Congress
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Ms Helen McHugh
President
MACS (Snr)Helen is the NSW Branch Chair and currently act as an Ambassador to ICT industry championing causes, cohorts, groups as they address the challenges and initiative of our Profession, primarily focused on Women in ICT, Hack-a-thons, Start-ups and Agile and Disruptive Service delivery, Not-For-Profits. My career has contributed to the success of policy strategies in Federal Government Service Delivery Objectives in senior roles advising corporate leaders. I am the current ACS NSW Chair 2021-2022. I have held a number of other positions in ACS as a volunteer including NSW Vice Chair for 3 years and Chair and member of ACS Women NSW for 5 years. Groups I support are: TechGirls, RareBirds, NSydInnovation, Scrum Alliance to name a few.
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Dr David Cook
Vice President - Academic Boards
FACSTechnology advocate dedicated to advances and the progression of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), and cyber security, combined with research and academic engagement in six main areas, Business, Information Technology, International Relations, Security, South-east Asia, and Governance. Fluent in South-east Asian languages.
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Ms Jo Stewart-Rattray
Vice President - Community Boards
FACSJo has over 25 years’ experience in the IT field some of which were spent as CIO in the Utilities and as Group CIO in the Tourism space, and with significant experience in the Information Security arena including as CISO in the healthcare sector. She underpins her information technology and security background with her qualifications in education and management. She specialises in consulting in risk and technology issues with a particular emphasis on governance and security 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, manufacturing, tertiary education, retail, healthcare and government. Jo has extensive board and committee experience. She has chaired a number of ISACA’s international committees including the Board Audit & Risk Committee, Leadership Development and Professional Influence & Advocacy. She served as an Elected Director on ISACA’s international Board of Directors for seven years and was the founder of its global women’s leadership initiative, SheLeadsTech.
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Mr Jeffrey Smith
Vice President – Membership Boards
MACS SnrJeff is a current CEO/Managing Director and former CIO, who’s parlayed being a builder labourer at 16, a teen father and a high school drop out into a successful career in ICT spanning almost 30 years. He is experienced in business transformation, cyber security, and governance and brings a high level of entrepreneurial business thinking to the enterprise. Jeff is the first Regional Ambassador appointed by the ACS, and works with ICT educators and professionals in country Victoria to increase awareness of, and improve, the ICT profession in the regions. Jeff has post graduate degrees in Business and Cyber Security and is a certified CISSP. He is on the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Regional Executive Committee for Victoria, a part of the Bendigo Education Plan, a member of the Bendigo Tech School Industry Advisory Committee, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Senior Member and Certified Professional of the Australian Computer Society. Jeff is passionate about education and personal growth, and a has a deep and personal understanding that everyone learns differently.
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Mr Chris Radbone
National Treasurer
FACSChris has over 40 years Information Management and Technology experience working collaboratively and innovatively across the Private, Public and Non-for-profit (Welfare) sectors. Current role since 2009 as the Associate Director of SA NT DataLink, a nationally leading collaborative partnership across the University Research and Government sectors, operating an authorised facility for South Australia and the Northern Territory to safely share de-identified data for approved use and unit record level analysis. Chris specialises in collaborative partnerships to unlock the public's value from data, supporting innovative research, planning, monitoring, evaluation and analysis, enabling greater value and accountability from organisations and government resources. Chris has professional qualifications in information security, and deep experience in data governance and privacy protection protocols.
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Dr Nick Tate
Immediate Past President
FACSNick Tate has over 45 years’ experience in ICT, including 20 years in Cybersecurity, 16 years as a CIO/Head of IT at two London banks and the University of Queensland (UQ) and 11 years as head of the Australian Computer Emergency Response Team (AusCERT), which dealt with cybersecurity incidents nationally. He is co-author of “A Director’s Guide to Governing Information Technology and Cybersecurity”, an AICD published book and has 20 years’ experience as a Company Director in 16 Australian and 2 US companies. He is an Adjunct Professor at UQ, has degrees in Physics and Computer Science and a PhD in Cybersecurity. He is both a Fellow and Honorary Life Member of the ACS. Nick is currently Vice President (Membership), President of the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) and leads an APEC project on ICT Skills Frameworks. He is also 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 and is a member of the SFIA Council. Hi work experience includes working 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.
