Canberra Welcomes SAP’s Public Sector Centre of Excellence
Ryan Mitchelmore, Head of SAP Centre of Excellence for the Public Sector
SAP Australia has announced the establishment of a new Public Sector Centre of Excellence in Canberra, naming Ryan Mitchelmore as its inaugural Head. The initiative aims to accelerate digital transformation and improve productivity across federal agencies in Australia and New Zealand.
The Centre of Excellence will focus on supporting government departments as they transition from legacy ERP systems to modern cloud platforms, enabling the adoption of AI, data analytics, and automation to enhance efficiency and citizen services. Recruitment is underway, with plans to employ 20 Australian citizens over the next 24 months. The organisation is expected to be fully staffed by mid-2026.
Ryan Mitchelmore brings nearly 30 years of experience leading major transformation programs in government, finance, and banking. His track record includes delivering complex projects on time and within budget for organisations such as Defence, Services Australia, the Digital Transformation Agency, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and Macquarie Bank.
Brian Senior, Executive General Manager – Federal Government, SAP Australia and New Zealand, said:
"Federal agencies manage some of Australia's most critical systems, from healthcare delivery to defence logistics, and many already rely on SAP as their enterprise backbone. This Centre of Excellence is a direct response to feedback shared by these agencies with SAP earlier in the year. It seeks to connect the dots across these systems, helping agencies chart the clearest path to a secure digital future, while leveraging AI, data analytics and sovereign cloud capabilities."
The Centre of Excellence will operate as a permanent organisation with 12 core employees and additional specialists rotating based on demand. All team members will hold Australian citizenship and appropriate security clearances to ensure sensitive government data remains protected while accessing world-class enterprise capabilities.
Ryan Mitchelmore commented:
"Agencies need a clear, practical path from legacy environments to AI‑ready operations. Our team provides best-practice advice on the recommended journey and appropriate guardrails – from business case and proofs of concept to clean‑core architecture and migration plans to enable better informed decisions."
By joining SAP’s global network of Centres of Excellence, the Canberra team will address the unique challenges federal agencies face as they modernise mission-critical systems and meet stringent security and sovereignty requirements.