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.[5]

In October 1997 Pretty was appointed managing director, International of Australia's public and largest telecommunications company Telstra.[6][7]

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.[8] and in 2003 he became group managing director of the Telstra Technology, Innovation and Products Group.[9][10]

During his tenure at Telstra, Pretty oversaw the entry and early steps of the company in internet and online business.[11][12] before resigning from Telstra in 2005.[13]

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.[14][15]

Pretty joined Gulf Finance House as CEO of Investment Capital and in December 2009, was appointed Group chief executive officer.[16][17]

On 3 September 2012, Pretty was confirmed as the group managing director of Hills Limited[18][19] in association with a major restructure of the company.[20][21] Pretty oversaw its transformation.[22][23]

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.[24]

On 27 May 2015, Pretty resigned from his position as group managing director and chief executive officer.[25]

On 23 December 2016, Pretty was confirmed as the managing director and CEO of Covata Limited.[26] Later on Covata was renamed to Cipherpoint Limited and altered governance structure. Pretty moved to a part-time executive chair role.[27][28]

Pretty was a director of ASX Listed NextDC Limited[29][30][31] and was Advisory chairman, Australia and New Zealand of Indian IT company Tech Mahindra Group.[32][33][34][35]

He was chairman and on the Board of ASX listed RP Data Limited for 8 years.[36][37] He was chairman, Fujitsu Australia and NZ.[38] Investments. Pretty is a co investor, shareholder and director of Bevan Slattery's undersea cable company SubPartners.[39]

Pretty is on The Ministerial Advisory Council on Communications[40] for the Honorable Malcolm Turnbull MP, then Minister for Communications.[41]

He advised on the "E-commerce expert group"[42] set up by the then Minister for Financial Services and Regulation, the Honorable Joe Hockey[43] and served as one of the "Members of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Cultural Councils"[44]