Career

Russell Morris is an accomplished technology and transformation executive with more than 25 years of international experience across Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. His career spans critical infrastructure, energy and utilities, manufacturing, construction, engineering and technology, with senior leadership experience across ASX50, FTSE100, S&P500 and private equity environments. Russell has held CIO and senior technology leadership positions with organisations including APA Group, Transgrid and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, leading large-scale technology functions and complex enterprise transformations.

As CIO of APA Group, Russell led a 350-person technology function with a $300 million budget spanning IT, OT, cybersecurity and digital across infrastructure assets valued at approximately $27 billion. During his executive career, he has led major technology strategies, M&A integrations, carve-outs, ERP modernisation programs, cyber initiatives and operating model transformations. His experience includes supporting some of the most complex technology environments across electricity transmission, gas infrastructure, utilities, manufacturing and major projects.

Today, Russell is Founder and Managing Director of Wexley Advisory, where he advises boards, CEOs, executive teams and investors on using technology to unlock enterprise value. His work combines strategic direction with practical execution, helping organisations navigate technology investment, transformation, M&A, digitalisation, operating models and resilience. Russell has been recognised multiple times in CIO 50 Australia and CIO 100 UK, reflecting his experience leading technology transformation across complex international businesses.

Role at Factor

Russell brings a highly practical technology and transformation perspective to Factor’s Expert Advisor Network, shaped by more than two decades of direct executive accountability for technology strategy, investment, people, transformation and operational resilience. His experience provides a valuable perspective on how technology leaders can move beyond strategy development and translate major technology investments into measurable business outcomes.

His advisory perspective is particularly relevant for organisations navigating enterprise transformation, technology cost pressures, legacy modernisation, AI and automation, cybersecurity and the increasing convergence of IT and OT. Russell can help executives examine the operating model, investment priorities and organisational capabilities required to deliver transformation at scale, while maintaining business continuity across complex and highly regulated environments.

Russell is also well suited to executive roundtables and advisory discussions focused on M&A, technology strategy, digital transformation and critical infrastructure. His experience leading major acquisitions, carve-outs, technology separations and enterprise-wide transformation provides a commercially grounded perspective on the challenges organisations face when technology becomes central to business growth, resilience and value creation.

Key roles Russell works with include: CIOs, CTOs, Chief Digital & AI Officers, Chief Information Security Officers, COOs, Chief Transformation Officers, CEOs & Executive Leaders, and Boards & Investment Leaders.

Previous Roles

As CIO of APA Group, Russell led a 350-person technology function with responsibility for a $300 million technology budget spanning IT, OT, cybersecurity and digital. He led major technology transformation across APA’s infrastructure portfolio, including the integration of the $1.8 billion Alinta Energy Western Australia acquisition and the $770 million Basslink acquisition. He also led the technology separation of APA Networks into AGIG, including TSA design and the transfer of approximately 50 technology employees.

Russell previously served as CIO of Transgrid, where he led technology transformation across a critical electricity transmission network serving approximately 3.7 million homes. His work included modernising IT and OT environments, strengthening SCADA cybersecurity and developing a major technology investment program. His transformation agenda delivered more than $80 million in business-wide benefits while improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the technology function.

At Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Northern Powergrid in the United Kingdom, Russell held senior technology leadership responsibility across a highly regulated electricity distribution environment. He authored an eight-year digital business plan that was rated “Frontier” by Ofgem and helped reduce IT operating costs by approximately 20%. His work also included cybersecurity, telecommunications, data centre transformation, cloud and microservices architecture, operational resilience and technology cost optimisation.

Earlier in his career, Russell held senior technology and transformation positions across BT Group, manufacturing and engineering organisations. His experience includes enterprise digital roadmaps, design-to-manufacture initiatives, SAP and ERP transformation, global technology operating models and major technology programs across multiple countries. At Laing O’Rourke, he developed a three-year enterprise digital roadmap spanning Australia and the UK, including digital capabilities connecting design, manufacturing, quality, suppliers and asset traceability.

Media Presence and Industry Contributions

Russell brings a distinctive perspective to conversations about technology transformation because of his experience operating across both strategic and highly operational environments. His career has covered electricity transmission, gas infrastructure, utilities, manufacturing, construction and major projects, giving him a practical understanding of how technology needs to operate in environments where resilience, safety, regulatory requirements and business continuity are critical.

His experience is particularly relevant to organisations undertaking major technology transformations while managing legacy complexity and cost pressures. At APA, Russell delivered significant operating cost reductions and CapEx efficiencies while maintaining 99.99% OT reliability. Across Northern Powergrid and Transgrid, he led initiatives spanning IT/OT convergence, cybersecurity, telecommunications, data, enterprise platforms and operating models, demonstrating how technology investment can be connected to measurable operational outcomes.

Russell also brings extensive experience in M&A and technology separation, including acquisitions, divestments, carve-outs and transitional service arrangements. His work across APA, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and international industrial organisations provides an experienced perspective on the technology implications of corporate transactions, from due diligence and integration through to separation, operating model design and long-term value creation.

Leadership Philosophy

Russell’s leadership approach is grounded in the belief that technology should be accountable for business outcomes rather than operate as a standalone corporate function. His experience leading teams of up to 350 people and managing significant technology investment has shaped an approach focused on connecting strategy, people, operating models and technology execution to the priorities of the wider organisation.

His approach combines commercial discipline with a strong focus on practical delivery. Russell places importance on understanding the business problem first, establishing clear accountability and designing technology functions that can execute effectively rather than adding unnecessary complexity. His experience across IT, OT, cybersecurity, digital and enterprise transformation allows him to consider technology decisions from both an executive and operational perspective.

As a senior technology leader and advisor, Russell focuses on building capable teams, creating clarity around priorities and ensuring technology leadership has a meaningful role in broader business decision-making. His experience across ASX50, FTSE100, S&P500 and private equity environments provides a global perspective on leadership, transformation and the role technology plays in creating enterprise value.