Data Centres Australia forms AI-focused industry board

Data Centres Australia has appointed its inaugural board, naming NextDC Chief Executive and Managing Director Craig Scroggie as chair, as the industry group seeks a larger role in policy discussions on AI-related infrastructure investment.

The board includes representatives from AirTrunk, Amazon Web Services, CDC Data Centres, Microsoft and NextDC, alongside Data Centres Australia executives Belinda Dennett and Tim Marshall. The organisation said the appointments provide a governance foundation for a sector facing rising demand and increasing public scrutiny over its role in the economy.

Data Centres Australia positions itself as the peak representative body for the local data centre sector. It plans to engage with government, policymakers, communities and other critical infrastructure stakeholders, with AI demand and cloud growth central to its agenda.

Dennett, the group's chief executive, said the board's formation reflects a shift in global investment patterns in digital infrastructure. "The appointment of our first Data Centres Australia Board comes at a pivotal time to realise the national opportunity presented by the global wave of AI infrastructure investment. Our Directors provide us with a robust governance foundation and deep industry experience to ensure we appropriately represent our members' interests in such a complex and rapidly developing ecosystem," she said.

Board line-up

In addition to Scroggie, directors include Paul Slaven, Chief Development Officer at AirTrunk; Cameron Evans, Director, Data Centre Planning & Delivery, APAC at Amazon Web Services; Jack Dan, Chief Strategy Officer at CDC Data Centres; and Karie Bradfield, APAC Regional Director, Land Development at Microsoft.

Dennett and Marshall, Head of Operations and Strategy at Data Centres Australia, will also serve as directors. The board will provide governance and strategic counsel.

Scroggie said data centres now sit closer to the core of national economic activity than in previous technology cycles. "Cloud and AI have made digital infrastructure foundational to modern economies. Data centres now underpin productivity, security, and the delivery of essential services, placing greater responsibility on how the industry engages, coordinates, and delivers," he said.

Policy focus

Data Centres Australia said its role is to help coordinate a growing ecosystem spanning developers, operators and suppliers. The sector is grappling with planning processes, land availability, energy supply, grid connections, construction capacity and community engagement. AI workloads have increased pressure on timelines and scale and sharpened questions about long-term power demand.

Scroggie said the group was created to support constructive engagement and long-term stewardship. "Data Centres Australia has been established to provide disciplined leadership across the ecosystem, with management working closely with members and engaging constructively with government, policymakers, the community, and other critical infrastructure stakeholders to support the delivery of digital infrastructure that is secure, resilient, and built to endure responsibly," he said. "The Board looks forward to supporting Belinda and the management team as they represent the industry and help establish Data Centres Australia as a long-term steward of national and economic capability."

The five companies represented on the board backed a two-year informal pilot focused on raising awareness of the opportunity for data centre development in Australia. The organisation said the pilot highlighted the need for a dedicated peak body with a mandate tailored to the sector's operating requirements and policy challenges.

Data Centres Australia was subsequently founded by Dennett and Marshall. It aims to position Australia as a regional hub for AI infrastructure investment and what it describes as sustainable data centre development.

Industry voices

In statements marking their appointments, directors emphasised collaboration across competing companies on shared issues such as investment settings and the broader digital economy.

Slaven said: "It's an exciting time in our industry and for Australia's digital future, and I'm grateful to join the first Data Centres Australia Board. Working together as an industry will help our sector unlock significant opportunity for Australia, especially as demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow. I'm looking forward to continuing to support digital growth in Australia."

Evans said: "I'm honoured to join the board of Data Centres Australia at such a pivotal moment for our nation's digital economy. By collaborating across the industry, we can unlock significant opportunity for Australia and position the country to capitalise on transformational technologies like AI, ensuring sustained economic growth and innovation for years to come."

Dan said the body would help shape the settings that influence expansion. "It's an honour to serve on the inaugural board of Data Centres Australia. Our sector sits at the heart of the nation's digital infrastructure, and Data Centres Australia will play a key role in establishing the frameworks that drive investment and innovation, helping elevate Australia's capabilities on the global stage. I'm proud to contribute to shaping the future of an industry that's essential to strengthening Australia's economic security, workforce, and energy transition," he said.

Bradfield said: "I am honoured to be appointed to the Data Centres Australia Board at this consequential time for our country's digital transformation. By working together as industry and with the broader stakeholder ecosystem, we can open up new opportunities for Australian customers while helping ensure our communities thrive on world-class AI infrastructure."

Dennett said the directors would volunteer their time alongside their roles at major operators and cloud providers. "We thank Craig, Jack, Karie, Cameron and Paul for sharing their knowledge and experience to support the work of Data Centres Australia. Their backing of the initial pilot and the incredible support they have provided as we have launched has been instrumental to the success to date. Each of them has a busy day-job so we are grateful they are willing to volunteer so much of their time to support the data centre sector for the greater good. I look forward to working with Craig and the rest of the Board as we pursue Data Centres Australia's vision to position Australia as the AI infrastructure hub for Asia," she said.