Name: Jeremy Hubbard
Title: Chief Technology and Data Officer
Company: Rest
Commenced role: 2019
Reporting line: Chief Executive Officer
Member of the executive team: Yes
Technology Function: 160 staff, 6 direct reports
 
Australia’s superannuation industry has undergone significant changes, impacting Rest, one of the country’s largest profit-for-member funds. With market competitiveness, industry mergers, and strict regulations, Rest must meet members’ demands for digital and personalised services.
 
Rest serves over two million Australians, many of whom are younger, work part-time, or casually employed. With this cohort in mind, the company set out to simplify the complexities of superannuation through its Super Simple strategy, which was launched in 2023. This strategy places members at the centre, focusing on delivering personalised and digital services, while streamlining Rest’s technology ecosystem.
 
Technology and data are central to Super Simple, which created opportunities for innovation. Chief technology and data officer Jeremy Hubbard mobilised a major technology and data transformation program, while in parallel, increasing the amount of digital delivery for Rest’s members.  Adding to the need for novel and creative approaches, was the operating challenge of a heavily regulated environment, against the backdrop of ever-increasing cybersecurity risk.
 
Under his leadership, Rest has made these notable achievements:
 
Focused innovation teams: Empowered to explore new technologies, these innovation teams introduced leading solutions, such as the secure GenAI chatbot, RestGPT, which has enhanced employee productivity and engagement. Additionally, mobile app enhancements have significantly boosted member engagement, particularly among younger users.
 
Project to product transition: By establishing persistent product teams and internalising key resources, Hubbard successfully transitioned Rest’s technology approach, reducing costs and increasing digital delivery capabilities.
 
Large-scale transformation program: Delivering Rest’s most extensive transformation effort to date, overhauling the administration and servicing model, improving cybersecurity, and optimising operational costs.
 
Advocate for gender diversity
 
Under Hubbard’s leadership, Rest’s IT team has thrived, with engagement scores surpassing industry norms, reflecting a workplace culture that blends life and work seamlessly. His emphasis on open dialogue has cultivated a proactive risk culture, with 82 per cent of employees feeling encouraged to voice their thoughts. By fostering a humanistic-encouraging environment, Hubbard has significantly reduced psychosocial risks and burnout, resulting in a healthier workforce.
 
He is also a staunch advocate for gender diversity, achieving 50 per cent female representation in his leadership team, and ensuring that the Gender Pay Gap across the IT team remains significantly below industry averages. His flexible work policies have instilled a sense of trust and autonomy within the team, leading to higher engagement even during
times of organisational change.
 
Digital-first organisation
 
Hubbard played a pivotal role in steering the company towards becoming a digital first organisation, embedding its strategy within technology and data initiatives. He has cultivated a culture of joint success and this has helped secure increased support and
investment for future proposals.
 
Rest’s CEO, Vicki Doyle, has praised Jeremy’s leadership and ability to implement the right technical foundations for the organisation’s digital transformation.
 
“I admire Jeremy for his steadfastness, adaptability, and resilience, as well as his commitment to advancing Rest’s technology and digital platforms to the market-leading position they’re in today,” said Doyle. “These are the leadership qualities needed to navigate a world of rapid transition, on the brink of an AI revolution. Jeremy has shown great tenacity in his five years at Rest. He’s helped us become a leader in trialling new innovations, not just for the sake of innovation, but because they make a meaningful difference in helping our members achieve the best possible retirement outcomes.”