Mr Doug Robinson

Academic qualifications

MBA (Sydney), Master of Transport Management (Sydney), Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology (UC Berkeley), GAICD

Summary of previous experience

Doug Robinson was the Managing Partner of IBM Consulting, where he pioneered digital transformation, championed industry solutions, and orchestrated company turnarounds across several continents.

He brings to the Council his experience across several sectors where he developed key relationships with industry leadership.

Born in California, Doug studied exercise physiology and business at the University of California Berkeley and began his career in San Francisco in a logistics role, leasing containers to shipping lines. That position led him to Sydney, where he took on more supply chains and logistics roles including 2 start up logistic technology companies. Doug then joined IBM where he held several senior positions over the next 20 years.

Doug has had a long-term relationship with Federation University through IBM, where he was instrumental in establishing the technology giant's presence at the Ballarat Technology Park, a significant milestone for the University and the Ballarat region. There, Doug had executive oversight of operations for the park.

One of Doug's first projects was to create the check-in kiosks for Jetstar in 2006. The self-check-in model was prompted by the explosion in domestic air travel and to ease the burden at Melbourne Airport after Jetstar's launch. This model was later rolled out to Qantas and is now widely used across the aviation industry. Support for the kiosks remained at IBM in Ballarat for more than 15 years.

Doug was Vice President of Distribution and Industrial Industries at IBM for the Asia Pacific region. He was Managing Director of IBM's Air Canada account and Account Director for BHP Billiton and Qantas. His experience in the software and transportation industries has seen him work across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.

In 2019, Doug took on the role of Managing Partner for IBM Consulting Australia and New Zealand. He subsequently added ASEAN and Korea to his portfolio in 2022.

IBM's expertise across an extensive range of industries and sectors includes carrying out highly specialised work for the Australian Federal Government, highlighting the workforce's capability at the technology park.

A visionary business leader, Doug brings to Federation’s Council an ability to shape strategy and foster high performance, financial acumen and entrepreneurial drive. Doug is a graduate of the Australia Institute of Company Directors and a has a certificate in music production from UC Berklee.

Federation University's long-standing relationship with IBM has allowed many students to gain practical experience and skills while studying and provided a pipeline of graduates who have gone on to work for IBM.