Kate Carruthers, Chief Data and Insights Officer, University of New South Wales Shares Her Significant Achievements and Advice for Young Aspirants

Kate Carruthers, Chief Data and Insights Officer, University of New South Wales (NSW, Australia) 

(Oceania) CDO Magazine publishes everything outstanding that is happening in the world of data and analytics. We introduce you to remarkable data organizations and great leaders through our special lists and nominations. We work throughout the year to bring you the latest in what is breaking down barriers and setting trends in the world of data. Our lists recognize the tremendous work performed to advance the cause of data and analytics worldwide, and we showcase the thought leaders' accomplishments in their specific lines of work.

Our Leading Data Academic Leaders List 2022 honors these great academic leaders, introducing them on a global platform where they share their insights and work, highlighting their significant successes in the previous year, the challenges they faced, and their aspirations and goals for 2022.

Introducing: Kate Carruthers, Chief Data and Insights Officer, University of New South Wales (NSW, Australia)

1. What have been your most significant achievements in 2021, specifically in the last two years, and why?

I think for everyone, 2020 and 2021 were years we are glad to have survived. Keeping my team together as a really high-performing team and maintaining a consistent level of output, while working from home and around COVID, is probably the most significant achievement. My team are amazing. They are the ones who bring the strategies and ideas to life.

2. What challenges are you facing in the academic data field?

All higher education institutions faced real challenges over 2020-2021 with COVID and the shift to online learning. But with every challenge there is opportunity. Now we have even more data, and the real opportunity is turning it from data into useful insights that can help the folks on the front lines of teaching and research.

3. What traits and qualities are required to be a successful academic data leader?

The ability to listen and to be collaborative and consultative. What is that saying? “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The technology without people does nothing, so bringing folks along on the journey is essential.

4. Tell us about your priorities in 2022. What are your key targets?

Everything that we do in our data practice is focused on this single imperative: get people the data, information, and insights they need to do their job without having to ask for it. So, we will be focused on doing this again in 2022.

5. What advice would you offer aspiring academic leaders to help them prepare for the role?

That is a funny question for me — I got this job because I asked questions about our data practices and our data governance. I would say be inquisitive, be open to learning new skills, get an understanding of how the technology can empower the mission of the university, and be able to help non-technical people understand the opportunities.

Kate Carruthers is the Chief Data & Insights Officer, University New South Wales, Planning & Performance - Office of the Provost, as well as Senior Lecturer (Adjunct) - School of Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW. She is a Certified Information Security Manager and is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in terrorism and cybersecurity. Kate has extensive experience in senior roles in ICT across the finance sector, marketing, data, and digital; and is a member of the NSW Government’s Data Analytics Centre Advisory Board. Kate was appointed as a Microsoft Regional Director for her work in cybersecurity in 2020, an advisory role that provides Microsoft leaders with customer insights and real-world voices. 

Kate Carruthers is one of our Leading Academic Data Leaders in 2022. To discover the full list, click here now.