REANNZ names Chief Technology Officer & partnerships lead
Mon, 7th Sep 2026 (Today)
REANNZ has appointed Jane McGale as Chief Technology Officer and Dougal Macdiarmid as Director of Partnerships and Engagement, creating two new executive roles at New Zealand's national research and education network.
The appointments are part of a broader effort to widen access to REANNZ services and build a growth model that can scale more easily. The organisation supports New Zealand's research and education sector with connectivity, compute, data and specialist expertise.
Chief Executive Officer Amber McEwen said the changes are intended to strengthen technology and commercial leadership as REANNZ reviews how it invests in and delivers services.
"REANNZ is known for service and reliability. The next challenge is making sure our operating model, technical capability and investment approach are just as strong," McEwen said.
The new roles signal a shift in emphasis as REANNZ looks beyond network provision and places a greater focus on product delivery, operating structure and customer engagement.
McGale joins from Jade Software, where she oversaw delivery of technology products and services across several markets. Her background also includes business transformation work spanning technology, process and people.
Her role places technology leadership at executive level as REANNZ works to align its technical systems with service design and user experience.
"What interested me about REANNZ was the chance to work with a strong technical organisation at the point where product, platform and customer experience need to come together. That is where I think I can make the biggest contribution," McGale said.
Macdiarmid brings more than 20 years of experience in technology services, cloud and telecommunications. His career has focused on business development, partnerships and customer engagement, which now sit at the core of the newly created role.
His appointment reflects REANNZ's push to broaden external engagement while making it easier for institutions and other users to access and manage its services.
"REANNZ has a unique opportunity to support New Zealand's world-leading researchers and innovators in solving the big challenges facing science, technology and education. I am excited to help make a difference in how these challenges are solved at a pivotal time in information technology," Macdiarmid said.
McEwen said both executives were brought in to help reshape how REANNZ works with users and positions its services for the next phase of development.
"Jane and Dougal bring the technology, product and partnership experience we need to make REANNZ easier to work with, broaden access to our services, and support future investment," McEwen said.
REANNZ plays a central role in New Zealand's research and education infrastructure, providing a link to institutions that depend on large-scale data movement, digital tools and specialist support. The appointments suggest that the organisation is placing greater weight on executive oversight of both technical delivery and market-facing relationships as it adapts its structure for growth.