Telecommunications industry veteran Luke Coleman has been appointed as chief executive officer at the Communications Alliance, the industry association for the telco sector. He takes over the role from long-time CEO John Stanton.
Mr Coleman is currently head of government and corporate affairs at network services provider Vocus and will start at the CommsAlliance in mid September.
He joins at a busy time for the industry group, with work commencing on the eSafety Commissioner’s online safety codes on restricting children’s access to online pornography, and Treasury prepares to consult on a new regulatory framework for digital platforms.
The Communications Alliance represents stakeholders ranging from Big Tech firms like Amazon, Google, Meta, and TikTok, to television service providers, equipment vendors, and IT companies.
When incumbent Communications Alliance chief executive John Stanton leaves in September, he will have served more than 14 years in the role. Mr Stanton has also been the chair of the Internet of Things Alliance Australia (IoTAA) since October 2015.
Mr Coleman has spent nearly 20 years in the telco sector, including four and a half years as an adviser to then-Parliamentary Secretary for Communications Paul Fletcher and subsequently to former Communications minister Mitch Fifield, including a stint as chief of staff.
He has also worked as the former editor-in-chief at industry publication CommsDay and as public affairs manager for Chinese tech giant Huawei.
Mr Coleman said in a statement that he is “grateful for the opportunity to serve the industry I love so much”.
“The telecoms sector is experiencing a period of great disruption, and the role played by Communications Alliance as the voice of the industry has never been more important.
“I firmly believe that digital connectivity is the foundation of the modern economy, and I look forward to working with the Board, members, and stakeholders to ensure our industry is able to deliver to its full potential.”
CommsAlliance chair Michael Lee said the industry body is “thrilled to welcome Luke” as the new chief executive.
“His extensive experience and track record of fostering collaboration between government and corporate Australia will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for the communications industry,” Mr Lee said.
The Communications Alliance also sits on the federal government’s Low Earth Orbit Satellite Working Group and has developed several other industry codes registered by the Australia Communications and Media Authority as well as other industry guidelines.
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