Michael Juniper joins HMC Digital Infrastructure to boost data centres
Michael Juniper is to be appointed as Director of the Board of HMC Digital Infrastructure and join HMC Capital Group's Digital Infrastructure management team as a senior executive.
Juniper's role will involve enhancing DigiCo Infrastructure REIT's operational, leasing and development capabilities as the company seeks to grow its data-centre platform across Australia and into international markets. His formal appointment to the Board of HMC Digital Infrastructure is set to take place prior to the company's annual general meeting, where he will stand for election by DGT securityholders.
Juniper brings over twenty years' experience in the digital infrastructure sector. He previously served as a founding executive at AirTrunk, where he was integral in guiding the company from its inception to becoming a prominent data centre operator in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. During his nine years as Executive Director at AirTrunk, Juniper played a key role in expanding the business into major Asian markets, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Before his tenure at AirTrunk, Juniper held senior leadership positions at Metronode, another data-centre operator in Australia. He was responsible for leading commercial growth, securing enterprise and government contracts, and improving operational performance. His efforts contributed to the company's eventual acquisition by Equinix.
DigiCo Infrastructure REIT currently owns, operates and develops a portfolio of 13 data centres across major Australian and North American locations, with 238MW of planned IT capacity, 76MW of installed IT capacity, and a development pipeline of 162MW. The company holds a broad mandate covering both stabilised and value-add development opportunities in the data-centre industry.
Leadership perspective
The appointment has been supported by HMC Capital's executive team, who expressed confidence in Juniper's capability to lead DigiCo's growth strategy. David Di Pilla, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of HMC Capital, said:
We are incredibly excited to welcome Michael to the DigiCo Infrastructure team. His track record in scaling platforms, securing hyperscale partnerships and leading cross-border expansion makes him uniquely qualified to help us accelerate DigiCo's evolution into a world-class data-centre operator.
Juniper's career
Juniper's previous experience as a founding executive at AirTrunk saw him involved in all stages of the company's development, from the initial business plan and pre-funding activities to securing multi-billion-dollar long-term contracts with major cloud and technology firms. AirTrunk's growth, underpinned by these partnerships, contributed to its valuation of approximately AUD $24 billion in a transaction with Blackstone.
At Metronode, Juniper was instrumental in winning both enterprise and government business, as well as leading operational improvements. His leadership at Metronode provided the basis for the firm's acquisition by Equinix, a significant deal in the Australian data-centre market.
Juniper finished his role at AirTrunk in late 2024, after which he has been involved in consultancy roles and personal investments in the data-centre sector.
He holds a Juris Doctor with Honours from Bond University and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting & Finance from the University of Melbourne.
Looking ahead
Juniper expressed enthusiasm for the trajectory of DigiCo Infrastructure and his future role. He commented:
DigiCo has assembled a unique portfolio of strategic assets such as SYD1 across Australia and also the US markets, and I look forward to working with the team to unlock the full potential and value of our portfolio. I believe that DigiCo has the right strategic focus to become a major operator, developer and owner of critical data-centre assets in its core markets. After taking a brief break, I am energised about the future and ready to tackle the opportunities and challenges ahead. I look forward to working with the DigiCo and HMC team to create a business that can become a major market leader.
He also outlined the broader industry context and DigiCo's future direction:
DigiCo is uniquely positioned to meet the next generation of requirements from global technology leaders. Beyond resilience, connectivity and speed of delivery, our mandate is to provide solutions that are efficient, sustainable and scalable. With the rapid emergence of AI intensifying global power requirements, I look forward to helping DigiCo pursue carbon-neutral pathways, deploy advanced power strategies, and invest in innovations in cooling, energy management and construction practices. By combining operational excellence with forward-looking sustainability and the ability to deliver at scale, we aim to position DigiCo as a partner of choice for technology platforms worldwide while creating enduring value for investors.
The appointment of Juniper was approved by the Board of HMC Digital Infrastructure.
