Queensland Rail finds its next digital and IT group executive

Queensland Rail has recruited Darren Cavanagh from Transport for NSW as its group executive of digital and information.

Queensland Rail CIDO Darren Cavanagh. Source: LinkedIn.

Cavanagh had been Transport for NSW's group CIO for almost two-and-a-half years, and Sydney Trains CIO for about seven years prior to that.

Queensland Rail's hunt for a group chief information and digital officer (CIDO) or equivalent had been underway since November 2023 when the former incumbent Boon Beh left to return to his previous employer Incitec Pivot as its CIO.

Arnaud Franjou has been overseeing Queensland Rail’s digital and information projects and strategies in an interim capacity. 

Cavanagh told iTnews that he’d be supporting the agency for a "rail revolution" in the Sunshine State as it prepares to transport “more passengers and freight than ever before.”

This transformation required “elevating [Queensland Rail's] foundational digital and data capabilities," he added.

"Enabling a digital railway and driving greater cyber security is critical to the growth of our services."

The rail operator is already rolling our more digital and data infrastructure needed to meet the fast-approaching surge in public transport demand, Cavanagh said.

“In the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, we will integrate more than $20 billion of new assets into our network.”

The technology investments are well underway.

Last year, Queensland Rail migrated its SAP environment onto Azure.

It also implemented an AI-based system to “conduct virtual 3D inspections of the railway to identify potential hazards” covering stabilisation work in the Toowoomba Range, according to its 2022-2023 annual report [pdf].

Cavanagh started his new gig at Queensland Rail on June 10 and reports to CEO Kat Stapleton.

He told iTnews that he's "excited to lead Queensland Rail’s digital and information technology functions to deliver on our future growth and strategic priorities."

Update, 27/6: Cavanagh's official position title is group executive of digital and information, not CIDO as is it is described on social platforms and has been updated at Queensland Rail's request.