The National Broadband Network Company today confirmed it had hired Sabiene Heindl, one of the most high-profile executives working for the music industry’s Australian anti-piracy taskforce, Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI).

Heindl didn’t immediately return a call today requesting comment. However, this morning, a NBN Co spokesperson confirmed the company had hired Heindl, noting the executive would be starting with the company in a few months. iTNews, which broke this story, reported today that Heindl would join NBN Co as its “stakeholder manager”.

For the past five years, Sabiene Heindl has been one of the music industry’s chief local generals in its war against online music piracy. A former senior associate with law firm Allens Arthur Robinson (according to her LinkedIn profile), Heindl joined MIPI in early 2006 to be its general manager and take the organisation’s fight online.

Since that time, Heindl has been a constant thorn in the side of those would share music online, commenting on actions such as the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft’s long-running BitTorrent case against Internet service provider iiNet and commissioning research into piracy’s impact on Australia’s economy.

Heindl has also worked with law enforcement organisations such as the Australian Federal Police in arresting local manufacturers of counterfeit goods, including pirated software, CDs and DVDs.

As recently as 9 June (PDF), Heindl was still reinforcing MIPI’s view of the future of the ISP industry’s approach to copyright, pushing the organisation’s view that it wanted to work with service providers on a “graduated response scheme” that would discourage illegal file-sharing online.

“The Australian music industry and the [Australian Content Industry Group] have always made it clear that any industry-led code to deal with illegal file-sharing of content would require effective sanctions for repeat infringers that fail to heed educational notices,” Heindl said at the time. “Research around the world makes it clear that notice-upon-notice schemes are unlikely to achieve the goal of encouraging consumers to migrate to consumption that supports artists and songwriters.”

MIPI’s remit is to conduct investigative, preventative and education activities in relation to music piracy in Australia, acting on behalf of about 125 record companies through the Australian Recording Industry Association and more than 2,000 songwriters and music publishers.

It’s not clear what Heindl’s role will entail, but it is possible the position will see the executive working with existing NBN Co executives on external industry and government relations — such as the company’s head of industry engagement, Christy Boyce, or government relations and external affairs chief Mike Kaiser.

Image credit: Mike Johnson, royalty free