Over the past two years as inaugural chief technology officer at Entrada Travel Group (ETG), Pete Yates and his team worked on a portfolio of initiatives with massive impact on the organisation. “No part of the business has been left untouched,” says Yates of the programmes that include implementing a new financial system incorporating all financial workloads, replacing the core reservation system and bringing corporate data into one place.
“Our objective was not just to improve the current carbon offset offerings but to reinvent the market itself,” says Paul Brady, chief technology officer and co-founder of startup Carbon Click.
Foodstuffs North Island has moved from not even operating retail e-commerce to having online revenues now measured in the hundreds of millions annually, says its chief digital officer Simon Kennedy.
Through working with partners and using SaaS in the investment management space, Kiwi Wealth CTO Craig Ward says they are able to launch new funds and offerings to the market quickly and at a reduced cost.
Richard Kay knows being Chief Digital Officer of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) means any actions he and his team undertake will have impact across international borders.
“We use technology for competitive advantage in a traditional industry sector,” says Brian Northern, group CIO at Fulton Hogan
Richard Wyke, chief product officer at Figured, works with market leaders to develop product and technology solutions, so that Figured can stretch its capabilities and open up new opportunities. This has led to the development of products like Figured Benchmarking, scenario planning and their work with BNZ on the response to M.Bovis.
“It is important to be prepared to positively and continually disrupt ourselves,” says Mark Leadbetter, IT director at House of Travel (HOT).
“Chief digital officer is a new role at Z Energy, and with that came a lot of freedom to set my own path,” says Mandy Simpson.
healthAlliance, in partnership with the district health boards, has for the past two years been delivering the the Northern Region Information Systems Strategic Plan, one of the largest digital transformations in New Zealand.
AUT has implemented the most comprehensive cybersecurity campaign, which not only addressed threats behind the scenes, but also increased awareness among staff and students, says its CIO Liz Gosling. “While cybersecurity may be regarded by some as ‘housekeeping’, the increasing sophistication of threats means the risk of members of staff and students being exposed to them are greater. This can no longer be seen as business as usual at the university."
Roger Jones holds a C-level role at Auckland Transport (AT), as executive general manager technology, which also involves being the co-executive leadership team lead of the customer and innovation committee.
Anna Brodie and her team at Education Payroll delivered EdPay, a fully online payroll service for schools that is replacing the infamous Novopay.
Allan Lightbourne, chief digital officer at Tauranga City Council, got his team members to work with their colleagues from across the organisation, and look at the city’s key challenges that could be alleviated by technology.
“Law firms are recognised as traditional and risk averse due to the nature of the service they provide. However, innovation is in our firm’s DNA,” says SarahThirlwall, who took on the inaugural CDO role at MinterEllisonRuddWatts following a long-term executive career in the health sector.