I count myself extremely fortunate to have been able to work alongside a gem like Sarah, who really had brought across her deep expertise and experience in cultivating a data-driven, collaborative design/prototyping lab culture into Westpac Innovation. We worked alongside across a wide selection of domains within the bank, and one thing that I really have noticed is that she really can roll up her sleeves, and get deep into the trenches – whether it was in the technical, design, or product domains – she really is one amazing individual.
Eric Lau – Head of Data and Product Integration Westpac Banking Group
Smart as a whip, creative and business-savvy, Sarah brought superb skills to our team, along with a positively forensic approach to the measurement of her initiatives. Above all, she is an excellent communicator and relationship-builder, maintains grace under pressure, and is well liked and respected by her peers.
Melissa Firth – Chief Digital Officer
Sarah is able to operate on many levels, from blue sky strategy all the way to rolling up her sleeves and getting stuff done, all the while remaining engaging and enthusiastic… On the personal note, Sarah is a bit of an enigma, Entrepreneurial, Bold but generous, Eloquent and compelling, Brilliant yet humble. In short, Sarah is the real deal.
Stu Wood-Rich – Head of Innovation
Sarah understands how to foster an engaging team dynamic, which has lead our team producing great work within tight deadlines. From running experiments on new ways of working to having ears around the business, her ability to be across everything leads to better products.
Eric Higashino – UX Design & CX Strategy
Employment History
Garage Leader IBM iX
2020 – PRESENT
IBM is the world leader in Automation, Hybrid Cloud, and Artificial Intelligence. As the Asia Pacific Garage Leader I stand up teams and support Governments, Telco’s, Financial Service firms, and other large organizations, to use the Design Thinking lead IBM Garage method to transform from the inside out, taking advantage of all the latest advances in automation and digital technology.
Westpac Banking Group Head of Innovation Ventures
2018 – 2020
Leading teams designing new and innovative products to unlock a value creation portfolio of 400M, across areas such as reg-tech, cybersecurity, property, energy, marketplaces, and health.
Westpac Banking Group – Head of R.Lab / Entrepreneur-in-Residence
2016 – 2018
As a Strategic Designer and EIR for Westpac Banking Group – Strategy and Enterprise Services Division, it is my role to design new products for WBG to invest in as well as helping accelerate innovation at WBG core banking functions.
Founded the R.Lab team, A Risk and Compliance Design function, intended to look at compliance differently. A team of multi-skilled individuals that are solving global challenges by digitalising the regulatory process to enhance compliance, generating 140M of productivity gains. In collaboration with Government Agencies, Data 61, and the group executive.
Founding Board Member PLACE Technologies
2017 – PRESENT
Designed a computer game-based application that connects UK Community Housing associations to networks of MMC (Modern Method of Construction Factories) to increase the number of units produced in social housing.
PLACE is a digital manufacturing social enterprise, powered by the PLACE game, a computer game that allows players to design their own homes and have them delivered to them. For every ten homes PLACE builds – they will house someone in need.
#buildahomegiveahome Go.ted.com/sarahmurray Placetechnologies.com
TAL / Founder TAL Data Lab – CX / Facilitation / Collaboration / Commercialization
2015 – 2016
TAL is Australia’s largest life insurer, protecting in excess of 4 million Australians.
Founded the TAL Data Design Lab, whose competency sets TAL up to deliver faster, validated and profitable initiatives. This initiative was sponsored by the Chief Innovation Officer. We look at existing data assets, and third-party assets to design new products.
Telstra / Founder Idea Accelerator – CX/ Design Thinking / Prototyping / Research
2014 – 2015
The Idea Accelerator team at Telstra Digital is an innovation hub/idea incubator that fosters an entrepreneurial corporate culture incubating ideas, allowing for a business hypothesis to be rapidly validated.
Telstra / Product Designer 2013 – 2014
Leading the Telstra Apps Delivery team consisting of expert developers, as well as a product team consisting of user experience and business analysis experts. I manage the product design and complex stakeholder relationships, and pressing deadlines.
ABC / Innovation and Product Design lead / UX/CX 2011 – 2013
Product Design & User Experience Design of ABC Commercial’s ever-expanding mobile, tablet, and web app portfolio.
Responsible for the team of product development delivery specialists, UX research, and strategy in a lean agile software development environment.
RAS / Product Desginer/ UX/CX 2011 – 2013
Since it was founded in 1822, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) has been a powerful advocate for the development of agriculture in Australia by ensuring that agriculture is recognized and appreciated for the vital role it plays in the health and wealth of Australia.
Designed the First ever Sydney Royal Easter Show App and won bet Integrated Marketing campaign AMA.
Fairfax Media / Product Design / Commercialisation 2011 – 2013
BDM for Fairfax Enterprises, developing new cross-platform, platform, and masthead agnostic products to deliver greater revenue.
Designed the first cross-platform Mooks for SMH and The Age, allowing for revenue from online.
Educational History
Stanford GSB – 2015 – 2016 Stanford LEAD (Learn. Engage. Accelerate. Disrupt.) Program – Certificate in Corporate Innovation.
Australian Institute of Project Management – 2009 – Certificate of Project Management via Fairfax Media
Newcastle University – 2005 – Bachelor of Applied Science
Written references are available upon request.