Edward Pretty

Pretty was a Partner at Media and Telecommunications Law Firm, Gilbert & Tobin. From there, he moved to Optus, serving as an adviser and director of Optus Communications and Optus Vision.[1]

In October 1997 Pretty was appointed managing director, International of Australia's public and largest telecommunications company Telstra.[4][5]

During his time at Telstra, Pretty served in a number of roles, including head of Telstra's Convergent Business Group, and the head of Telstra Retail.[6] and in 2003 he became group managing director of the Telstra Technology, Innovation and Products Group.[7][8]

During his tenure at Telstra, Pretty oversaw the entry and early steps of the company in internet and online business.[9][10] before resigning from Telstra in 2005.[11]

In 2006, Pretty became a consultant at Macquarie Group, and continued on with the company to become executive director of Macquarie Capital. He was instrumental in Macquarie's bid to build the National Broadband Network.[12]

Pretty joined Gulf Finance House as CEO of Investment Capital and in December 2009, was appointed Group chief executive officer.[13][14]

On 3 September 2012, Pretty was confirmed as the group managing director of Hills Limited[15][16] in association with a major restructure of the company.[17][18] Pretty oversaw its transformation.[19][20]

With a number of South Australian universities and the SA Government and Premier Jay Weatherill, Pretty established two centres in Adelaide to foster innovation and support start-up companies.[21]

On 27 May 2015, Pretty resigned from his position as group managing director and chief executive officer.[22]

On 23 December 2016, Pretty was confirmed as the managing director and CEO of Covata Limited.[23] Later on Covata was renamed to Cipherpoint Limited and altered governance structure. Pretty moved to a part-time executive chair role.[24][25]

Pretty was a director of ASX Listed NextDC Limited[26][27][1] and was Advisory chairman, Australia and New Zealand of Indian IT company Tech Mahindra Group.[28][29][1]

He was chairman and on the Board of ASX listed RP Data Limited for 8 years.[30][1] He was chairman, Fujitsu Australia and NZ.[31] Investments. Pretty is a co investor, shareholder and director of Bevan Slattery's undersea cable company SubPartners.[32]

Pretty is on The Ministerial Advisory Council on Communications[33] for the Honorable Malcolm Turnbull MP, then Minister for Communications.[34]

He advised on the "E-commerce expert group"[35] set up by the then Minister for Financial Services and Regulation, the Honorable Joe Hockey[36] and served as one of the "Members of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Cultural Councils"[37]