Director, Infrastructure & Communications, University of Wollongong

Richard O’Connor is a seasoned technology executive with a proven track record of driving digital transformation and infrastructure innovation across higher education, government, and consulting in Australia and Europe. As Director of Infrastructure & Communications at the University of Wollongong, Richard leads strategic initiatives that power the university’s digital backbone—spanning cloud platforms, enterprise applications, advanced networking, research computing, audiovisual ecosystems, and data center modernization.

Richard’s leadership has delivered measurable impact. At the University of Sydney and within the Australian Government, he spearheaded operating model transformations and large-scale infrastructure reforms, enabling greater agility, resilience, and cost efficiency. His ability to align technology strategy with organizational goals has consistently resulted in improved service delivery and enhanced user experience.

Beyond his executive role, Richard contributes to the broader technology landscape as a Non-Executive Board Member for Waterstons, a global consulting firm, where he advises on digital strategy, innovation, and organizational change.