In this Data & AI Edge interview, Aussie Broadband’s Venkata Valluri explains how he embedded data governance without slowing down the pace of innovation.

At Aussie Broadband, the data journey begins from scratch, led by Venkata, General Manager – Data Analytics and Insights, who has spent the past two and a half years embedding a sustainable data governance framework within a fast-moving, start-up-style environment.

With the company positioning itself as a challenger in the telecoms space, balancing the urgency for rapid results with the slow, steady progress of operationalising governance has required a cultural shift.

This includes aligning stakeholders from top leadership downwards and linking data governance initiatives directly to the company’s strategic and compliance goals.

Building stakeholder engagement has centred around a clear value proposition.

While regulatory compliance acts as a motivating “stick”, the emphasis has shifted toward the tangible productivity benefits of strong data governance.

Raising data literacy across the organisation has been key to this, supported by regular education and awareness efforts.

The team adopted a phased approach to embed cadence and collaboration between legal, risk, compliance and business units, especially to support smoother quarterly reporting requirements following Aussie Broadband’s recent listing.

Progress has been driven by relationships and clarity.

The challenge of poor documentation and inconsistent data definitions, common in startup cultures, has been addressed through a practical focus on standardised business language and continuity planning.

Executive support has grown through persistent stakeholder education and alignment around shared goals.

The biggest success, is ensuring that all senior leaders speak the same language when reporting metrics, fostering trust in the data and reinforcing the need for ongoing literacy rather than rigid accountability.

 

Key takeaways

  • Start with culture and relationships: Building data governance from scratch in a fast-moving environment requires strong stakeholder engagement, education, and trust, particularly with senior leaders.
  • Balance compliance with value: While regulatory obligations are a driver, positioning governance as a productivity and consistency enabler helps secure long-term commitment.
  • Focus on shared language and literacy: Establishing consistent data definitions and improving data literacy across teams ensures clearer communication, better reporting, and long-term trust in the data.
Contributors
Venkata Valluri General Manager - Data Analytics and Insights at Aussie Broadband
Venkata Valluri is an experience Data Management and Analytics leader with more than 20years in Data and Analytics area and a certified... More

Venkata Valluri is an experience Data Management and Analytics leader with more than 20years in Data and Analytics area and a certified Data Management and data science Practitioner.
He has experience in various data management functions such as Data Science, Artificial intelligence, Big Data, Advance analytics, Data Governance, Enterprise Data strategy, Data Architecture, Data Development & Operations, Data Visualisation, Data Analytics, Data ware house, business intelligence, Meta Data Management, Reference Data & Master Data Management and Data Management Industry best practices.

He is a people person with experience in leading and management of data and analytics teams consists of business intelligence analysts, data engineers, data scientists, data governance analyst and Data warehouse developers and teams in agile environment and operational staff in business operations environment.
Highly experienced in project management, people management, stakeholder identification, engagement, management, solution design, Business Analysis, Impact assessment, risk assessment, issue management solution architecture, requirements elicitations using workshops, problem solving through solution design.

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Peter Hind Principal Research Analyst at ADAPT
One of the ICT industry’s foremost analysts and commentators, Peter Hind has spent over 25 years advising and talking on topics across... More

One of the ICT industry’s foremost analysts and commentators, Peter Hind has spent over 25 years advising and talking on topics across the technology industry. His primary areas of interest are the potential of technology to transform the way organisations operate, the change management obstacles executives encounter in realising this potential, as well as the tactics and techniques leaders have deployed to overcome these difficulties.​

With roles across IDC, Unisys, NCR, Sigma Data, and others, Peter now takes on multiple roles within ADAPT including the moderation of private events and roundtables, interviewing business executives about the strategies they are pursuing and assisting with the structuring of delegate surveys.​

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