NSW Breakfast with Charlie Sukkar, CIO, NSW Department of Education

Charlie is a veteran technology executive and business leader, currently heading up one of the largest teams of IT and digital learning specialists in the southern hemisphere.

Since his appointment as Chief Information Officer for the NSW Department of Education in October 2023, Charlie has been guiding the organisation’s IT directorate through a period of substantial change. At the core of this role, Charlie is responsible for ensuring the department’s technology and cyber security architecture align with its broader strategic direction to best serve the evolving needs of teachers and students across NSW.

This has given Charlie an opportunity to pursue his passion for championing technology-driven change. In practical terms, this is about harnessing the amazing transformative power and potential of new technologies to inspire teachers and students, empower staff, and bring the future to life in schools and offices across NSW.

Prior to joining the NSW Department of Education, Charlie led a team of professionals at building materials and construction conglomerate Fletcher Building Australia. Charlie and his team partnered with a network of global and local specialists to deliver one of the biggest fiscal and cultural transformations in the organisation’s history. As a result of this work, Fletcher Building Australia’s digital commerce business now contributes around 40% of the company’s top line sales revenue. This was achieved while raising employee satisfaction to more than 85% and the digital NPS (the Customer Net Promotor score) to around 35 for most of Fletcher Building’s business units.

Charlie previously led a team delivering world-class digital platforms for CSR Limited. This included the development of more agile IT infrastructure and embedding innovation across CSR’s technology portfolios, helping redefine the building materials and construction industry across Australia and New Zealand.

Charlie’s view is that IoT & Generative AI-led innovation will power the 4th Industrial Revolution, profoundly changing the way people live, work and play. Traditional business models will be turned upside down, as people, processes and machines seamlessly interact in real-time (every time), creating business value for enterprises, government agencies and society at large.

This vision is guided by a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies and the importance of equipping young people with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the dynamic industries of the future.

To that end, Charlie is fascinated by trends in social media, mobility, IoT and big data, and is a keen advocate of open systems, cloud computing and on-demand infrastructure.

From a personal perspective, Charlie believes in the generosity of the human spirit – and that we can all make a difference on this planet.

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