NSW ICT Costs Review

The Likely Roadmap

Will Sedgwick find more savings than Gershon?

In association with

A taskforce in NSW Treasury has been established to review whole-of-government ICT spending

The Government aims to achieve cost savings of 1% in 2009-11 and 1.5% in 2011-13

How might the cuts be implemented? Are there business opportunities?

Briefing Details

Register online
For printable version click here

For further information please contact Kaan Uysen on (02) 9955 9896.

Breakfast Briefing Packages available! More information here

Briefing Description

Creation of the Taskforce was announced in the 2009-10 NSW Budget, to undertake a forensic examination of NSW government agency spending, to identify savings and improve service delivery. The Government announced its aim is to deliver efficiency dividends of 1% over the next two years and 1.5% thereafter.

A priority focus for the Taskforce is to rationalise whole-of-government spending in areas such as IT and legal services. The NSW Government has appointed Stephen Sedgwick, former Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Finance, as the independent chair of the Better Services and Value Taskforce.

Intermedium anticipates the government could target ICT savings of between $200 and $250 million over the four years, based on recent outcomes of the Federal Government Gershon Review. However, there are significant differences between State and Federal Government Agencies that need to be taken into account. Will Stephen Sedgwick find more ICT savings in NSW than Sir Peter Gershon found in the Federal Government? more >>

Briefing Objectives

• The composition of the Better Services and Value Taskforce - key players, timing and implications;
• Key areas for cutting costs – shotgun or scalpel?
• Potential ways for implementing the savings;
• Likely implications for ICT - villain or the saviour? and 
• Potential investment options to achieve real savings.

Who should attend?

• Sales Managers;
• Account Managers;
• Business Development Managers;
• Government Executives;
• Project Directors; and
• Service Delivery Managers.

Briefing Speakers

Melody Vandyke
Senior Associate

Melody is a 30 plus year exponent of best practice in ICT governance in the government and commercial sectors.

She has worked for and advised to major NSW and Commonwealth agencies and NSW Treasury, providing advice and guidance in support of some of the most significant ICT investments undertaken in NSW government in the past decade. She has also been a CIO in two Federal government departments.
Recently, Melody was the national ICT and procurement practice lobbyist for a leading Australian lobbying firm, connecting the capability of local and multinational corporations with the priorities of government.

Melody now runs her own consulting practice where she applies her background covering transport, welfare, justice, human services, education, emergency services and government regulation with her strong ICT and telecommunications domain knowledge and an in-depth insight into investment governance and major projects to add value for government and commercial clients alike.

Bob Sendt
Senior Associate

Bob Sendt is a company director and runs his own management consultancy practice. 

He chairs the board of Job Futures Ltd and is a director of the NSW Cancer Council, National Health Call Centre Network Ltd and the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board. 

Bob has tertiary qualifications in economics and environmental studies and is a Fellow of CPA Australia and of the National Institute of Accountants, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

He was New South Wales Auditor-General from 1999 to 2006 and has a strong interest in governance, accountability and strategic management.

Judy Hurditch
Director
Intermedium

Since founding Intermedium in 2004, Judy has become a highly regarded specialist on the government marketplace and concentrates her focus on NSW Government. 

As an independent industry analyst, she has extensive knowledge about both federal and state jurisdictions, and a comprehensive knowledge of suppliers to governments. 

Prior to her commercial sector experience, Judy spent almost 20 years in the public sector, predominantly in IT-related project management and business system roles.  During this time, Judy managed major IT projects and procurements and was responsible for service delivery.  These roles included senior executive service roles within the Australian Taxation Office as well as in a NSW government corporation, senior project roles as the precursor to Centrelink and senior project management roles at the Office of Asset Sales.  Judy was a Deputy Commissioner of Taxation when she left the Australian Public Service.

Judy has an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Tim Conway
Head of Research
Intermedium

Tim’s lengthy and strategic involvement in the ICT industry spans business development, consulting, lobbying and research services. 

Tim spent a number of years as Deputy Executive Director of the AIIA, where he dealt with government both in its capacity as a policy-maker/regulator and as a major customer.  Tim established a consultancy, FACTOTUM Research, which assisted a range of ICT and other companies deal in the public sector market. 

Tim has played key roles in establishing two start-ups, including securing venture capital support and transitioning in new management.  Before joining Intermedium, Tim was responsible for Government Programs at Canon Australia.

Tim has degrees in Commerce and Law, and spent his early career as an economist in the resources sector and a ministerial adviser.

Kevin Noonan (Facilitator)
Head of Consulting
Intermedium

Kevin is responsible for the delivery of Intermedium’s consulting services, and is a Federal Government ICT subject matter specialist.  In this capacity, he is sought after as a strategist, executive speaker and media commentator.

Kevin has more than 30 years experience in government ICT, including ten years as a government senior executive and Chief Information Officer.  Over this time he has held positions responsible for almost every aspect of ICT, ranging from technical infrastructure and major purchasing, through to policy and business change.

Drawing on his experience in more than six government agencies, Kevin brings a broad understanding of the ICT needs of government, as well as a deep background in many ICT disciplines.

Gershon Overview and more information

Last year, Intermedium followed a similar initiative by the Federal Government - 'The Review of the Australian Government's use of Information and Communication Technology', which was led by Sir Peter Gershon, former CEO of the UK Office of Government Commerce.  
Finance website 
The Report
Sir Peter Gershon

The Report recommendations focused, inter alia, on better agency and pan-government governance, and also at ways to reduce “business as usual” costs and the costs incurred through the use of contractors.  We expect a similar outcome with the NSW review, but a barrier might be whether the NSW Government will have the same Ministerial sponsorship and leadership.