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Farai Mbira

@mbiraf

Senior IT Manager, Cyber Security Consultant, and Project/Program Manager with over 35 years of experience delivering complex technology programs.

Australia

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What I'm looking for

Strategy contribution, business engagement

I am a Senior IT Manager, Cyber Security Consultant, Program Manager and Project Manager with more than 35 years of experience delivering complex technology, cybersecurity, Operational Technology (OT), digital transformation and critical infrastructure programs across the utilities, energy, telecommunications, healthcare, government, financial services and higher education sectors in Australia, New Zealand and internationally.

My career began as a SCADA Engineer with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, where I worked on real-time control systems supporting electricity generation, transmission and distribution. This foundation in operational technology has been complemented by senior leadership roles including Chief Information Officer, Applications & QA Manager, Innovation & Service Improvement Manager, Professional Services Manager, Cyber Security Program Manager and Cyber Security Project Manager.

I have successfully led enterprise-wide technology transformations, cybersecurity uplift programs, cloud migrations, infrastructure modernisation, GIS and asset management implementations, enterprise system integrations, vulnerability management, Security Operations Centre (SOC) improvements, identity and access management initiatives, and large-scale project and program portfolios. I have managed multidisciplinary teams, multimillion-dollar budgets, strategic vendors and executive stakeholders, consistently delivering projects on time, within budget and aligned with business objectives.

My utilities and critical infrastructure experience includes SCADA systems, Enterprise Historian environments, telemetry, GIS, ArcGIS, ArcFM, IBM Maximo integration, Customer Information Systems, Meter-to-Cash processes, asset management, operational technology security and infrastructure resilience. I also have extensive telecommunications experience delivering OSS/BSS integration projects and enterprise network transformation programs.

I hold a Master of Information Management, a Master of Philosophy in Location-Based Services, and I am completing a PhD in Cybersecurity at Charles Darwin University. My research focuses on human-centred cybersecurity, cyber resilience and secure digital services for vulnerable communities, reflecting my passion for combining technology innovation with practical business outcomes.

I enjoy solving complex business and technology challenges, building high-performing teams and helping organisations modernise critical services through secure, well-governed technology. I am particularly interested in opportunities involving digital transformation, cybersecurity, operational technology, critical infrastructure, utilities, enterprise platforms, data integration and strategic program delivery, where I can contribute both technical expertise and executive leadership to achieve lasting organisational value.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Project Manager Cybersecurity

Alfred Health

Jun 2023 - Jun 2025 (2 years)

Delivered cybersecurity project outcomes in line with scope, budget, quality, and agreed PMO standards. Developed business case, implementation and support plans, schedules, and transition-to-support documentation while managing scope, budget, risks, and stakeholder status reporting.

Project Management Cybersecurity Program Project Delivery Business Case Development Project Initiation Documentation Implementation & Support Planning (Deployment Plan)Project Scheduling Scope Management (Change Requests)Budget Management Risk Management Quality Management PMO Reporting Stakeholder Management Benefits Realisation Planning Transition to Support Planning Logistics Coordination

Project Manager Cyber Security

IBM

Feb 2022 - May 2023 (1 year 3 months)

Advised IBM clients on cybersecurity solutions and project-managed incident response engagements. Produced incident response artifacts (plans, readiness assessments, playbooks/tabletop exercises) and led planning, risk workshops, progress reporting, and client engagement for reactive and proactive services.

Cybersecurity Incident Response Cybersecurity Consulting Advisory Reactive & Proactive Incident Response Cybersecurity Incident Response Plans Ransomware Readiness Assessments Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Incident Response Playbooks Tabletop Exercises Dark Web Analysis Project Management (Scope Goals Deliverables)Budget & Timeline Management Stakeholder Progress Reporting Risk Assessment Workshops Risk Register Management

Professional Services Manager

Location Intelligence Systems

Jul 2014 - Jan 2022 (7 years 6 months)

Managed client programs/projects and service delivery, including SLA agreements and implementation team leadership. Oversaw operations and financial performance (P&L, budgets, utilization forecasting) and supported pre-sales growth activities through proposals and contract reviews.

