Mark Gainsford

Based in Canberra, Mark is an experienced business leader in the National Security & Defence ICT sector, currently working at Palantir Technologies. Prior to his current role, Mark had an extensive career at Cisco Systems Australia in a variety of sales and delivery roles. His most recent role at Cisco was the Business Development and Strategy Lead for the Defence account in ANZ where he led the development and implementation of a major transformation strategy and program that significantly enhanced the way Cisco delivered outcomes for its customers and partners. This followed a lengthy stint as a Services Delivery Executive leader in Cisco's Customer Experience organisation focussed on high-touch accounts across the ANZ Public Sector. The Cisco Customer Experience (CX) organisation is a team of ICT experts focused on helping Cisco’s top customers in the delivery of ICT strategy, architecture, technology implementation and operations. CX helps clients transform their business by delivering innovation that drives differentiation — by enabling cost efficiencies that fuel the highest levels of business and IT performance. Mark was also a senior consultant in the Cisco Consulting Services team responsible for developing new business and delivering quality consulting services within Australia. In his first role within Cisco, Mark led Cisco’s ANZ Defence business development initiatives focussed on sales growth and strategic engagement in the National Security & Defence market. He also provided leadership support and domain expertise across directed opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. In both areas, Mark applied his extensive knowledge and experience to advance Cisco’s position with key Government decision-makers, acquisition agencies and industry partners. Mark joined Cisco in 2010 after 25 years within the Australian Army as a Signals Officer. He left the Army with a rank of Colonel having served in a variety of command and staff appointments within Australia and on operational service in Iraq, East Timor and Bougainville. Mark has Masters of Management and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of New South Wales, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology from the University of Southern Queensland.