Optus Communications Lead Joined GitHub for APAC Role
Justin Stolarski has transitioned from a five-year tenure at telecommunications firm Optus to lead communications at GitHub.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Telecommunications
Justin Stolarski has left his long-term position at the Australian telecommunications company Optus to serve as the Asia-Pacific communications lead for GitHub. The move marks a shift from the telecommunications sector to enterprise software development.
Why it matters
The transition highlights the continued movement of experienced crisis and corporate affairs professionals into the enterprise technology sector. His background in managing major network incidents provides a specific skill set for a platform that manages global software infrastructure.
Stolarski concludes a five-year tenure at Optus, where he managed stakeholder engagement throughout multiple network service interruptions and cybersecurity incidents since 2021.
The players
Justin Stolarski
The former Optus stakeholder engagement manager who now leads Asia-Pacific communications for GitHub.
GitHub
An enterprise software platform and collaborative development environment owned by Microsoft.
Optus
A major Australian telecommunications provider offering mobile, internet, and satellite services.
Abby Rieflin
The leadership contact at GitHub to whom Stolarski reports in his new regional role.
Beau Bass
The former Asia-Pacific communications lead at GitHub who preceded Stolarski.
The details
Stolarski moves to GitHub after a restructuring in April 2026 shifted his internal role at Optus from corporate affairs to stakeholder engagement management. He now reports to Abby Rieflin, managing regional messaging across key markets including Japan, South Korea, and India. He replaces Beau Bass, who previously held the regional communications lead position.
Timeline
2021: Stolarski joined Optus.
2022: Stolarski assisted during the Optus cyber attack.
2025: Stolarski assisted during the Optus network outage.
April 2026: A department restructuring at Optus changed Stolarski's role.
September 2026: Stolarski left Optus to join GitHub.
The Tech Race
Stolarski's move follows a documented trend of enterprise software firms prioritizing seasoned corporate affairs veterans to stabilize their regional market presence. This recruitment strategy contrasts with the previous model of hiring native technology public relations specialists.
Professional GitHub users in the Asia-Pacific region can expect new communication strategies as Stolarski takes over regional messaging. The shift specifically impacts stakeholder engagement initiatives across Japan, South Korea, and India.
The takeaway
The move underscores the growing emphasis on crisis-tested communications management within the enterprise software sector. Watch for changes in GitHub's regional stakeholder engagement as Stolarski settles into his new leadership mandate.
Further reading
For more on shifts in the enterprise technology sector, visit Telecommunications.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mumbrella.
