Spotlight on Lea Cornelius

Lea Cornelius is the CIO at Compass Group Australia and a Co-Chair of the Sydney CIO Community.

Learn more about the Sydney CIO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

My career has been shaped by a passion for using technology to solve business challenges and create meaningful outcomes. Over the years, I have progressed through a range of technology leadership roles, building experience across digital transformation, enterprise systems, data and analytics, cybersecurity and business enablement. This journey has given me a deep understanding of how to align technology investments with business strategy, which ultimately led me to my current role as General Manager – Digital & Technology Enablement at Compass Group Australia.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Challenge the status quo and empower with trust. Create the environment for people to achieve extraordinary outcomes.
 

What is the greatest challenge CIOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

Technology has never moved faster, yet the real differentiator isn't AI, data or digital platforms, but an organisation's ability to align them to business strategy.

My role is to ensure we don't chase technology for technology's sake, but instead build the capabilities, culture and confidence needed to transform innovation into measurable business outcomes.  
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?

The most effective leaders are not those with all the answers, but those who can bring together diverse perspectives, challenge thinking and unlock the best ideas from the people around them. My role is to provide clarity, direction and trust while empowering experts across the organisation to contribute their knowledge and experience.

When you build a strong team, the outcomes are invariably better than anything one individual could achieve alone.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

I measure success as a leader by the strength of the people around me and what they are capable of achieving without me in the room. Early in my career it was about my own results, today its about whether I've built an empowered team, confident enough to challenge thinking, make decisions and deliver outcomes independently.
 

What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?

The greatest value of being part of Gartner C-Level Communities is gaining access to perspectives you wouldn't encounter within your own four walls. Every business faces unique challenges, but many leaders are navigating similar issues around AI, digital transformation, talent, cybersecurity and customer expectations. Learning form others successes and failures helps avoid reinventing the wheel and accelerate better outcomes.

Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.