Baidam appoints Beau Hodge as new Chief Executive Officer

Baidam has appointed Beau Hodge as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect, tapping a long-serving senior executive to lead the First Nations-owned cyber security and ICT security services provider.

Hodge has held senior roles at the Brisbane-headquartered company since joining nearly five years ago. He served as Chief Financial Officer from 2021 before moving into the Chief Operating Officer role, and acted as Chief Executive for nine months in 2025.

The appointment changes the day-to-day leadership structure for co-founders and owners Jack Reis and Pip Jenkinson. They said it will allow them to focus more on growth, strategic direction and social impact initiatives at an executive level.

Growth record

Baidam operates in a market where demand for cyber security services continues to rise across government and large enterprises. The company works with ASX top 100 businesses, as well as local, state and federal government departments.

Jenkinson pointed to Baidam's recent growth as a factor in the decision. "Baidam is one of the fastest growing businesses in Australia - last year we ranked No. 27 on the Australian Financial Review Fast 100 companies list," Jenkinson said.

Jenkinson said managing rapid growth requires specific capability, and described Hodge as well placed to lead the business. "Managing this degree of accelerated growth takes a certain skill level. Due to his unwavering commitment, level head, consistency, and knowledge, Beau is very much a safe pair of hands for Baidam," she said. "His strong financial background means he can maintain our continued growth trajectory and hit our targets without board involvement. As a member of the board, that's something I feel very comfortable with."

Banking background

Hodge joined Baidam from a career in commercial investment banking. He said cyber security was new to him when he entered the sector, before he took on broader operational responsibilities within the business.

Jenkinson said Hodge's experience across multiple leadership roles at Baidam helped smooth the transition into the top job. "Beau's decision to accept the CEO role is a huge gain for Baidam," she said. "His years of experience with Baidam in other C-level roles have all contributed to his ability to naturally transition into the CEO position."

Reis linked the appointment to the company's social objectives and its focus on Indigenous participation in technology careers. "It was obvious to us from the outset that Beau not only could go far in Baidam, but that he was completely aligned to our desire to do good," Reis said. "He was excited that we were doing what we'd promised, actively contributing to closing the ICT career gap for Indigenous people. Our social goals were - and remain - incredibly important to him."

Operations and clients

Baidam describes itself as a 100% Australian-owned Indigenous ICT security services and solutions provider. The company was formed in 2018 and says it has built an award-winning cyber security business and launched what it describes as Australia's first Indigenous-operated Security Operations Centre.

It is certified by Social Traders and is a member of Supply Nation. Baidam says its purpose is to bridge the gap in the IT sector through training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hodge is based at the company's Brisbane head office. His remit covers business growth and customer security outcomes, as well as the company's social impact programs.

"I am incredibly honoured to be entrusted with Baidam's future," Hodge said. "While cybersecurity has been a significant learning curve, the support from those around me has been generous and valuable. Now I'm excited to lead the business's growth, drive even stronger cyber postures for our customers, add more innovative capabilities, and grow and diversify our social impacts."