Mr Raghu Bharadwaj
Mr Raghu Bharadwaj is a visionary and results-driven senior leader with a distinguished career in consulting and industry over 25 years in the technology domain. His expertise lies in shaping and delivering strategic digital transformation initiatives, particularly within complex, highly regulated environments like the water and utilities industry. He is currently the Managing Director of his own consultancy, R3&G3 Consulting.
Mr Bharadwaj's academic journey laid a strong foundation for his professional success. He graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Computing, followed by a First Class Honours in Information Systems. He further enhanced his business expertise by earning a Master of Business Administration with a Distinction Average from Monash University. These qualifications, combined with certifications like Six Sigma Black Belt and ITIL Foundation, equipped him with a comprehensive skill set to tackle both the technical and managerial challenges of the industry.
After completing his Honours degree his professional career began at NAB, where he worked as a Database analyst. Mr Bharadwaj quickly moved into consulting roles at Deloitte and CSC, where he managed multi-million dollar projects for major local and multinational clients including BHP, Telstra, Vodafone, SPAusnet, United Energy and EnergyAustralia. His work included delivering multi year technology strategies, implementing complex asset management solutions, overseeing technology transformation programs, leading merger and acquisition strategies, and negotiating multi-million dollar outsourced service contracts on behalf of government agencies.
Mr Bharadwaj's most significant contributions have been at Yarra Valley Water, where he has held key leadership positions since 2015. As Head of Technology and Strategy, he was responsible for defining and executing enterprise-wide strategies in cybersecurity, data analytics, and digital metering. A highlight of this period was the development and successful execution of a business case for a $250 million digital metering rollout. More recently, in his capacity as Executive General Manager of Service Futures, he led a multi-disciplinary team, overseeing all new and existing technology assets and ensuring stability and strategic alignment during a crucial period of transformation.
Beyond his professional life, Mr Bharadwaj is a dedicated contributor to the industry. He has served as the Chair of the APAC Smart Metering CoP for The Smart Water Networks (SWAN) Forum and is an active member of the Standards Australia Water Industry representative and the ACS Technical Advisory Board. His deep involvement in these professional bodies shows a commitment to advancing technology and knowledge within his field.