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Dr Asheley Jones
Director – Membership Advisory Board
FACSAsheley Jones is a senior leader with significant experience in providing end to end solution design for implementation in the education, technology and professional service sectors. She has proven leadership skills in developing business strategy, organisational change management and policy development. Asheley has a substantive track record in developing and implementing capability frameworks to underpin a variety of educational programs and micro credential assessment models within the higher education, VET and executive professional development spheres. She has successfully worked with multiple stakeholders in: Academia; State and Federal Governments; industry and not for profit sectors. A SFIA (Skills framework for the Information Age) accredited trainer and consultant with demonstrable experience in the analysis, design and implementation of workforce readiness solutions. Asheley has held research grants from the Joint Accounting Body (JAB), Google, the Australian Council of Deans ICT (ACDICT) and the Victorian Education Department to research effective educational design solutions.
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Mr Mathias Gaertner
Director - Technical Advisory Board
MACS (Snr)Mathias Gaertner holds the public office of a permanently sworn in and publicly accredited expert witness in Germany for 20 years. He also was a lecturer for Information Science for 16 years and is working as an independent consultant for Information Security (MACS Snr CP (cyber Security), IP3P) and Data Privacy in Europe and Australia. He is a consultant to the German federal minister of Economy and Commerce as well as member of the German/European Cyber Security Alliance. Prior to that he was chief IT infrastructure planner for the Fraunhofer Society for 5 years.
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Mr Roger Clarke
Canberra Congressional Representative
FACSRoger's career has mostly been in private sector professional, managerial and consultancy roles, interrupted by a decade as a senior academic. His consultancy focus is on disruptive information technologies' strategic and policy impacts and implications, and security and privacy aspects of IT. His Board experience is deep and diverse, and he's held a wide variety of positions within ACS. He also has a long record of public interest advocacy in the privacy and consumer rights areas. He has degrees from UNSW and ANU, has long been a Fellow of the ACS, and is a Visiting Professor in Computer Science at ANU and in Law at UNSW.
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Mr Damien Charles
Northern Territory Congressional Representative
MACS SnrDamien Charles is the Regional Manager for NEC Australia in the Northern Territory, with over 25 years of experience delivering ICT services. Having started in the Industry on the NTG’s Service Desk in the mid 90’s, Damien has progressed his career through all levels and multiple roles, and is now responsible for delivering service to NTG across a number of managed services contracts. NEC is the largest non-government ICT employer in the Northern Territory and under Damien’s local leadership has been named as the NT’s Employer of the Year for 2018 and 2019. As a long term Territorian with a keen interest in helping others to achieve success in the ICT industry, and also to develop the industry in the North of Australia, he has invested considerable time and effort in supporting the local university and students and is an active member of a number of the local associations and ICT Committee’s. He is a passionate advocate for the ACS and its role in providing guidance and support.
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Nick Brant
Qld Congressional Representative
FACSNick is a senior technology executive and director with a successful career in large, diverse, customer-focused organisations. He has significant technology and leadership experience, and his work includes the successful implementation of numerous Award-winning innovation initiatives and corporate technology transformation programs. Nick is currently Manager Director of XTRACTIT, a strategic and cyber security advisory firm, and has previously been the Chief Information Officer at BDO, Brisbane City Council and the global GHD Group. He was also General Manager IT at Virgin Blue Airlines for five years, during which time the airline achieved numerous technical and innovation successes. Nick has also worked with a number of other leading technology vendors, and has founded and worked with several technology startups. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Graduate Diploma in Information Systems. He is a member of the Branch Executive Committee of the Queensland Branch of the Australian Computer Society, the Industry Advisory Board for the School of ICT at Griffith University, and the ICT Course Reference Committee at Central Queensland University. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders, a Member of the Australian Institute of Project Managers, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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Mr Beau Tydd
Queensland Congressional Representative
FACSBeau has over 20 years’ experience in senior leadership, advisory, and consultancy roles in the technology sector in Australia and the APAC region. Having spent many years living and working in the Pacific, Beau has seen how technology and innovation can change lives. Along with his roles on several ACS boards and committees, Beau is also the Treasurer for the Australian Smart Cities Association (ASCA) and a founding independent review member for the Internet Society Foundation. Beau is also on several University advisory boards. He is passionate about how technology can change lives and mentoring the next generation of tech leaders
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Mr Tapan Dave
South Australia Congressional Representative
MACS (Snr)An outcome-focused, result-oriented leader who is passionate about helping people and organisations realise their potential through technology driven opportunities. Over past two decades I have worked across and transformed organisations within the automotive industry, construction, education, legal, finance and wine world by aligning technology with businesses strategy and delivering value based outcomes.
