Heritage Bank has appointed Mikhail Lopushanski as its new chief information security officer.
Lopushanski’s career spans more than three decades in strategic planning, governance, audit, risk, and information security, including as chief security officer at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) for the past 10 years. Originally from Canada, he has worked in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Heritage CEO Peter Lock said he was excited about the impact Lopushanski would have on boosting Heritage’s data security and digital defences.
“I’m pleased Mikhail has joined the Heritage team as his knowledge of information security in the banking industry is impressive following his 10-year tenure at APRA,” Lock said. “His experience and insight will be invaluable as we work to grow our information security capabilities in what is an ever-changing field.”
Lopushanski said he was thrilled to join Heritage at such an exciting time given the potential merger between Heritage and People’s Choice Credit Union.
“I was looking for the next challenge and I have been selective about where I wanted to work,” he said. “I wanted a dynamic Australian organisation with close ties to the community and a financial institution. With the potential merger, Heritage is a dynamic organisation. It’s certainly what I was looking for. Heritage has done a lot in regards to security but it is an ongoing journey. We always need to be proactive in this space to protect our members.”
Lopushanski holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with specialisation in information systems and accounting. He is a fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a number of industry certifications including Certified Information Systems Auditor and Manager.
