New Zealand Government ICT Council established

The ICT Strategy Group, chaired by David Smol, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development, announced today that it has completed the steps to establish the Government ICT Council, including appointing Sam Knowles as the Independent Chair.

“Mr Knowles has a rich history of innovation through embracing information and communications technology (ICT) and he will make an excellent addition to the Government ICT Council,” said David Smol.

The Government ICT Council represents a cross-agency approach to transform government ICT solutions and implement the Directions and Priorities for Government ICT policy framework, designed to deliver value for money and higher quality services to the public.

The Government ICT Council has been selected from across government to lead the delivery of low-cost, high-quality ICT solutions across the state sector.

The Government ICT Council, chaired by Mr Knowles, includes:
• Craig Soutar, Chief Information Officer, New Zealand Transport Agency
• David Habershon, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Social Development
• Gerard Aberdeen, General Manager ICT Services, Ministry of Justice
• Graeme Osborne, Director, National Health IT Board
• Greg Patchell, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development
• Leanne Gibson, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Education
• Myles Ward, Group Manager IT Operations and Services, Inland Revenue
• Nigel Prince, Deputy Director-General Business Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

“Each member of the Government ICT Council has a background in senior ICT management, change leadership and cross-government experience and I am confident that we have the right levels of experience and expertise from across government to meet our delivery expectations and achieve what we have asked of them,” said David Smol.

Adopted by the Government in October 2010, Directions and Priorities for Government ICT seeks to coordinate management of and investment in ICT across State services, to achieve greater value for money and to achieve a higher quality experience for citizens using government services.