AARNet is thrilled to announce that AARNet CEO Chris Hancock AM has been inducted into the CommsDay (Communications Day) Hall of Fame, recognising his contribution to Australia’s telecommunications industry. The announcement was made at the CommsDay Edison Awards event held on 17 June 2025, attended by leaders and colleagues from across the industry.

The award comes at a pivotal time, as AARNet prepares for a leadership transition in 2025. Chris will step down as CEO in July, after 21 years at the helm.

“Chris has led AARNet through a period of extraordinary growth and transformation,” said AARNet Board Chair Professor Emeritus Ian O’Connor AC. “His vision and dedication have not only shaped the organisation, but also delivered lasting value for the entire research and education sector. This recognition is richly deserved.

Since joining AARNet in 2004, Chris has brought a rare blend of commercial acumen and collaborative spirit to the role. He led the transformation of AARNet from a niche connectivity provider for universities and CSIRO into a trusted national infrastructure and services provider, supporting institutions and organisations across the research and education ecosystem — including K–12 schools, hospitals, TAFEs, and cultural institutions.

Under Chris’s leadership, AARNet expanded its fibre-optic footprint to span the country and evolved into a world-class national research and education network. He oversaw the rollout of AARNet2 through to the current AARNet5 program and forged partnerships that extended the network nationally and internationally. His leadership secured long-term capacity on subsea cables including SXTransPORT, SX NEXT, INDIGO, and JGA, ensuring resilient, high-performance international connectivity for Australian researchers and educators.

Beyond connectivity, Chris championed the development of platforms and services that support the movement and sharing of large research datasets — including CloudStor, FileSender, Globus, and Galaxy Australia — and supported the deployment of advanced collaboration and communication tools. AARNet became Zoom’s first customer in Australia under his watch, and he drove adoption of the global Wi-Fi access service eduroam.

Chris also led AARNet’s entry into cyber security, establishing the first research and education sector-owned Security Operations Centre (SOC), which has grown into one of the largest SOCs by data volume in the Southern Hemisphere.

On the international stage, Chris played a pivotal role in forging strong alliances with other National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and advocating for global infrastructure initiatives. He also served as a Director of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue and led the West Coast Leadership Dialogue, strengthening Australia’s ties with Silicon Valley and enabling early insights into global technology trends for the sector.

Reflecting on the honour, Chris said: “It’s been a privilege to lead AARNet and work alongside so many extraordinary people across the telecommunications industry for the benefit of the research and education community. This recognition really belongs to the whole AARNet team and our partners. A heartfelt thank you to the CommsDay team for this recognition.”

His induction into the Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a career dedicated to advancing connectivity, collaboration and innovation for Australia and beyond.

Ben White steps into the role of AARNet CEO on 7 July 2025.