education, bias, assumptions and missed opportunities for women in industry.

“We know we will have succeeded when women are represented 50 percent top to bottom.  I urge all of us here tonight to use our profiles and our influence to be role models and to be champions for the amazing women who are joining our industries and professions.”

Category sponsor BAE Systems said the organisation was particularly proud to sponsor the Engineering Excellence category in 2021.

“We have female engineers to thank for many of the world’s greatest innovations, yet they make up only 12 percent of engineers employed in Australia,” the citation read. “Awards such as these are important to not only celebrate achievement but to also provide inspiration to others to break down barriers and excel in the engineering industry.”

The Women in Industry Awards recognise outstanding women from the industrials sector – those who work in mining, road transport, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, bulk handling, waste management, rail and infrastructure.

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PM and PJCIS praise the late David Irvine's 'extraordinary' life of service to Australia

THE Federal Government's Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has issued a statement regarding the passing of Australian intelligence services past leader, David Irvine AO, yesterday. Mr Irvine was 75.

"On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, we extend our deepest sympathies to the Irvine family and to all who loved him and had the privilege to know him.

"David Irvine’s passing is a tremendous loss to Australia, and to everyone in the National Intelligence Community who has benefited from his guidance, wisdom and expertise.  

"There is no question that Australia is a safer, stronger and more secure nation because of David’s enduring contribution to our defence forces, intelligence community and our national security.

"A great defender of our freedom and democracy, David’s intellect, insight and judgement will be sorely missed."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also expressed his sympathies to the Irvine family and outlined in more detail Mr Irvine's contribution to Australia security and to Australian society.

"A gifted diplomat, security chief, and chair of the Foreign Investment Review Board, David Irvine was a wise counsel to successive governments," Mr Morrison said.

"This is a very sad day because David’s curiosity, wisdom and judgment strengthened our democracy and security over many decades.

"He served Australia for over 50 years and held senior diplomatic and leadership roles for the past quarter of a century. Those roles included High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Ambassador to China, Director-General of ASIO, Director-General of ASIS, and Chair of the Foreign Investment Review Board.

"More recently, he also devoted himself in various ways to training the next generation of defence, security and intelligence professionals," Mr Morrison said.

"David had a deep understanding of Australia and the region and the interconnection of diplomacy, security and economics. He also had a deep love of Indonesian culture, expressed through the publication of two books.

"He understood the work in democracies of maximising freedom and security. As he said in a 2014 speech, 'I believe the threat of terrorism will be with us into the future, but that it should not be allowed to panic us or dominate our lives'.

"In his role as chair of the Foreign Investment Review Board, which I appointed him to as Treasurer, he played a seminal role in bringing new perspectives to bear in the face of changing geostrategic dynamics in our region. 

"To the Irvine family and all who loved him, I extend the condolences of the nation. David Irvine AO will be missed."

www.aph.gov.au

 

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AFCA names Paul Kearney as new EGM for people and culture

ME BANK executive Paul Kearney will join the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) as its new executive general manager for people and culture.

Mr Kearney has been ME Bank’s general manager of people experience and business partnering since June 2017. He will join AFCA on July 5.

“Paul is an energetic and progressive HR executive who has a great deal of experience in leading complex organisational change programs,” AFCA chief operating officer Justin Untersteiner said in announcing the appointment.   

“He’s passionate about improving the employee experience and has deep experience across people partnering, learning, leadership, workplace relations and talent management and acquisition.”

Prior to ME Bank, Mr Kearney worked internationally as a human capital management consultant with Deloitte, including as chief of staff HR transformation for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He has also worked in HR and employee relations roles for media groups the BBC and Fairfax, along with Swedish-American company Autoliv.

“Paul will be an asset to AFCA as we continue to implement our vision to be a world-class ombudsman, with a world-class experience for our people,” Mr Untersteiner said.

AFCA is a non-government ombudsman service established to provice 'free, fair and independent help with financial disputes'. It assists consumers and small businesses who have disputes with their financial firms, in areas such as banking, credit, insurance, advice, investments and superannuation. Where an agreement cannot be reached between parties, AFCA can issue decisions that are binding on financial firms.

AFCA has searchable public data on financial complaints available at www.data.afca.org.au

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