Governance

Beau Tydd is a distinguished leader with over 25 years of senior executive experience, encompassing roles such as Chief Executive, Chief Information Officer, Board Chair, and Director. He is adept in corporate advisory, strategic planning, innovation, and business scaling, with a proven track record across diverse sectors including emerging technologies, cybersecurity, smart cities, aviation, international development, and research. Beau holds the position of Adjunct Professional Fellow at Griffith University and serves as an Industry Professor at Deakin University. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Southern Cross University, and Central Queensland University. He chairs the QUT Science and Engineering Faculty Information Technology Industry Advisory Group and co-chairs the TAFE Queensland Course Advisory Committee for Higher Education Cyber Security. Beau also contributes his expertise to multiple university course and industry advisory boards. A committed community leader, Beau has chaired the Queensland ACS Branch Executive Committee and served on the ACS National Management Committee. He is presently a Director for Feros Care, and Chairs the Regional Information Management Sub-Committee (IM-SC) for the Forum Fisheries Association. Beau holds an MBA (Computing) and a Bachelor of Information Technology and is a certified professional and Fellow of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Digital Transformation Catalyst, Trusted Advisor, Educator, Change Agent, Diversity and Inclusion Champion. Rod is a results focussed digital leader with a proven ability to influence complex stakeholder networks and drive transformational change. He an executive consultant with experience spanning over 25 years focused on Construction & Asset Management, Banking & Finance and Education. He is a founding Director of William Bethwey & Associates and an internationally recognised thought leader in strategic and architectural transformation. Rod is a highly motivated catalyst of digital change, he is results focussed and has an inclusive leadership style He is an Industry Fellow at The University of Melbourne where he researches and lectures in Higher Degree programmes. He has authored over 20 publications and a book on Organisational Change. Consequently, he is a sought-after expert for leading companies confronting challenges brought about by disruptive technologies and the need to transform organisational cultures to adopt radically different paradigms of work and the creation of value. Rod is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society, A Fellow of the British Computer Society, former National Director of the ACS Membership Advisory Board and was recognised as the ICT Professional of the year, 2013 in the national iAwards.

Jerome, embarked on his career in the healthcare sector in 2004, as the IT manager for a pharmacy group. In 2010, Jerome founded his own IT company, specialising in supporting primary care and allied health providers, ensuring their IT enables compliance with health regulations, standards, and policies. Jerome was Vice Chair of ACS WA Branch and was later elected as Chair. He works hard to connect members with each other, with the help of the Branch Executive Committee. Jerome also contributes to the community as a management committee member at Cura In-Home Care, an approved not for profit Aged Care Services Provider. Additionally, he dedicates time to mentoring high school students through EdConnect and guiding emerging IT professionals within the ACS.

Roger's career has mostly been in private sector professional, managerial and consultancy roles, interrupted by a decade as a senior academic. His consultancy focus is on disruptive information technologies' strategic and policy impacts and implications, and security and privacy aspects of IT. His Board experience is deep and diverse, and he's held a wide variety of positions within ACS. He also has a long record of public interest advocacy in the privacy and consumer rights areas. He has degrees from UNSW and ANU, has long been a Fellow of the ACS, and is a Visiting Professor in Computer Science at ANU and in Law at UNSW.

Nick is a senior technology executive and director with a successful career in large, diverse, customer-focused organisations. He has significant technology and leadership experience, which includes the successful implementation of numerous Award-winning innovation initiatives and corporate technology transformation programs. Nick has been the Chief Information Officer for a number of leading, technology-focussed organisations, including BDO in Australia, Brisbane City Council, the global GHD Group and Virgin Blue Airlines, during which time the airline achieved numerous technical and innovation successes. He has also worked with a number of other leading technology vendors, and has founded, sold and worked with several technology startups. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science and a Graduate Diploma in Information Systems, and has been appointed an Adjunct Associate Professor at both Griffith University and CQUniversity. He is a member of the Queensland BEC, the Industry Advisory Board and Cyber Studio Industry Reference Group for the School of ICT at Griffith University, and the ICT Course Reference Committee at CQUniversity. He is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders, a Member of the Australian Institute of Project Managers, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Damien Charles is the Regional Manager for NEC Australia in the Northern Territory, with over 25 years of experience delivering ICT services. Having started in the Industry on the NTG’s Service Desk in the mid 90’s, Damien has progressed his career through all levels and multiple roles, and is now responsible for delivering service to NTG across a number of managed services contracts. NEC is the largest non-government ICT employer in the Northern Territory and under Damien’s local leadership has been named as the NT’s Employer of the Year for 2018 and 2019. As a long term Territorian with a keen interest in helping others to achieve success in the ICT industry, and also to develop the industry in the North of Australia, he has invested considerable time and effort in supporting the local university and students and is an active member of a number of the local associations and ICT Committee’s. He is a passionate advocate for the ACS and its role in providing guidance and support.

Cindy Chung is a seasoned IT professional with expertise in service management, systems architecture, and data management. She is the 2024 Chair of the ACS NSW Branch Executive Committee, having previously served as Vice Chair in 2023 and Director of the ACS Membership Advisory Board (2021–2022). Cindy has also contributed as Treasurer and member of the ACS NSW BEC, and as part of the ACS NSW Women’s Committee, championing diversity and excellence in the ICT sector.

Officially a member of ACS since 1983 but joined in Sydney around 1972 when Jacky worked for IBM. Past Branch Chair of ACS Tasmania and a past Vice President (Academic) on Management Committee. Member of the ACSW Board responsible for producing recent Gender Equity paper. Currently she is member of Tasmanian Branch Executive and a retired lecturer in Computer Security (University of Tasmania).

Dr Prins Ralston brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience to his role as ACS Chief Executive Officer, including 18 years as a CEO across public, private and for-purpose sectors. He has founded and listed an ASX company, served as a Partner in national law firms for over seven years, scaled Australia's largest allied health provider threefold and built a $500M international human services company backed by banking syndicates and private equity. He has led a $1 billion local government with $9 billion in assets through major crises and transformation, delivering significant economic growth while managing complex stakeholder relationships across government, business and community. His governance and financial expertise spans board directorships, funds management and critical infrastructure. As previous ACS President, National Councilor, SEARCC President across 14 nations, and IFIP Vice President and Publications Chair—earning IFIP's Silver Core Award—Dr Ralston has championed ICT professionalism at the highest national and international levels for decades. His combination of transformational executive leadership, legal and governance expertise, and deep global ICT standing makes him uniquely equipped to lead the ACS team and deliver outstanding outcomes for its membership and the Australian community.