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Brian Peel
South Australia Congressional Representative
MACS (Snr)Brian is the Managing Director of Academy IT Pty and a Senior Member and CP of ACS. Brian is presently a member of the South Australian Branch Executive Committee and SA representative on ACS National Congress. Brian is SFIA Level 7 Certified and a keen advocate of promoting SFIA Certification to IT professionals. Through Academy IT, Brian and his team provide industry-specific and customized technical IT training programs for employers and students that best meets their needs related to job roles.
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Dr Rod Dilnutt
Vic Congressional Representative
FACSDigital Transformation Catalyst, Trusted Advisor, Educator, Change Agent, Diversity and Inclusion Champion. Rod is a results focussed digital leader with a proven ability to influence complex stakeholder networks and drive transformational change. He an executive consultant with experience spanning over 25 years focused on Construction & Asset Management, Banking & Finance and Education. He is a founding Director of William Bethwey & Associates and an internationally recognised thought leader in strategic and architectural transformation. Rod is a highly motivated catalyst of digital change, he is results focussed and has an inclusive leadership style He is an Industry Fellow at The University of Melbourne where he researches and lectures in Higher Degree programmes. He has authored over 20 publications and a book on Organisational Change. Consequently, he is a sought-after expert for leading companies confronting challenges brought about by disruptive technologies and the need to transform organisational cultures to adopt radically different paradigms of work and the creation of value. Rod is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society, A Fellow of the British Computer Society, former National Director of the ACS Membership Advisory Board and was recognised as the ICT Professional of the year, 2013 in the national iAwards.
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Dr Brian von Kosnksy
Western Australia Congressional Representative
FACSBrian is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Business and Law, School of Management, Information Systems Discipline, at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia (WA). He is interested in data science and network analysis in the context of learning analytics and ICT education, and the development of professional skills like leadership, teamwork, and project management. He is recognised as a Certified Professional by the Australian Computer Society (ACS). Additionally, Brian was elected a Fellow of the ACS in recognition of his contribution to computing and software engineering education. He was elected to serve the ICT profession in Western Australia as a member of the ACS WA Branch Executive Committee commencing in July 2018. From 2012 to 2016, Brian was the Chair of the ACS Accreditation Committee. Until 2011, he was a member of the ACS Professional Standards Board (PSB) where he took a leadership role in defining the ACS Core Body of Knowledge. Previously, he has served as the Head of Department for CBS Flexible Learning, and as the Course Coordinator for Curtin University degree programs in Software Engineering in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He has extensive experience in the ICT industry that includes nine years as an employee of Hewlett-Packard. Delivering cultural and organisational change as part of any transformation is critical to its success. Utilising skills associated with listening, understanding, empathy, team and customer obsession, have enabled me to be successful within my previous organisations. Leading from the back, coaching and mentoring, while being the “leader you wished you’d had” are all key motivating factors for me. Success in the people I interact with are my true measure of value.
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Mr Josh Griggs
Chief Executive Officer
Josh, a seasoned executive with 30+ years in IT and Telecommunications, is a transformation specialist known for doubling revenues and building high- performance teams. As a CEO, VP, and Sales Director, he achieved a remarkable 183% revenue growth, leading to the $1 billion sale of Metronode Data Centres. Instrumental in Optus Business, he drove a 500% growth in government portfolio orders and transformed the ICT Portfolio from $100 million to $500 million annually. Committed to talent development, he boasts an 85% internal promotion rate. With a focus on strategic execution and visionary leadership, Josh is a driving force in the ICT industry.