Ridhish Arora

Executive summary

Ridhish is a Partner with BDO in Canberra. With 20 years of experience in professional services, government, and the private sector, Ridhish provides advice and assistance to senior executives in a broad range of areas to facilitate successful outcomes.

Ridhish is passionate about working closely with the government in leading strategically driven programs that enable business and technology transformation. 

Expertise

• Government and public sector
• Large scale transformation
• Shared and common services
• ICT and digital strategy
• Portfolio, program and project management (including setup of PMOs)
• Data and analytics
• Business process optimisation
• Program reviews

Experience

Technology-led business transformations

Driving large and complex digital and technology-enabled reform programs.

• Led the strategy, business case, and process engineering for the administration of a multibillion-dollar infrastructure program.
• Led the transformation business case for large Federal Government department, focusing on industry involvement, automation, efficiency, and service function transformation.
• Led transformation business case for a utility provider to implement a comprehensive core system replacement program, encompassing HR, finance, asset management, billing, and CRM systems.

Shared and common services (back-office optimisation)

Extensive experience in shared and corporate services, collaborating across a spectrum of large and small agencies within the Federal Government.

• Led an end-to-end program to develop a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for corporate services between two federal government agencies. Successfully negotiated and led the transition of 17 functions within budget and timeframes.
• Oversaw Shared Services Program for a small Federal Government agency, positioning the agency as the primary SAP alternative hub, onboarding three payroll clients, developing finance service offerings, and implementing innovative technologies such as robotics process automation.
• Program managed and led the integrated PMO office, overseeing the consolidation of two large Federal Government agencies as part of a Machinery of Government (MOG) change. Successfully merged complex SAP implementations, staff, shared services capabilities, operating models, and records management within six months.

ICT, digital, data and analytics strategy

• Led the development of an ICT and digital strategy for a work health and safety authority, focusing on technology rationalisation and digital transformation.
• Led the development of a three-year data and analytics strategy for a work health and safety authority, showcasing value in fraud analytics, psychosocial reporting, and executive dashboards.
• Led the creation of a five-year ICT strategy and operating model for IP Australia, aligning with Strategic Roadmap 2030 and balancing stability with innovation.
• Led a data migration strategy and governance model for a large infrastructure program, integrating systems for infrastructure management.

Portfolio management

• Led a large team overseeing the Air Services ICT portfolio office, encompassing six programs (50 projects) across networking, cyber, corporate, and air traffic management systems.
• Led the review and overhaul of an Enterprise Portfolio Office for a work health and safety authority, including redefining services, updating frameworks, and implementing executive reporting and compliance reviews for all programs.

Qualifications and affiliations

• Master of Business Administration (Executive)
• Bachelor of Information Technology