TRANSGRID
TransGrid ’ s Chief Information Officer , Russell Morris , describes how technology innovation has overcome COVID-19 challenges
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T he role of the Chief Information Officer ( CIO ) is one defined by change . For any organisation today , regardless of industry , digital transformation is essential and the adoption of new , innovative technologies forms the core of any future-looking digital strategy . Russell Morris , CIO at Australian electricity network operator TransGrid , is no exception to this . Morris has been at Transgrid for more than two years , joining the organisation to drive its technology transformation , oversee a complex modernisation programme and replace legacy technologies .
Change , however , is unceasing and circumstances out of Morris ’ or TransGrid control have made the last 12 months particularly challenging for him and his team . The 2019-20 Australian bushfire season , now colloquially known as the ‘ black summer ’, saw a period of unusually intense bushfires throughout the country , which only ended in February this year . After those fires , which burned 13 million acres of land on which TransGrid ’ s vast $ 6bn electrical asset base resides , there was a brief respite . Then , however ,
OCTOBER 2020