Governance

PRESIDENT

Yohan is an experienced executive with a strong track record of successful achievement of business outcomes leading high-performing teams in public, private and not-for-profit sectors for over fifteen years. Yohan is an Australian Public Service (APS) employee from Canberra. In 2017 Yohan was in San Francisco Bay Area as the Innovation Manager International Operations for Austrade. Previously he was the Head of Governance at IP Australia and National Manager of Assurance Services at Ecowise Environmental, Australia’s largest provider of integrated environmental consulting services at the time. Yohan is the President of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Secretary General of SEARCC – the Asia Pacific Forum for Information Communication Technology (ICT). Yohan is also an international Cricket umpire. A graduate of University of Canberra, with ICT, accounting and finance qualifications, he is also the recipient of the prestigious University of Canberra gold leadership award at the 2005 Blues & Leadership awards for his sporting achievements. He is currently authoring a children’s story book in his spare time.

VICE PRESIDENT - COMMUNITY BOARDS

Craig Horne is Immediate Past Chairman of ACS Victoria. Craig is currently studying a PhD part-time at The University of Melbourne researching information security strategy in organisations. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) from La Trobe University as well as a Master of Business Administration. He is a seasoned professional with over 20 years in the IT industry, 15 years of which were spent in technical roles spanning hardware, software, operating systems, databases, networks and peripherals. He is proficient with vendor technologies such as Microsoft, CA Technologies, Cisco and various flavours of UNIX and keeps up to date by undertaking a minimum of 30 hours continuing education annually, as reflected in his Certified Professional status with the Australian Computer Society.

VICE PRESIDENT - MEMBERSHIP BOARDS

Nick Tate is a CEO and Company Director and has considerable experience at the level of CIO in two London banks and at the University of Queensland (UQ). He is co-author of “A Director’s Guide to Governing Information Technology and Cybersecurity”, a book published by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and has 18 years’ experience as a Company Director in 11 Australian and 2 US companies. He is Chair of the Council of ICT Associations (CICTA) and chaired the World Computer Congress in 2010. He was the National President of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) in 2012/2013. Nick is also an adjunct professor in IT and electrical engineering at (UQ) and has written and presented widely on cybersecurity, cloud computing and big data. He worked on the development of antimissile systems and real-time air traffic control systems before spending 20 years working for investment banks in both London and Australia. He is National Vice-President (Membership), Immediate Past Chair of the Queensland branch and the President of SEARCC. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, a Master’s degree in computer science, and a PhD in Cybersecurity. He is both a Fellow and Honorary Life Member of the ACS.

VICE PRESIDENT - ACADEMIC BOARDS

Ian has over 20 years’ experience in the ICT sector and, has led organizations with more than 300 people, delivering products and outcomes that have impacted hundreds of millions of people globally. He has held senior management roles in Europe and Australia as Director for Radio Access Performance at Nokia, Global Head of Sales Partnering (network software) at Nokia Siemens Networks, and then Divisional Chief and Flagship Director at CSIRO. Ian is considered a thought leader in the area of the Digital Economy and is a regular speaker on “Big Data”, broadband enabled services and the impact of technology on society. He has contributed to 6 books and co-authored more than 120 papers which have been cited more than 3500 times. Ian has an MBA from the University of London and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mobile Telecommunications from Sydney University.

NATIONAL TREASURER

Arnold Wong has enjoyed a long and successful professional career in the ever evolving ICT services industry for over 30 years. He has developed extensive strategic leadership, general management, customer service, and business development skills in diverse industries, including technology, education, healthcare, and resources in public and private sectors across Australia, Asia, Europe and Americas. A Fellow of ACS, he serves as National Treasurer on the ACS Management Committee and is a member of the Branch Executive Committee in Western Australia. Arnold is the Director of Information Services at the Department of Justice (WA), and served as a member of the WA Government CIO Council and chaired the Conference Logistic Committee for the World Wide Web (WWW) 2017 Conference.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Anthony is the Principal of a multidisciplinary law and consulting firm, AGW Lawyers & Consultants specialising in IT and the Digital Economy. He held senior management positions in multinational corporations and government, including as CIO of the Australian Tourist Commission during the Sydney 2000 Olympics and led the development of digital publishing for Thomson (now Thomson Reuters) in the Asia Pacific.

