The federal government has appointed data scientist Dr Ian Oppermann as a commissioner of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC).
Dr Oppermann, the keynote speaker at this year’s Startup Daily Best in Tech awards, was previously NSW Government’s inaugural Chief Data Scientist, a startup founder and CSIRO director and entrepreneur-in-residence, and a pioneer of 3G and 4G technology during his time as a senior executive at Nokia. Most recently, he cofounded ServiceGen for former NSW MP Victor Dominello.
His appointment to the ACCC is for five years.
Earlier this year Oppermann was appointed the data standards chair for Digital ID and Consumer Data Right (CDR). That role will be filled by lawyer Dr Scott Farrell, who many in fintech regard as the godfather of open banking. Dr Farrell, who sits on the Reserve Bank’s payments system board, penned the federal government’s review of the Australian Payments System, and in 2017, the review into Open Banking in Australia, then three years later the inquiry into future directions for the CDR.
Farrell’s appointment is for two years.
Assistant treasurer Daniel Mulino said Dr Farrell’s appointment will continue to support the safety of Australians’ data and a priority for him will be working with industry to streamline data standards and unlock high‑value use cases while reducing compliance costs.
Both appointments begin this Wednesday, December 10.
Scott Farrell
ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb – who sits alongside Farrell on the RBA payments board – welcomed Oppermann to her team.
“We look forward to drawing on his technological and data acumen including around the use of AI in Government,” she said.
“Ian is a respected thought leader in the digital economy. His contributions will be invaluable in helping to drive innovation at the ACCC and our data-driven approach to regulation.”
Dr Oppermann’s appointment fills a position left vacant after Peter Crone did not to seek a further term as commissioner.
