IBM Consulting appoints new leaders for industrial division in Australia
IBM Consulting Australia has announced the appointment of Melanie Evans and the promotion of Wynand Fourie to lead its Distribution & Industrial division, overseeing sectors including retail, fast-moving consumer goods, transportation, logistics, and natural resources.
Leadership addition
Melanie Evans has joined IBM Consulting as Partner, Distribution and Industrial Leader for East Australia. Evans brings over two decades of experience leading technology, digital, and data transformation initiatives across both industry and government sectors.
In recent months, Evans has provided independent advisory support to public-sector agencies, focusing on digital and data operating model reform, governance enhancement, and leadership capability development. Her prior positions include serving as Group Executive, Digital Services at Ventia, where she directed technology, data, and cyber functions across Australia and New Zealand, and as National Partner at KPMG, managing the firm's Connected Technology practice.
"I look forward to taking on this new challenge and helping our clients accelerate modernisation, harness AI responsibly, and drive sustainable business outcomes through digital and operational excellence."
David Ellis, Managing Partner of IBM Consulting in Australia, described Evans as a prominent figure in the Australian technology sector, referring to her recognition by iTnews as both Technology Leader of the Year and Industrial Technology Leader 2025.
"She has a proven track record through her roles as CIO at Ventia, a partner at KPMG and senior technology leader in Telstra - and we're thrilled she has chosen to join our mission at IBM Consulting," he said.
Evans is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of Chief Executive Women. She continues to mentor emerging leaders and advocates for inclusion, mental health, and diversity throughout the technology community.
Internal promotion
Wynand Fourie, who has been a partner at IBM Consulting since 2015, has led major client engagements across Western Australia and provided outcomes for the Distribution & Industrial sector nationwide. Under his new remit, Fourie will lead the D&I sector for the Western states and serve as Head of IBM's Perth Office.
"We see significant opportunities to apply technology innovation and AI to drive productivity in the Distribution & Industrial sector, and we're investing in top talent to support this," said Ellis. "These leadership changes reflect our commitment to the Western Australia market."
Fourie's new priorities include strengthening IBM Consulting's partnership with Edith Cowan University and expanding the local team in Perth to better reflect the needs and profile of clients in the region.
"IBM has undergone its own transformation - embracing AI and new ways of working - and now, we're bringing that experience to help our clients unlock real value," he said.
Both appointments are designed to assist clients in sectors such as retail, FMCG, transportation, logistics, and natural resources. The division led by Evans and Fourie is expected to focus on digital modernisation and the responsible deployment of AI, with an emphasis on operational excellence and sustainable business approaches.
The changes at IBM Consulting highlight continuing investment in leadership roles to address the evolving requirements of clients nationally and in Western Australia, as the organisation aims to deliver digital transformation and support productivity improvements in its key verticals.