DIRECTOR - MEMBERSHIP ADVISORY BOARD

Rod is an experienced consultant with over 25 years’ experience. His professional experience includes Director of William Bethwey & Associates, founded in 2002 and is an internationally recognised thought leader in Information Strategy & Architecture and Managing Change with global experience. His academic background includes: Industry Fellow at The University of Melbourne for over 15 years; lectures in Higher Degree programmes including Organisational Change for IS Professionals, Enterprise Architecture, Knowledge Management, IS Strategy; is a sought-after expert in ‘Disruptive Technologies and Change’, and; is author of over 20 publications and a book on Organisational Change.

DIRECTOR - PROFESSION ADVISORY BOARD

Michael Johnson has been Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Macquarie University since 2002. He is also a Director of the Macquarie-DEC ICT Innovations Centre and a Director and Deputy Treasurer of Dunmore Lang College. Formerly he was the Head of the Department of Computing (1997-2000) and he served as Vice-President and Chair of the University's Academic Senate (2006-2008). In 1997 he was runner up for the inaugural Australian Award for University Teaching in all Science disciplines and he has held continuous ARC large/discovery grant funding for over 20 years.

DIRECTOR - TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD

Michael is currently the Head of School, Software in the Faculty of Engineering & IT at UTS. He comes from Griffith University in Queensland where he has accumulated over a decade of experience in leadership roles including portfolio Dean (Research) of the Sciences Group and Head of the School of ICT. Michael has been ACS Gold Coast Chapter Convener and a Board Member of the Queensland Branch Executive Committee and has served on the Australian Research Council's (ARC) College of Experts on the Engineering, Mathematics and Informatics (EMI) panel. In 2009, Professor Blumenstein was named as one of Australia’s Top 10 Emerging Leaders in Innovation in the Australian’s Top 100 Emerging Leaders Series supported by Microsoft.

NSW Congressional Representative

Executive with broad experience in all aspects of strategy, operations, process improvement, risk, compliance, accounting, IT and commercial management. Direct experience with Post graduate lecturing, professional training, strategic consulting, project management. Industry experience in health, emergency services, education, banking, wealth management, insurance, business improvement consulting and M&A. An experienced non executive director and mentor supporting students, talent, Start ups and the Not for Profit sector.

NSW Congressional Representative

Brendan is excited about the future of the ICT profession in Australia and is passionate about creating opportunities for those looking to enter and advance through the industry through his involvement as past NSW Chair of Young IT, Deputy Director Young IT, and co-chaired the YITCon conference. He currently works in the federal government sector. Brendan sits on the NSW Branch Executive Committee and is a NSW Congressional Representative. He holds a B.ICT from the University of Wollongong, and an M.Bus and M.ProjMgt through the University of New South Wales.

Canberra Congressional Representative

An IT professional with several years of experience, Kevin's focus is on Business Analysis, System Design, Change and Quality Management as well as Project and Program Management with a very strong emphasis on Stakeholder Management, Analysis and Government. He is currently a Senior Manager in ACT Health managing their Critical Systems and Infrastructure Hub. Prior to that, he was a Senior Consultant with Infosys and primarily worked on the DHS Account. Before Infosys, Kevin was part of KPMG Australia's Technology Advisory practice with a primary focus on the Defence and Intelligence sector. Prior to KPMG, he worked at the Department of Human Services (Centrelink) as a Business Analyst and Change Manager concentrating on web-based projects, portals and middleware technology. Kevin is a keen volunteer in the Canberra Branch of the ACS, and has been involved with the society for over 10 years in various roles such as Young IT Representative, Honorary Branch Secretary, Conference Project Manager (2011 and 2012), Conference Chair (2012), Branch Treasurer and now - Vice Chair.

