AustralianSuper Appoints Inaugural AI Chief to Drive Automation Strategy
AustralianSuper is accelerating its technological evolution with the appointment of Sarah Carney as its first head of artificial intelligence and automation. The move signals a strategic pivot for the fund, which manages assets for more than 3.6 million people, as it seeks to integrate advanced AI capabilities into its operational framework.
Carney, who joins the fund in late July, arrives from Microsoft A/NZ, where she served as the national chief technology officer. Her appointment marks a significant step in AustralianSuper’s effort to align autonomous agents with human intent, moving beyond simple automation toward more sophisticated AI integration.
Strategic Leadership from a Tech Veteran
The hire brings a wealth of high-level technical and strategic experience to the fund. Carney is a veteran of nearly 11 years at Microsoft, where she witnessed the global growth and development of AI firsthand. Prior to her tenure at Microsoft, she spent nearly four years within Telstra’s enterprise and government operations team.
According to Mike Backeberg, AustralianSuper’s chief technology officer, this appointment is a “major step in the fund’s technology evolution.” Carney has expressed eagerness to apply the global AI trends she observed at Microsoft to support the fund’s objectives.
Defending Against AI-Powered Threats
While the fund is looking toward the future of autonomous agents, it has already begun deploying AI to bolster its security posture. Last year, AustralianSuper implemented Microsoft’s Security Copilot AI. This decision was driven by the increasing risk of threat actors using AI to enhance their attacks.
The fund uses Security Copilot not only as a defensive tool but also as a means to analyze and understand the tactics employed by AI-driven adversaries. Highlighting the urgency of this shift, Backeberg previously characterized AI as the “single biggest global threat” at the time of the implementation.
Key Takeaways: AustralianSuper’s AI Roadmap
- New Leadership: Sarah Carney joins as the inaugural head of AI and automation in late July.
- Industry Pedigree: Carney brings over a decade of experience from Microsoft and previous experience at Telstra.
- Operational Goal: The fund is focusing on aligning autonomous agents with human intent across its business.
- Security First: The fund has already integrated Microsoft’s Security Copilot to counter AI-enhanced cyber threats.
The Broader Impact on Pension Fund Management
The appointment of a dedicated AI chief reflects a growing trend among large-scale financial institutions to treat AI not as a peripheral tool, but as a core strategic pillar. By bringing in a vendor-side CTO, AustralianSuper is positioning itself to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI development and practical application in retirement fund management.
As the fund continues to scale, the focus on automation and AI-driven security will likely be critical in maintaining operational efficiency and protecting member data in an increasingly volatile digital landscape.
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