Leadership team

Chief Executive Officer

Andrew Penn became Chief Executive Officer on 1 May, 2015 after serving as Telstra's Chief Financial Officer and Group Executive International.

Andrew is an experienced senior executive with a career spanning more than 30 years.  Prior to joining Telstra, Andrew was with AXA Asia Pacific for 20 years where he held a number of positions including Group Chief Executive (2006-2011), Chief Executive Officer for Australia and New Zealand, Group Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive for Asia and spent time based in Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia.  Under Andrew’s leadership AXA built a successful Asian platform, which was sold to its parent company in 2011 for $10.4bn.

In addition to his business activities, Andrew has contributed widely to not-for-profit and community organisations. He is Life Governor and Foundation Board member of Very Special Kids.  He is also a member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Advisory Council, The Big Issue Advisory Group, and an Amy Gillet Foundation Ambassador. 

He is a passionate about the visual arts and supports Telstra’s programmes with the National Gallery of Victoria, Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Art Award.

Andrew is a fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, he has an MBA from Kingston University, London and is a Graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

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Transformation & People - Group Executive

Alexandra Badenoch became Telstra’s Group Executive Transformation & People on 1 October 2018. This role leads the development of Telstra’s transformation roadmap and orchestrates the delivery of its key priorities with a focus on transforming the way employees work and strengthening employee engagement.

Alex re-joined Telstra in August 2016 to take up the role of Group Executive Human Resources. In this role she was responsible for the provision of strategic advice and support to the business in the areas of Organisational Development and Performance, New Ways of Working, Talent, Recruitment, Remuneration and Rewards, HR Systems, Health Safety & Environment and Workplace Relations.

Prior to this, she was Director of Human Resources, Corporate Affairs and Customer at Asciano, Australia’s largest rail and ports operator, and brings a wealth of experience dealing with a highly diversified and international workforce.

Before joining Asciano, Alex worked at Telstra for more than five years as Executive Director Organisational Development & Talent and Executive Director HR for Telstra’s Consumer business, including BigPond and Telstra Country Wide.

Known for her change management skills and ability to deliver strong commercial outcomes, Alex has designed and implemented key initiatives to drive successful change across multiple organisations, including Novell Inc and Coles Myer.

Alex has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Criminology) and a Graduate Diploma in Human Resources from the University of Melbourne.

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Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy

Robyn Denholm became Telstra’s Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy on 1 October 2018 after spending 18 months in the role of Telstra’s Chief Operations Officer (COO). This role is responsible for setting Telstra’s strategic direction, while managing all financial elements, including, capital planning, budgets, cash flow, as well as Audit, Risk and Treasury. Robyn also oversees Telstra’s digitisation program to ensure its delivery.

Robyn joined Telstra in January 2017 and during her time as COO gained invaluable insight into Telstra’s broad operations. She was instrumental in the delivery of Telstra’s commercial agreements with nbn co and setting the strategic direction for the company’s Networks for the Future and Digitisation programs and driving significant improvements in customer service.

Prior to joining Telstra, Robyn was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer of global networking equipment and software security firm, Juniper Networks. Robyn was the Chief Financial Officer at Juniper from 2007 to mid-2016 and over that time Juniper’s revenues more than doubled, and following a 2014 restructure the company achieved record revenue and profitability.

Prior to Juniper, Robyn held roles in the United States and Australia with Sun Microsystems, Toyota and Arthur Andersen.

Robyn is a Board member of renewable energy and electric vehicle company Tesla Inc. and was formerly on the Board of the Swiss robotics, power and automation technology company ABB.

Robyn has been on the California National Diversity council list of Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology, was named a Woman to Watch by Global Telecoms Business in 2017 and was awarded the Commonwealth Club Distinguished Citizen Award in 2016. 

She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Sydney and a master's degree in commerce from the University of New South Wales and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants ANZ.

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Legal & Corporate Affairs - General Counsel 

Carmel Mulhern is Telstra's Group General Counsel responsible for providing legal advice to Telstra's Board, CEO and senior management. Carmel manages one of Australia's largest in-house legal teams, with lawyers in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, London and New York. Her role sees her supporting Telstra's commercial objectives and enabling the business to fulfil its full potential.