Canberra Congressional Representative

NT Congressional Representative

Peter is Senior Business Systems Analyst/Senior Project Manager with the Department of Mines and Energy, Northern Territory where he has identified/analysed existing business needs/issues for a new enterprise wide solution and is currently involved in the selection and subsequent implementation process. Peter is the Immediate Past ACS NT Branch Chair and has recently been appointed to the Ministerial ICT Advisory Council providing advice/guidance to the Chief Minister on all ICT matters.

NT Congressional Representative

Benjamin has maintained an avid interest in technology since a very young age. When commenting to the media, regarding Benjamin having just won the 1993 Australian Super Nintendo Championship, his mother explained that rather than a rattle when in his pram, she would hand him a calculator to allow her to shop in peace. His parents ongoing encouragement of his interest in all things technological fuelled his youthful endeavours to self-educate and learn IT. This passion for technology has translated to Benjamin being an active member of the IT Industry, both in South Australia and the Northern Territory, for the past 18 years. He has previously operated an IT Consulting firm, held technical and leadership roles in both Government and Defence and is currently the Account Manager for NEC’s Consulting & Business Solutions division in Darwin. In Adelaide, whilst working for the Australian Submarine Corporation, Benjamin was responsible for project outcomes to deliver ICT requirements to the new Air Warfare Destroyer Shipyard in Osborne – this resulted in a state-of-the-art ICT environment being delivered to a Greenfields site ahead of occupation by staff, for the nation’s biggest ever defence project to date. Since moving to Darwin, Benjamin was the Project Sponsor for a Desktop OS Upgrade Project which won the Australian Institute of Project Management Award for best ICT Project in the Northern Territory for 2014. This passion for technology has translated to Benjamin being an active member of the IT Industry, both in South Australia and the Northern Territory, for the past 18 years. He has previously operated an IT Consulting firm, held technical and leadership roles in both Government and Defence and is currently the Account Manager for NEC’s Consulting & Business Solutions division in Darwin. In Adelaide, whilst working for the Australian Submarine Corporation, Benjamin was responsible for project outcomes to deliver ICT requirements to the new Air Warfare Destroyer Shipyard in Osborne – this resulted in a state-of-the-art ICT environment being delivered to a Greenfields site ahead of occupation by staff, for the nation’s biggest ever defence project to date. Since moving to Darwin, Benjamin was the Project Sponsor for a Desktop OS Upgrade Project which ultimately won the Australian Institute of Project Management Award for best ICT Project in the Northern Territory for 2014..

QLD Congressional Representative

Currently the Director, Technology Solutions for the Public Safety Business Agency providing ICT (and other corporate) services to the front line operations of Queensland Police, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and providing IT services to Queensland Ambulance Services. Mike is a fellow of the ACS, has chaired the National Audit and Risk Committee and remains on that committee as a member. Mike has also been a member of the Queensland Branch of ACS for over 6 years in roles of Vice Chair, Honorary Secretary and general committee member.

QLD Congressional Representative

Paul has been an owner of technology companies spanning information technology, software development and information architecture since 1984. Paul is the Principal of Cogentia, a consultancy providing strategic direction in ‘digital disruption’, digital economy transition, IT procurement and project design & initiation. Paul is a Director of Outback Touring, a company developing geospatial apps for Grey Nomads. Paul was also the Executive Officer of the industry body that on behalf of Queensland IT associations advised the Queensland Government on governance, procurement and industry development policy.

SA Congressional Representative

Jo has over 25 years’ experience in the IT field some of which were spent as CIO in the Utilities space, and 18 in the Information Security arena. She underpins her information technology and security background with her qualifications in education and management. Jo specialises in consulting in information security issues with a particular emphasis on governance in both the commercial and operational areas of businesses. Jo provides strategic advice to organisations across a number of industry sectors including banking and finance, utilities, automotive manufacturing, tertiary education, retail and government. Jo is actively involved with the Australian Computer Society, at state and national level, and she is currently serving as an Elected Director on ISACA’s international Board of Directors and is Chair of its global women’s leadership initiative.

