01
Independent by construction
No software sold, no delivery revenue, no vendor commissions, no referral fees. The only thing InArena has to protect is the quality of its judgement.
About
Mark Parker
Principal, InArena Advisory. Twenty years leading enterprise technology and transformation — through to CIO and Group Executive level — across government, defence, critical infrastructure and commercial organisations.
Why InArena exists
I spent twenty years on the other side of this table.
I have led a 600-person technology and service organisation, governed portfolios north of $100 million, negotiated and stood up contracts worth more than that, and reported to boards on decisions I could not walk away from.
I have also watched capable, well-run mid-sized businesses spend serious money on the wrong thing — not through carelessness, but because the only people offering an opinion had something to sell. The proposal was polished. The reference site was flattering. Nobody independent ever asked whether the decision on the table was the decision that actually needed making.
InArena Advisory exists to be that voice. Independent by construction: no software to licence, no delivery team to keep utilised, no commissions and no referral fees. If the honest answer is don't do this, or you don't need us, that is the answer you'll get.
The name comes from Roosevelt's arena — the distinction between those who comment and those who carry the consequences. Advice that costs the adviser nothing is worth about that much. I intend to be in it with you.
Background
The work behind the advice.
- Group Executive — Corporate Technology & Automation (CIO level). Enterprise technology, digital platforms, automation strategy, cyber governance and operating model transformation for a ~1,500-person national services firm.
- Group Executive — Customer Success & Transformation. National division accountable for customer value, transformation capability and strategic relationships across government and commercial sectors.
- Vice President — Regional Engagement (West). CxO-level accountability for $110M+ in annual service revenue and 650+ people across WA, NT and SA.
- Group Executive — Strategic Customer Delivery. Three years in Victoria and the ACT leading major transformation programs for state and federal government.
- Enterprise scale. Led 600+ professionals across architecture, engineering, cyber, data and operations disciplines.
- Financial stewardship. $100M+ operating and capital portfolios, with accountability for value realisation, not just spend.
- Risk and regulation. Enterprise risk maturity aligned to ISO 27001, the SOCI Act, Essential Eight and ISO 9001/14001 quality systems.
- Board engagement. Structured reporting on technology performance, investment and risk to support board decision-making. GAICD qualified.
- Culture. Executive sponsor for Reconciliation and First Nations engagement, advocate for women in technology leadership, sponsor of an enterprise innovation program. Part of an executive team recognised as a Deloitte Best Managed Company.
How we work
Five commitments.
These are not values on a wall. They are the terms of the engagement, and you should hold us to them.
02
Senior only
The person you meet is the person who does the work. No pyramid, no graduate team learning on your engagement, no partner who appears at the readout.
03
Fixed scope, fixed fee
Agreed in writing before work starts. No day-rate drift, no change-request economy, no commercial incentive to make the engagement longer than the problem.
04
Plain language
Everything written to be read by an owner, a CFO or a director — not to impress a technologist. If a recommendation needs a glossary, it isn't finished.
05
The actual view
You will be told what we genuinely think, including when that is uncomfortable, unpopular or costs us the next piece of work. That is the entire point.
06
Discretion
Clients are not named without permission. Engagements are described by pattern, not by identity. References are given directly, in conversation.
Credentials
Qualifications
- Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
- Bachelor of Applied Science — Technology Studies and Computer Science, Edith Cowan University
- TOGAF 9 — Level 1 & 2 Certified
- ITIL v3 Expert
- PRINCE2 Practitioner
- Australian Government security clearance (AGSVA)