CIO50 Australia 2024: Eglantine Etiemble, PEXA

Name: Eglantine Etiemble
Title: Group Chief Technology Officer
Company: PEXA Group
Commenced role: March 2022
Reporting line: Group Chief Operating Officer
Member of the executive team: Yes
Technology Function: 407 staff in the IT function, 8 direct reports
 
As group chief technology officer for PEXA, Eglantine Etiemble has prioritised artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics to enhance its AI-assisted products, AI-enabled data and insights, and AI-empowered employees.
 
Driven by a purpose to innovate for good, Etiemble has ensured PEXA remains committed to delivering measurable productivity improvements and customer value using AI technologies, while keeping people at the heart of innovation.
 
This is vital for PEXA Group and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed property technology company that operates across Australia and the United Kingdom.
 
Etiemble’s strategic vision for expanding Pexa’s infrastructure to support global operations, while maintaining a focus on security and resilience.
 
Since joining the company in 2022, Etiemble has spearheaded the development of PEXA’s GenAI Assistant, a security-first model designed to enhance productivity for all PEXArians.
 
“This assistant understands each employee’s access to enterprise data and retrieves this data live, ensuring robust data security,” she says. “Unlike other chatbots, PEXA’s assistant integrates deeply with existing systems, making PEXA AI-enabled, its employees AI-empowered, and its products AI-assisted securely and effectively.”
 
The ‘One Data’ Hub
 
As part of PEXA’s long-term growth strategy, Etiemble has explored new service offerings, including the cornerstone achievement is the creation of PEXA’s ‘One Data’ hub.
 
This comprehensive data platform has empowered PEXA to establish an insights solutions business, delivering high-quality, real-time data that drives informed decision-making across various industries.
 
The substantial investment in One Data also ensures compliance with regulations and delivers high-quality, real-time data. This investment has led to the creation of innovative products and services, integrating PEXA’s family brands like Land Insight directly into the platform, which is truly game-changing.

The ‘One Data’ hub exemplifies the transformative power of data in modern business, turning raw information into actionable intelligence that propels PEXA’s growth.
 
Spearheading international markets
 
Looking ahead, diversification and scalability are key priorities for PEXA, focusing on extending the company offerings to include insights solutions driven by rich data.
 
Etiemble has spearheaded efforts to scale PEXA’s technology for international markets. By focusing on reusability, the team has ensured that new technological capabilities are portable, enabling the company to explore new markets such as New Zealand and Canada efficiently.
 
“This ‘build it once and use it anywhere’ approach has accelerated PEXA’s value proposition, making 60-80 per cent of its platform reusable in new markets and significantly reducing capital expenditure by at least 25 per cent,” she said.
 
According to Etiemble, PEXA has made substantial strides in simplifying its technology landscape through architectural changes, focusing on reuse and APIs as foundational pillars.
 
“This simplification has unified PEXA’s Australian and UK tech teams, fostering a collaborative environment that champions diversity and inclusion,” she said. “This unification has been crucial in innovating the UK’s fragmented conveyancing system, adapting lessons learned from Australia to provide a secure and resilient settlement experience.”
 
Inspiring and impactful
 
Etiemble drive for international growth and modernisation efforts has landed her in good step with at the executive level, as well as with the broader IT team.
 
She is described as an inspiring and impactful leader who is integral to the commercial success of our organisation, while her influence is rooted in the comprehensive IT initiatives and the innovative culture that she has fostered at PEXA.
 
Her influence is also evident in her active engagement in coaching and mentorship programs for women in technology.
 
By providing support and guidance, Etiemble has helped many women overcome barriers and advance their careers, further promoting a culture of inclusion and empowerment.
 
“This mentorship not only supports individual career growth but also strengthens the organisation as a whole by building a pipeline of diverse and talented leaders,” she says.
 
Revamping recruitment for diversity
 
She has created initiatives aimed at promoting gender diversity in technology, such as the revamping of recruitment processes, internal diversity and inclusion activities, and sponsorship of programs like Ladies in Tech, have significantly increased the representation of women in tech roles at the organisation. In the past two years, PEXA’s female representation in technology has grown from 20 per cent to 37 per cent.
 
This strategic focus on diversity extends beyond gender to include a diverse graduate pool within the technology department, with upcoming cohorts consisting of 70 per cent female talent.
 
This dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce has set a benchmark within the industry, influencing other executives and board members to prioritise diversity in their strategic initiatives.