About this episode

Addressing burnout with digital wellbeing initiatives, leveraging AI for safety, and balancing compassion with tough decisions.

Overview

Ventia's Chief Information Officer, Melanie Evans, shares insights on winning the prestigious CIO50 Team of the Year award. She highlights the importance of combating employee burnout through effective digital wellbeing initiatives. Additionally, Evans explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance an organisation’s commitment to safety. Mel also addresses the challenge of balancing compassion with the need to make tough decisions in a dynamic business environment. 

Guests

Melanie Evans

Melanie joined Ventia in July 2023 as Group Executive – Digital Services.

Prior to joining Ventia, Melanie was Partner In Charge, Connected Technology Group and Head of Technology, Audit, Assurance & Risk Consulting at KPMG.

She spent more than ten years at Telstra in various senior IT, business transformation, marketing and product roles.

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Key takeaways

  • Investment in Team Capabilities: A major achievement has been the focus on building team capabilities and investing in their development, leading to improved performance and trust within Ventia.
  • Customer Service Excellence: Melanie stresses the commitment to customer service excellence as a core focus, ensuring operational technology is always optimised for customer needs.
  • Responsible AI Governance: The establishment of a responsible AI governance framework is crucial, ensuring ethical use of data and AI while maintaining communication with leadership and stakeholders.
  • Collaborative Partnering Approach: Melanie emphasises the importance of viewing vendors as partners, fostering collaboration through regular workshops to align goals and achieve mutual benefits.
  • Leadership in Crisis Situations: During high-pressure situations like cyber incidents, building trust and confidence within the team is crucial. Communication and transparency are prioritised to keep everyone informed and engaged.
  • Supportive Leadership: Even when making difficult decisions, Melanie believes in providing support systems for her team, ensuring they have the necessary resources and encouragement to succeed.
  • Continued Investment in Safety and Cybersecurity: Ventia will maintain a strong focus on safety, investing in trials and strategies that benefit both customers and internal teams, particularly in cybersecurity.

This podcast was originally published on CIO's website. You can listen, read or watch the full podcast and interview with Melanie here.