SA Congressional Representative

Brenda Aynsley is recognised for her distinguished contribution to the promotion and adoption of Internet technologies within the community and by non-IT professionals in the earliest commercial Internet days in Australia. Ms Aynsley played a major role in helping to define the legislative frameworks regulating the Internet and its use around the country through her participation in Governmental representations and a departmental task force. Through individual and association representations to parliamentary select committees and within the ICT industry as an active member of the ACS, the Electronic Frontiers Association Inc, the South Australian Internet Association Inc and the IT Council for South Australia since 1994 she has helped shape the policies which have been implemented. Ms Aynsley has an enduring passion for the Internet and its utility as a technology which can empower users through its educative and communications reach and, as a result, provide enrichment of civil society.

TAS Congressional Representative

Ray has significant experience in senior management—from industrial, multinational companies to the genesis of the technology driven economy in Tasmania. Prior to joining the ACS, he managed Netspace Online Systems Tasmanian services for 10 years, where he was involved in change management and the construction of the DSL and fibre networks for Tasmania. Ray has significant involvement in start-ups as a founding associate of Tasmania’s largest Telecommunications and Data Hosting Company. Rays knowledge gives him a unique perspective into technology driven economies; he is a trained facilitator with expertise in brokering relationships across all sectors of the economy. Ray is currently Vice Chair of the Tasmanian Branch Executive and Tasmanian Chair of the Pearcey Foundation. As ACS member and CP Ray recognises the challenges and opportunities to unlocking the economic and social benefits of the technological transformation, he is actively involved with government, business, education, research and development, and the wider community.

TAS Congressional Representative

Jonathan has worked in highly performing teams for over twenty years in tourism, government, education and the property industry. Currently Jonathan is contributing to mobile, web and integration projects as Principal Consultant for Infoasis.

VIC Congressional Representative

Maria has been an active member of the ACS over the past 9 years. Her commitment to the ICT profession and the desire to help promote the roles that women play, saw Maria join the ACS Victorian BEC in May 2015. She is currently Chair, actively making connections between ACS, industry and other organisations, who are passionate about gender diversity.

VIC Congressional Representative

Over the last 12 months I have been a representative on the ACS Victoria Branch Executive Committee, Membership Engagement Committee Victoria chair, and actively contributing to other activities in ACS in state and nationally across the industry for business, education and diversity. I am now looking to deliver further value by contributing to ACS Congress. I have spent my 25+ years in IT/ICT services industry with continual dedication to making a difference through technology with a passion for leading people and change to achieve improved business outcomes. With technology changes rapidly occurring across the sectors I feel strongly that we need to be more focused on delivering diverse opportunities through industry employment, government and education programs both now and for our future. I currently work at Telstra establishing an innovative resourcing initiative with an Academy program attracting talented people to become future technologists for the ICT services industry. I also believe that ACS can enable greater opportunities by working more in the industry with our partners and engaging closely with education and business leaders to achieve new technology initiatives and deliver improved benefits to attract and retain our members.

WA Congressional Representative

I am the current Chair of the WA Branch, and was previously the Director of the National Professional Development Board. I am also a member of the ACS National Congress. Profession: I am Principal of Errington Consulting, a small consultancy providing ICT strategic planning, strategic ICT reviews and business process redesign services to government agencies, medium sized corporates and universities. In my spare time I am a chorister with the WA Symphony Orchestra Chorus.

WA Congressional Representative

George is a passionate advocate for the ICT Profession. Dedicated to the ACS he has volunteered since 2012 and is currently Vice Chair of the WA Branch Executive Committee. Passionate about both technology and it's use in society, he works as an educator to develop the potential of future ICT Professionals. He is determined to see ICT grow into an inclusive and diverse profession, and will guide the ACS towards this end.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Andrew has extensive senior management experience servicing both the higher education and vocational education and training sectors, including membership based professional associations. His career has seen him work in a diverse range of markets across the Asia Pacific region and includes developingaccreditation and certification frameworks. In his time at the ACS he has delivered significant growth results in the workforce planning and development, SFIA and education markets, all while improving member engagement, particularly among professional partners. Mr Johnson holds a Master of Arts in Technology Policy and Management. He is an ACS Certified Professional and an accredited SFIA Consultant.