Preparing for the year ahead

By CIO New Zealand staff | Wednesday, April 01 2009

The 2009 NZ CIO Summit on July 21 and 22 is the premium event for New Zealand CIOs, featuring international and national CIO speakers, and panel discussions on critical skill sets for today's ICT executives, and leading in a downturn.

2009 New Zealand CIO Summit
21st & 22nd July 2009, Hyatt Hotel, Auckland

The CIO Conference and the CIO Summit are now one.

This year marks the merging of the CIO Conference and CIO Summit into one premium event for New Zealand's ICT leaders. This has been made possible with the partnership of IDC, Fairfax Media Business Group (publisher of CIO magazine) and Bright*Star Conferences.

Be Informed
As organisations face increasing economic uncertainty, challenges keep growing and IT leaders are expected to deliver greater results within tighter budgets. What does this mean for CIOs? What challenges are they facing? Which skills are required not only to meet these challenges, but to become true leaders?

Be Inspired
The 2009 CIO Summit will examine the growing importance of INSPIRATION, INNOVATION and INTEGRATION within organisations and how CIOs are the key drivers behind this.

International and National CIOs share their experience: This is your opportunity to hear three international keynotes John Gantz, Chief Research Officer and Senior Vice President, IDC; Carey Eaton, CIO, SEEK; Sid Ahuja, VP Business Partnerships, BELL LABS INNOVATION, ALCATEL LUCENT.

There will Along with Inspirational CIO case studies from New Zealand CIOs: Lynley Lee, Information & Communications Technology Manager, ASUREQUALITY; Russell Jones, Head of Group Technology, ASB; Mike Clarke, CIO, SKYCITY; Owen McCall, CIO, THE WAREHOUSE; Rhys Gould, CIO, DOWNER EDI WORKS; Andrew Wilshire, CTO, FONTERRA and many more.

Also featuring two CIO panel discussions:
Leadership at the Top: Skill Sets of Technology Leaders
As leaders of technology teams, CIOs rely on a vast number of skills to meet the challenges they face.  Which of these skills are essential to a successful CIO? What’s more, are these skills learned or were they born with them? This panel of CIOs will discuss how they match their skills with the business leaders they collaborate with and how they motivate the business environment they operate within, as well as:
• What are the essential qualities of an effective IT leader?
• Which new competencies you must embrace today to play tomorrow’s leadership game?
• What are the five must-have attributes of a successful CIO?
• How can CIOs be leaders of IT and businesses?

Panelists:
Julia Raue, CIO, AIR NEW ZEALAND
Karl Wright, CIO, YELLOW PAGES GROUP
Owen McCall, CIO, THE WAREHOUSE
Pieter Bakker, Group Manager, Information Technology, PORTS OF AUCKLAND
Allan Dornan, CIO, IAG
Ron Hooton, CEO, PROCARE HEALTH (former CIO, NZ Defence Force)

Effects of the Global Economic Crisis on Business and How IT Is Contributing To Meet This Challenge
A key issue facing business decisions in 2009 is related to the global economic crisis. A major challenge is the fact that operational budgets in many organisations are shrinking and therefore, there’s increasing need for CIOs to contribute to cost reductions whilst at the same time executing projects that generate tangible – operational and financial – benefits for the business. This expert line-up will discuss how they are innovating and contributing to the challenge faced by their business.
• What impacts does the current economic crisis have on CIO agenda and budgets?
• How does the economic situation impact in the decision-making process?
• Will there be effects on the long term?

Panelists:
Doug Wilson, CIO, NZ AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION
Aubrey Christmas, CIO, EMPLOYERS & MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
Simon Gould-Thorpe, CIO, HONDA NZ
Robin Johansen, CIO, BECA
Tony Wickstead, CIO, AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Andrew Crabb, CIO, TELSTRACLEAR

More details at cio.co.nz and Brightstar