Queenland to appoint state CIO

In the wake of its well-publicised shared services disaster last year, the Queensland government has announced it will appoint a state government CIO to implement its digital economy strategy.

The Queensland Government CIO (QGCIO), announced by Queensland premier Anna Bligh, will oversee ICT project management for the government. The government is now on the hunt for the right candidate, with the successful candidate set to report directly to the Minister for ICT, and support the director-general of the state Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Read more about Queensland ICT services.

Speaking at the Australian Information Industry Association’s annual ICT Industry Business Lunch, Bligh said once hired, the CIO, or ‘technology tsar’, will hold the mandate to ‘shake up’ Queensland’s ICT policy development.

“We need autonomous expert advice to help us harness the white heat of the digital economy and that is what this new role can do,” Bligh said.

“We want to ensure that the chief information officer has the authority to propel change and innovation and develop strong ICT infrastructure.”

Calling the position the first of its kind in Australia, Bligh said the CIO will support technological efforts across the state; a statement that comes despite the office of the Queensland ICT minister earlier this year suggesting there would be cuts to the state’s IT projects.

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