WorkCover Qld CIO, CISO change in short succession

WorkCover Queensland has seen a shake-up in its technology leadership, with both its chief information officer (CIO) and chief information security officer (CISO) departing within two months.

The workers’ compensation insurance provider bid farewell to its CIO of one year, Angela Jones, in January.

She is now listed on LinkedIn as a business transformation consultant at Super Retail Group.

Meanwhile, in December, WorkCover Queensland’s head of cyber and information security Clayton Brazil also exited the government-owned statutory body, according to his LinkedIn.

WorkCover Queensland declined to comment on the organisational changes when approached by iTnews.

The insurer has been under new leadership since June when Michael Pennisi took over the CEO role from Bruce Watson, who retired after seven years in the position.

Following Angela Jones’ departure, WorkCover Queensland’s technology leadership appears to have fallen to Ian Jones, who is listed as the insurer’s general manager of Technology Services and Security.

Previously a contractor in the role of operating model and optimisation lead, Ian Jones now oversees a team of 140 people, managing application development, IT infrastructure, testing, service management, and cyber security operations.

His responsibilities also include managing a $25 million IT operating budget and “supporting a multi-million dollar project portfolio focused on cloud, data services, and cyber security improvements,” according to his LinkedIn.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, WorkCover Queensland appointed Grae Meyer-Gleaves as its new CISO, having started a recruitment process at the end of last year.

Meyer-Gleaves was previously the information security leader at smart ticketing provider Cubic Transportation Systems.

According to recruiter Luminary, which assisted with the hire, Meyer-Gleaves will now report to WorkCover Queensland chief operating officer Karin Muller.

The insurer is in the process of hiring a head of transformation delivery to “oversee whole-business transformation” to help it “execute [its] enterprise program of work”.

As outlined in its most recent annual report [pdf], WorkCover Queensland is undergoing a “multi-year digital transformation journey” which is focused on transitioning to the cloud and prioritising “more responsive experiences in line with our customers’ changing digital needs and expectations”.

According to the report, the insurer intends to “rationalise and innovate [its] existing digital, data and supporting system capabilities” and “strengthen [its] cyber security controls and improvements to [its] core systems".

The report also notes that Pennisi has a “proven track record of authentic, values-based and purpose-led leadership driving transformational change in large, complex businesses”.