Our people

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UNSW IT is dedicated to achieving our goals through innovative leadership and strategic planning. We strive to be true partners, deeply understanding and fulfilling the needs of our customers. Our commitment lies in delivering efficient, reliable services and projects while investing in key technologies essential to UNSW. By creating a simplified, rationalised environment, we proactively manage risks to ensure a secure and effective operational landscape for the university community.

Senior leadership team

Introducing the senior leadership team at UNSW IT – a dynamic group dedicated to fostering innovation and guiding strategic initiatives. Their commitment to excellence ensures that our technology services meet the diverse needs of our students, staff, researchers, alumni, and guests.

Dr Christine Burns

Chief Information Officer

Dr Chrissy Burns joined as UNSW Sydney’s Chief Information Officer in 2022 to drive its technology strategy so it enables the innovative ambitions of the students and staff of the University. 

UNSW is committed to investing in digital agility and innovation to support our brand and strategy. Chrissy is leading a program of technology transformation to achieve this goal.

Chrissy is a seasoned C-suite executive with a proven ability to set strategy, lead performance, cultivate culture, deliver transformation and drive digital innovation in complex and highly regulated organisations.

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Tanya Freeman

Deputy Chief Information Officer

Tanya is a visionary leader and future thinker with over two decades of experience in technology and digital innovation, driving transformative growth and excellence in complex environments. She thrives in developing and executing strategic plans that modernise platforms, provide a contemporary solution implementation, foster collaboration, and elevate the customers’ experiences.

Tanya has led digital transformation initiatives across various industries, where she has unlocked efficiencies that see increased flexibility. She does this by combining academic rigor with real-world expertise to drive innovation and excellence; influencing boards, executives, business units, and supply chains with passion and impact.

 

Brooke White

Deputy Chief Information Officer - Planning and Governance

Brooke is a technology leader known for steering high-performing teams through transformative challenges in diverse industries and global landscapes. As the Deputy Chief Information Officer - Planning and Governance at UNSW, she drives the University's ambitious digital transformation initiatives, collaborating closely with project teams and acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders throughout the University. 

 Brooke is a formidable advocate of workplace mental wellbeing and a champion of empowering future STEM leaders. Brooke is a graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Derek Winter

Director Cyber Security and Chief Information and Security Officer (CISO)

Derek is a 30-year veteran of the cyber security profession, with a focus on delivering security transformation initiatives across Higher Education, Government and Financial Services organisations.

Derek has a deep understanding of cyber security risk management and governance; managed security service procurement and implementation; enterprise threat and risk assessment; C-Level and Board reporting; cyber recruitment; and controls assurance.

Since joining UNSW in 2021, Derek has led the development and implementation of the University’s cyber security resilience program, and establishment of a 24x7 hybrid security operations centre (SOC), and a cyber security governance, risk and compliance function.

Mark Griffith

Director of Customer Service Delivery

Mark has a career of over 30 years in technology leadership roles across government, outsourcing service providers, banking, airlines and corporate boards.

He has led the transformation of services and service delivery models across a range of industries. Mark's focus has been to bring the technology function closer to the business to ensure that it streamlines business operations and provides improved products and services to market.

Sally Anderson

Director Student, Academic and Research (StARS)

As our Director of Student, Academic and Research (StARS), Sally is responsible for a large portfolio of business applications, services and program delivery for students, education and research. She is passionate about building effective and lasting technological capabilities in universities that make studying and teaching easier, innovative and highly valued.

Sally has over 20 years of IT experience in the higher education sector in Australia and the UK and in teaching and education development roles. These include many senior leadership roles across various IT portfolios and services at UNSW, the University of Sydney and the University of Manchester.

 

Rajiv Ram

Director Corporate Services

Rajiv is a technology leader with extensive experience in management, commercial strategy, relationship building and delivery across multiple industries. He has a proven track record of successfully leading IT delivery and operational functions in large and complex organisations.

Rajiv has strong relationship and influencing skills developed in business and partner relationship management roles and has a wealth of practical knowledge in delivering business outcomes, establishing and leading high performance teams. Rajiv has a particular interest in graduate recruitment. Outside work Rajiv has an interest in ‘wellness’ and fights a constant battle between being fit and healthy against his love of food!

Jerry Frenkel

Director Engagement and Change

Jerry has extensive experience in client relationship management, community engagement, digital transformation and change communications. Her deep understanding on how to build strategic partnerships that align technology with the University’s vision, has led to the effective delivery of IT transformation projects. She enables transformative change through fostering meaningful stakeholder relationships, building the capability and careers of the teams she leads and finding the right solutions to deliver business results.

Jerry was instrumental in the successful transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic at UTS, as well as leading strategic digital programs to enhance staff experience. 

Nigel McLean-Smith

Director Strategy and Architecture

Nigel has extensive experience in strategy, architecture and digital transformation delivery. His laser-sharp focus on the needs of the customer is always the key driver for ‘future state’ technology, which he achieves through extensive collaboration and consultation to ensure a proper balance between technology and business capabilities Nigel is passionate about leading people to be the best they can be and to build knowledge communities for growth and information sharing.

Nigel has led the digital transformation program for a large operations unit and has held many senior architecture and transformation delivery roles in Financial Services.

Christian Wood

Director Innovation Enablement

Christian Wood is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in cultivating cultures of innovation and continuous improvement across diverse teams in both startup environments and large organisations.  Christian has worked extensively in the NSW Government, leading the delivery of the NSW Digital Driver’s License and serving as Chief Product Officer at Service NSW. He played a key role in transforming their IT delivery function into a customer-led, product-driven organisation.

His broad career means he brings a wealth of diverse experience working with a range of people and innovation opportunities, from start-up financial services businesses to even running his own brewery.


Faculty IT business partners

The IT BP team plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between technology and business needs. Our purpose is to create value and promote innovation by aligning technology with UNSW strategic priorities. We foster partnerships that deliver results.

Our Vision

  • Improve customer service & customer centricity.

  • Build a sustainable central IT function that focuses on building capabilities in Enterprise systems and applications. 

  • Drive cost effective technology development to support the business to be more efficient an effective.

Meet the team

Each faculty, and some divisions, has a dedicated IT BP.  Contact your IT BP directly, so they can partner with you to drive innovation and make it easier for you to study, teach, research and work.

Tomas Kasier

Lead Business Partner

Faculty of Medicine & Health

Stephen Cheng

Senior Business Partner

Faculty of Engineering

Kathleen Gray

Senior Business Partner

Faculty of Science

Jay Atkar

Senior Business Partner

UNSW Business School

Alex Symonds

Senior Business Partner

Faculty of Arts Design & Architecture

Conan Long

Senior Business Partner - IT

UNSW College, Transformation Planning & Assurance

Leanne Howard

Senior Business Partner - IT

Faculty of Law, Library, Equity & Diversity Div.

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Peter Ness

College Technology Manager

UNSW Canberra