Neil Emmerson is a Partner at Omera Partners specialising in Technology, Digital, Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber executive search across Australia. Working exclusively in senior technology leadership, Neil partners with ASX-listed corporations, private companies, government departments, and not-for-profit organisations to appoint the Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers, Chief Digital Officers, Chief Information Security Officers, Chief Data Officers, Chief Analytics Officers, and Chief AI Officers shaping Australia’s technology landscape.
What are the biggest challenges your clients face in finding senior talent?
“Organisations typically lack the off-the-record knowledge and real insights into a candidate’s track record, leadership style, and true fit for their particular challenge. The candidate who appears strongest on paper or interviews most favourably is rarely the best candidate for the mandate. As Technology executives are now driving most organisations’ strategies, not having a complete and honest view of a candidate can prove incredibly costly.”
Which industries or functions do you specialise in?
“I specialise exclusively in senior technology leadership roles across all industries, covering listed, privately owned, and public sector and not-for-profit organisations. The roles I work on include Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers, Chief Digital Officers, Chief Information Security Officers, Chief Data Officers, Chief Analytics Officers, and Chief AI Officers.”
What types of appointments are you most proud of?
“The appointments that matter most to me are the ones where genuine market intelligence, rather than surface-level assessment, gives me the conviction that I have found the right leader for the challenge ahead. That certainty only comes from deep relationships and hard-won insights built over many years in this market.”
How do you build trust with both clients and candidates?
“By being completely transparent and honest about every aspect of the engagement. That means giving clients a genuine warts-and-all assessment of candidates, and giving candidates an equally honest view of the role, the organisation, and current market conditions. Both sides trust me because I tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.”
“For me, greatness means striving to be the very best in our specific field. I achieve this through unwavering dedication to my craft and a steadfast commitment to maintaining my 110% focus within the market."
What keeps you energised outside of work?
“Spending quality time with my wife and teenage daughters is the priority. Beyond family, I am a huge sports fan: football with Leeds United, rugby league with the Rabbitohs, Australian rules with Carlton, and cricket with England. Keeping track of four teams across four codes keeps life interesting.”
