Marek Rucinski is at the helm of one of the most transformative data and AI initiatives in the Australian public sector. As Chief Data Officer and Deputy Commissioner at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Mark leads a 1,000-strong team charged with industrialising data, analytics, and artificial intelligence capabilities to power Australia’s tax and superannuation systems. His mission is clear: to turn the potential of data into actionable public value, delivering smarter, faster, and more transparent services to the Australian people.

In this dual role, Mark holds strategic accountability for the development and operationalisation of enterprise data assets and advanced analytics. He is also the ATO’s AI Responsible Officer—a designation that underscores his leadership in shaping ethical, impactful, and sustainable AI across the organisation. By fusing data and digital capability with enterprise strategy, Mark’s work enables the ATO to better respond to policy shifts, compliance priorities, and evolving citizen expectations.

His role blends the functions typically found in separate Chief Data Officer and Chief Analytics Officer roles, giving him a unique vantage point on the full spectrum of data-driven transformation. He chairs the APS Data Champions Executive and is an active leader in the ATO Data and Analytics Professional Stream and the APS Data Professional Stream’s senior working group—placing him at the heart of government-wide capability-building in data.

Before joining the ATO, Mark spent 17 years at Accenture, including a decade as a Partner and Managing Director. In this global consulting role, he led strategic programs across multiple sectors including telecommunications, financial services, consumer goods, and government. His experience ranged from building digital capabilities in the retail industry to developing global strategy frameworks and delivering advanced analytics programs for multinational clients. This cross-sectoral fluency has equipped him with the ability to architect scalable data solutions while understanding the organisational and cultural change required to embed them.

Mark’s core passion lies in activating value at the enterprise level—moving data and digital capabilities from support functions to mission-critical enablers. He champions a practical, action-oriented approach to innovation: using storytelling, design thinking, and strategic alignment to guide transformation and build buy-in across diverse stakeholders. Join Rob Kinkade as we discover Marek's limitless talent!