In September 2017 Carmel was appointed Group Executive Corporate Affairs in addition to her Group General Counsel role. In this expanded role Carmel is responsible for protecting and enhancing Telstra's reputation with responsibility for communications, government relations, sustainability, regional affairs and regulatory.

Prior to her current role, Carmel was the Telstra Company Secretary reporting to the Board and responsible for continuous disclosure compliance, corporate governance and communication to Telstra's 1.4 million shareholders.

Carmel joined Telstra in July 2000 as Corporate Counsel and soon became General Counsel within the Finance and Administration business unit. Carmel played a key role in the T2 and T3 transactions, Telstra's first share buyback and the NBN transactions.

Prior to joining Telstra, Carmel was a senior associate in the Mergers and Acquisitions group of Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Melbourne. Carmel has also held the position of associate to Justice Mary Gaudron of the High Court of Australia and associate to Justice Philip Cummins of the Supreme Court of Victoria. She has lectured at Monash University on director's duties and advanced corporations law and is the author of two legal text books.

Carmel has been a member of the St James Ethics Advisory Council, the inaugural Chairman of the ASX GC100 and a Director of Justice Connects (formerly PILCH VIC).

Carmel has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland and a Master of Laws from Monash University.

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Telstra InfraCo CEO

Brendon Riley became the CEO of Telstra InfraCo on 1 October 2018. In this role Brendon is responsible for efficiently leveraging Telstra’s significant portfolio of assets, ensuring it maintains and monetises these assets and meets its obligations to wholesale customers. Brendon also continues to be responsible for the Telstra Health business.

Brendon previously led Telstra Enterprise where he was responsible for providing services to thousands of enterprise, government and international wholesale customers. Telstra Enterprise has revenues in excess of A$8 billion per annum and operations in 20 countries.

Brendon joined Telstra in 2011 as Chief Operations Officer (COO) with responsibility for all aspects of Telstra’s operating environment, including networks, field services and the NBN. During his time as COO, Telstra deployed its award winning 4G LTE mobile network, developed its Network Applications and Services business and transformed the division’s operating model to align with the company’s long-term strategy.

Prior to joining Telstra, Brendon spent more than 25 years with IBM and held a number of senior executive positions in Europe, Asia and Australia, including the Head of Europe and CEO of the United Kingdom and Ireland. 

Brendon is currently a member of the boards of Foxtel, Ooyala and Telstra Ventures. He has also served as a member of the President’s Council of the Confederation of British Industry and as a Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Brendon has a Bachelor of Business in Information Processing from the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University).

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Consumer & Small Business - Group Executive

Vicki Brady has been Group Executive Telstra Consumer & Small Business since September 2017. She has extensive executive leadership experience in telecommunications and services companies in Australia and internationally.

Vicki was previously Group Managing Director, Telstra Sales & Service and Group Managing Director, Telstra Consumer. In these roles, she was responsible for the implementation of a customer-led strategy and operating plan for Telstra's contact centres, stores, digital channels and business centres, lifting customer experience, commercial performance and driving cultural change.

Prior to joining Telstra, Vicki held senior leadership roles with Optus where she was Managing Director, Marketing & Products in Australia between April 2015 and June 2016. She also held the position of Managing Director, Customer from 2012 to 2015 where she led key brand, customer and cultural changes. Before this she was Managing Director, Wholesale and Satellite from 2008 to 2012. Vicki also held senior leadership roles with SingTel in Singapore where she was Vice President Consumer Marketing and Vice President Customer Management. She began her career with KPMG’s accounting and finance practice.

Vicki has a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University and a Master of Science in Management from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She is a member of the institute of Chartered Accountants ANZ and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  

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Group Executive, Global Business Services

David Burns was appointed Group Executive Global Business Services on 30 July 2018. In this role is responsible for creating a radically simplified business model and bringing together support services, service operations and enablement functions. All focused on relentlessly improving customer service, efficiency and service levels.