Stakeholder Relationship Management Program Project Management Service Delivery Management SLA Management Operations Management IT Design Architecture (RFI RFT RFQ)Growth Strategy Support (Pre sales Discovery Financial Management (P&L Budgets Expenditure Control Utilization Forecasting Services Revenue Forecasting Services Capacity Management Contract Review Proposals Expenditure Controls

Innovation & Service Improvement Manager

City of Port Phillip

Jan 2013 - Jun 2014 (1 year 5 months)

Led service improvement initiatives and programs, including business case development and project initiation/management. Conducted reviews of IT-related contracts and informed infrastructure, cloud services, and testing process recommendations while supporting strategic planning and project delivery.

Service Improvement Programs Business Case Development Project Initiation & Management IT Contract Review Infrastructure Management Cloud Services Review Testing Process Review Information Management Strategy Action Plans & Policies Strategic Planning Project Delivery Stakeholder Department Direction Support

Test Manager

Esri Australia

Mar 2010 - Dec 2013 (3 years 9 months)

Developed test strategy and test plan frameworks for professional services and major projects. Managed test team resourcing and execution, produced analysis metrics/reports, contributed to scoping/estimating and risk identification, and improved the test management function through post-implementation reviews.

Test Strategy Development Test Planning Test Plans for Major Projects Test Team Resourcing Test Environment Resourcing Test Team Leadership Test Execution Oversight Stakeholder Communication Education Test Metrics & Reporting Risk Identification Input Test Management Quality Improvement Continuous Improvement

Integration Test Manager

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

Aug 2008 - Dec 2009 (1 year 4 months)

Ensured telecommunications network changes and new products were thoroughly tested before commissioning into production. Managed day-to-day testing execution, risk analysis and mitigation, test environments/tools, estimates and milestones, and change/problem tracking with documented results.

Integration Testing Telecommunications Network Testing Requirements Review Product Design Specification Review Risk Analysis Risk Mitigation Strategy Definition Test Strategies & Plans Estimation Timeline & Milestone Planning Test Environment & Test Tools Setup Test Execution Management Progress & Issue Management Defect Bug Tracking Change Documentation & Change Discussions

Test Manager

EDS Group

Nov 2007 - Jul 2008 (8 months)

Led and coordinated testing activities, monitoring testing progress, issues, and delivery status. Built test estimates and schedules, performed risk analysis and mitigation, managed environment and test data requirements, and reported metrics, variances, and milestones.

Test Management Testing Execution Coordination Test Estimates Risk Analysis & Risk Mitigation Test Scheduling Resource Assignment Status Progress Issues Reporting Metrics & Variance Reporting Milestone Tracking Test Plan Review Environment Requirements Identification Test Data Setup Rework Script Scheduling & Review

Test Analyst

Vodafone

Mar 2007 - Jun 2007 (3 months)

Executed test plans and managed testing issues through resolution/escalation. Verified and maintained test scripts and schedules, performed impact analysis for changes, reported defects, and supported testing activities with third parties as required.

Testing Issues Resolution Escalation Test Script Verification & Coverage Test Schedule Creation Updating Publishing Change Management & Impact Analysis Defect Reporting Retesting & Defect Closure Risk Assessment Update Participation Test Scripts Writing Updating Test Execution Test Data Environment Support Third Party Coordination Test Automation test plan execution

Quality Assurance & Applications Manager

The University of Auckland

Feb 2006 - Dec 2006 (10 months)

Managed a technical QA/services/applications team, including resource allocation, service reporting, escalation prioritization, and coaching/mentoring. Planned and executed testing approaches across unit/integration/functional/system and supported automated load/performance testing, reporting results and tracking defects/issues through to resolution.

Quality Assurance Manager

CatalystIT Solutions

Jun 2003 - Feb 2006 (2 years 8 months)

Performed business and requirements analysis and ensured client systems met business and technical expectations. Managed release processes, authored test strategies/plans and regression scripts, executed unit/integration/functional/system testing, and verified results against database data using SQL.

Head of Information Technology Dept

Zimbabwe Reinsurance Company

Apr 1997 - Nov 2002 (5 years 7 months)

Led IT strategy management, budgeting, governance, change, and risk management for the company while ensuring compliance with legislative and public sector requirements. Supervised IT team performance and delivery of group IT projects, including reviewing plans and budgets, assigning resources, and reporting progress to group executive management.