Hydro Tasmania
An IT evolution with the support of Ignite Project Services
Situation
In 2023, newly appointed Head of IT, Steve Wilson, had a clear objective from the Executive to stabilise the IT Team, reset the strategic operational direction and deliver a resilient and innovative IT capability that would support the business big strategic agenda.
To help with this work Steve reached out to Ignite Project Services Director Mel Lukianenko to seek external expertise and help evolve the IT function and leadership.
Solution
Steve partnered with Mel, as a trusted adviser, drawing on her extensive experience in IT as an executive leader and energy sector professional. Mel worked closely with the IT senior leadership team to design and execute a comprehensive strategic plan and functional uplift activities. Mel’s role was to complement Hydro Tasmania’s internal expertise by providing strategic advice, coaching, and hands-on support to the Head of IT and senior leadership team.
Key initiatives included:
Organisational Design and Capability Uplift: Working collaboratively with Hydro Tasmania’s leadership team to refine the division’s structure, introducing a "plan, build, run" model and creating specialised teams for planning, governance, and project management.
Strategic IT Framework: Development of a three-year IT strategy that provided a clear roadmap for future investments and priorities, ensuring alignment with Hydro Tasmania’s broader objectives.
Leadership Coaching: Acting as a mentor and sounding board, Mel supported Steve and the team to navigate challenges and build confidence in their roles.
Operational Improvements: Establish and develop robust processes for budget management, cost optimisation, and vendor negotiations, ensuring that IT resources were effective.
Cultural Transformation: Foster a change culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation, reinforcing the team’s role as a trusted business partner.
Outcome
The evolution of Hydro Tasmania’s IT division has been a whole of IT team effort driven by Steve’s leadership team with support from Ignite’s expertise, and partnering with IT partners Info Tech. The collaborative approach to embed an adaptive culture, process blueprints, survey benchmarking and innovative thinking have resulted in solid progress and achievement including:
Uplift the IT functional maturity: After two years, many functions have now moved to a mature status with a clear plan to uplift remaining functions across the Plan Build Run operating model.
Uplift resources: Hydro Tasmania invested in growing the IT team, adding 40 full-time equivalents (FTEs) to better meet organisational demands.
Strategic Alignment: The IT division evolved from being a reactive service provider to a trusted business partner.
Operational Excellence: The division now operates with a clear strategy, streamlined governance, and optimised costs, positioning it to deliver long-term value.
A Partnership for Success
Steve Wilson reflected on the transformation:
"The IT journey we’ve undertaken at Hydro Tasmania would not have been possible without a combination of strong internal leadership and the trusted guidance of Ignite Project Services. Mel’s expertise brought clarity, structure, and focus to our efforts, helping us achieve outcomes we wouldn’t have thought possible."
Mel’s contribution as a trusted adviser was integral to the process, offering strategic insight and practical solutions while ensuring the leadership team remained firmly in control of the uplift activities. Her ability to align people, processes, and strategy helped Hydro Tasmania’s IT Team deliver above and beyond expectations.