Congratulations to the Top 25 Analytics Leaders for 2022

In what has become the tradition for the IAPA Top 25 announcement, a black tie virtual event on the evening of 22 June proclaimed the 25 people at the top of analytics leadership in Australia as part of the IAPA 2022 Top 25 Analytics Leaders program.

IAPA named the Victoria Government’s Executive Director – Technology and Insights at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Brad Petry as the number one Top 25 Analytics Leader for 2022.

“Brad led the Jobs Victoria team that used analytics to remove flawed logic, bias and other manual processes from the job application process to promote inclusivity. Data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning overcame biases to deliver more efficient employment services matching of applicants to vacancies – and positive feedback from both applicants, partners and employers,” noted IAPA Managing Director, Annette Slunjski.

“It’s a project that showcased Brad’s analytics leadership skills in strategy, influence, advocacy, innovation and team collaboration.”

“It is a privilege to be recognised by the IAPA panel for this award in 2022, amongst an exceptional group of data practitioners. The past two years have provided a catalyst in government for greater data-driven decision making.,” said Brad Petry, Executive Director – Technology and Insights at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Victoria Government.

“I’m proud to have played a role at Jobs Victoria to create a culture where data is central to help get Victorians into meaningful work. I am supported by an amazing team and thank them for their motivation, innovation and support towards our data and analytics ambitions at Jobs Victoria.”

The number two named analytics leader is Lionel Kho, Vice President, Data Transformation, Merkle and a driver of the establishment and growth of the data transformation practice within the Merkle organisation.

Four women in the Top Six

Notably in 2022, four women analytics leaders from Bupa, AFL, Latitude Financial Services and Suncorp were named in the top six of the Top 25. Janice Carey, former Head of Data Strategy and Operations, Bupa APAC; Elisa Koch, Head of Data and Analytics, AFL; Sandhya Iyer, Chief Data Officer (Acting), Latitude Financial Services and Rachel Scott, Manager Marketing Science, Suncorp were named number 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively.

Rounding out the Top 10 analytics leaders were, in order, Andrew Woods, Strategic Analytics Manager, Sydney Water; Kshira Saagar, Senior Director, International Data Science & Analytics, DoorDash; Jonathan Shen, Head of Data & Analytics, Teachers Health; and Dhivian Govender, Chief Data, Analytics & Strategy Officer, Recoveriescorp.

 

The data-driven journey for c-suite too

“While we recognise 25 analytics leaders tonight, they can only achieve excellence and deliver insights that improve the organisation with the full support of the c-suite. And that can be problematic,” said Slunjski.

“There are too many reports of senior ranks in Australia organisations only paying lip service to data-driven strategies, under funding data and analytics, restricting resources and ignoring identified data quality issues. That makes it hard for an analytics leader or chief data officer to shine – and impossible for AI aspirations to deliver anything of substance.

“We must get better at bringing the c-suite on the data-driven journey. That’s on us as the analytics industry to better engage, educate and build understanding with business and c-suite executives,” stated Slunjski.

IAPA, for its part, is calling for expressions of interest in its Patron Program, designed to help executives and c-suite to better understand data, analytics and the implications to business strategy and operations. Analytics leaders are also envisaged as an important part of the program and are encouraged to submit expression of interest via the IAPA website as well.  

 

Analytics intensive industries

The 2022 cohort of top 25 leaders in analytics is strongly represented by traditional analytics intensive industries such as financial services, utilities, government and consulting but also includes less obvious industries like beauty and sport. Interestingly the financial services industry was represented in a third of the top 10 and half of all women in the Top 25 cohort. 

Judged by a panel of leading analytics and business leaders, the 2022 IAPA Top 25 Analytics Leaders recognises excellence in four key areas strategy and impact; influence and advocacy; innovation and improvement; and team growth and leadership. The top ten for 2022 are as follows: 

  1. Brad Petry - Executive Director, Technology and Insights, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Victoria Government
  2. Lionel Kho - Vice President, Data Transformation, Merkle
  3. Janice Carey - former Head of Data Strategy and Operations, Bupa APAC
  4. Elisa Koch - Head of Data and Analytics, AFL
  5. Sandhya Iyer - Chief Data Officer (Acting), Latitude Financial Services
  6. Rachel Scott - Manager Marketing Science, Suncorp
  7. Andrew Woods - Strategic Analytics Manager, Sydney Water
  8. Kshira Saagar - Senior Director, International Data Science & Analytics, DoorDash
  9. Jonathan Shen - Head of Data & Analytics, Teachers Health
  10. Dhivian Govender - Chief Data, Analytics & Strategy officer, Recoveriescorp

 

Top 25 cohort 2022 in alphabetic order by surname:

  • Vaughan Archer, Director of Advisory , Gartner
  • Arnie Bhattacharya, Chief Analytics Officer & Vice-President of Data, Infomedia
  • Janice Carey, former Head of Data Strategy and Operations, Bupa APAC
  • Sophia Duan, Senior Lecturer and Program Director,  Information Systems and Business Analytics, RMIT University
  • Fateme Fahiman, Lead Data Scientist, EnergyAustralia
  • Dhivian Govender, Chief Data,  Analytics & Strategy officer, Recoveriescorp
  • Sandhya Iyer, Chief Data Officer (Acting), Latitude Financial Services
  • Susmitha Jella, Analytics Manager, Bureau of Meteorology
  • Bevan John Henderson, Senior Manager Customer Interactions, REST
  • Vishal Kapoor, Head of Product,  Data & Innovation, Prospection
  • Harpreet Khalsa, Chief Data Officer, Edith Cowan University
  • Lionel Kho, Vice President,  Data Transformation, Merkle
  • Elisa Koch, Head of Data and Analytics, AFL
  • Janine Lloyd, (Acting) Head of Data Science & AI,  Home Loans, ANZ
  • Catherine Lopes, Chief Data and Analytics Officer , Merkle
  • Jeremiah Mannings, Director of Data Science , PwC
  • Brad Petry, Executive Director,  Technology and Insights, Department of Jobs,  Precincts and Regions,  Victoria Government
  • Kshira Saagar, Senior Director,  International Data Science & Analytics, DoorDash
  • Amin Sadri, Principal Data Scientist, ANZ
  • Rachel Scott, Manager Marketing Science, Suncorp
  • Kimly Scott, Analytics Manager, Luxasia
  • Jonathan Shen, Head of Data & Analytics, Teachers Health
  • Chath Widanapathirana, Head of Applied AI, Prospection
  • Andrew Woods, Strategic Analytics Manager, Sydney Water
  • Ben Yi, Head of Data Science, Upflowy