During his last 6 years with Telstra, David led Global Services and International within Telstra Enterprise, Telstra’s A$6 billion services and solutions business for enterprise and government customers. In this role he was responsible for designing, building and managing an integrated services capability for Telstra’s business, enterprise and government customers in Australia and around the world.

David’s remit also included leading Telstra Enterprise’s business outside Australia, with approximately 3,500 people in 20 countries and the largest submarine cable network and integrated data centre footprint in the Asia Pacific region.

David has three decades of experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors. Prior to joining Telstra, David was General Manager, IBM Global Technology Services. Based in London, he was responsible for IBM’s IT services and outsourcing sales and delivery functions for the United Kingdom and Ireland. He also held a number of industry facing roles at IBM covering the financial services, utilities and government sectors. David began his career as a marketing representative at IBM in Adelaide.

David holds a Bachelor of Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the South Australian Institute of Technology (now the University of South Australia). He is also a member of the TelstraSuper board of directors.

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Group Executive, Enterprise

Michael Ebeid joined Telstra on 8 October 2018 as Group Executive, Enterprise. In this role he is responsible for revenues in excess of $8bn and managing a growing business that delivers connectivity, platforms, applications and tailored industry solutions to Telstra's enterprise and government customers. The role also includes responsibility for Enterprise's international operations, with approximately 3,500 people in 20 countries and the largest subsea cable network in the Asia Pacific region.

Michael is a strategically focused CEO with more than 30 years' experience across the technology, telecommunications and media sectors. Michael has a successful track record in leading organisational change and transformation, nurturing creativity and innovation, and is passionate about workplace culture, leadership and diversity.

Michael joined Telstra from SBS where he had been the CEO and Managing Director since 2011. In this role he significantly evolved the public broadcaster's portfolio with four distinctive TV channels, an extensive in-language radio offering and new market-leading digital services like SBS On Demand which now has over five million registered users with high audience engagement. A continuous focus on driving a high-performance culture, coupled with a program of continual efficiencies, made SBS Australia's most agile broadcaster.

Prior to Michael's media career, he spent 10 years in telecommunications with Optus between 1995 - 2005. The first five years were in Optus' Enterprise and Government Division as the General Manager, Commercial, working closely with the Sales and Product teams. Michael then became the Director of Commercial Operations for the Consumer and Multimedia Division for five years, where he led a major transformation of the division which led to a tripling of its revenues.

Michael began his career in technology at IBM (1986 – 1995), where he held various finance, sales and marketing positions across Australia and Asia.

In 2017, Michael was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to Broadcast Media and Multicultural Affairs as an executive, innovator and business leader and was also named CEO of the Year at the 2017 CEO Magazine's Executive of the Year Awards. Michael was appointed as a Trustee of the Sydney Opera House Trust in January 2018.

Michael has a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University and has completed the International Executive Development Program at INSEAD Business College in France and the Media Strategies Program from Harvard Business School in Boston.

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Group Executive, Networks & IT

Relocating from Toronto, Nikos Katinakis joined Telstra on 15 October 2018 as Group Executive Networks & IT. In this critical role Nikos is responsible for ensuring Telstra delivers next generation network technologies to create the largest, smartest, safest and most reliable networks in the world. This includes rolling out new technology developments, such as those related to 5G, as well as maintaining and enhancing Telstra’s IT platforms. 

Nikos was previously Executive Vice President Networks for Reliance Jio in India where he was responsible for rolling out the first pan-India 4G LTE Network, with a focus on data management, and enhancing and stabilising the various operating platforms. In his second Jio assignment, Nikos led their wireline/fixed consumer business with the objective to launch full commercial services across major cities in India, while fully automating and simplifying workflows and the customer experience. Prior to this, Nikos was SVP of Architecture and Technology Development for Network and IT at Canada’s Rogers Communications, as well as Chief Information Security Officer, where he was responsible for the technology strategy, selection, and roadmap that guided Rogers’ deployment of next generation capabilities across all access networks and services. 

Nikos has held multiple board and industry positions, including at ATIS, CATA and the University of Toronto, as well as at UXP Systems, a digital life company which was recently acquired by Amdocs. 

Nikos has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from McGill University in Montreal. 

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