Executive leadership opportunity | Digital transformation, cyber resilience and critical infrastructure | Innovative company
WEL Networks is a community-owned, innovative electricity distribution business delivering essential infrastructure services to the Waikato. We are seeking a commercially astute GM Data, Digital & Technology to lead our technology, cyber and information capability, shaping the strategy, governance and capability needed to support WEL’s performance, resilience and growth.
Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Executive Leadership Team, this role connects technology strategy with business outcomes, balancing transformation and innovation with stability, resilience, compliance and customer-focused delivery.
About the role
You will lead an enterprise strategy that strengthens WEL’s digital maturity, technology platforms, data capability and cyber resilience, while overseeing technology operations, enterprise systems, digital platforms, operational technology interfaces and cyber security.
Working with the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team, senior leaders and partners, you will translate priorities into scalable outcomes and provide clear advice on investment, performance, risks, opportunities and trade-offs.
Key focus areas
· Lead WEL’s enterprise technology and digital direction, aligned to business priorities, growth, regulatory obligations and customer outcomes.
· Own the enterprise roadmap, prioritisation and investment governance for digital, technology, data and cyber initiatives.
· Oversee technology operations, enterprise systems, digital platforms, operational technology interfaces and cyber security.
· Strengthen governance, architecture, data management, privacy, security, risk and compliance.
· Build a high-performing function focused on trust, accountability, collaboration and service excellence.
· Partner with vendors, delivery partners, regulators and industry networks to access capability, innovation and value.
About you
You will be an enterprise-minded senior leader with the credibility to operate at executive level, influence complex stakeholders and translate technical complexity into clear direction. You will bring strong judgement, commercial acumen and delivery discipline, balancing innovation, risk, resilience and business readiness.
You will bring senior leadership experience across data, digital, technology, cyber, operational technology and/or transformation, including enterprise strategy, roadmaps, governance and technology-enabled change.
Experience in electricity, utilities, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications or another critical services sector would be highly regarded, especially in regulated environments with strong risk, resilience, privacy, security and assurance obligations.
What you will bring
· A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent senior leadership experience.
· Professional development in technology, digital, data, cyber, leadership or commercial management.
· Strategic and systems thinking, with the ability to shape direction while maintaining stability.
· Strong technology, data, digital, cyber security and architecture literacy.
· Credible executive-level communication, advice and influence.
· A collaborative style that builds capability, trust, accountability and performance.
Why join WEL?
This is an opportunity to play a critical leadership role in a business that delivers essential infrastructure to the Waikato, shaping the digital, technology and cyber foundations that support safe, reliable and efficient operations.
If you are a strategic, pragmatic and commercially minded technology leader motivated by enterprise impact, operational resilience and better outcomes through data and digital capability, we would welcome your application.
Apply now
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter outlining your relevant leadership experience and the contribution you would bring to WEL’s future technology, digital and cyber capability.
For more information, please refer to the
With over 100,000 residential households and businesses connecting to our electricity services, we’re playing an essential role in the economic and social development of our communities.
Key to this growth are strong partnerships and innovation which see us explore new ways of providing critical infrastructure and services to ensure our customers receive affordable, reliable, fairly priced and environmentally sustainable energy. Some more about us:
- WEL Networks and its WEL Group subsidiaries, build, own and operate nearly $800M worth of electricity network infrastructure.
- The WEL Group is 100% owned by the community through our sole shareholder the WEL Energy Trust.
- Over 350 people with a range of skills work across the Group to deliver electricity services to our communities.
- Over the next decade, we’re planning to spend around $250M on network development projects to support the current and projected growth within our network.
- WEL Networks maintains over 7,000 kilometres of lines - around 48% are overhead and 52% are underground.
- Around 70,000 homes and businesses in our area currently have one of our smart meters installed which gives us valuable insights into power consumption patterns and low voltage activity.
