AUT CIO Liz Gosling elected as TUANZ chairperson

Liz Gosling was unanimously elected to take up the role of Chair at the TUANZ Board meeting this week.

Rank Group CIO Pat O’Connell, who held the role for seven years, has earlier indicated that it was time to hand the responsibility on to the next person.

Three other board positions were elected at the meeting: Tristan Illich, Aurecon – deputy chair; Jenna Woolley, MIT – contact office; and Malcolm Condie, individual member – finance chair.

Gosling is the 10th to hold the role since the incorporation of TUANZ in 1986, and the second woman to chair the organisation, following that of Judith Speight.

Gosling has been CIO at AUT University for the past three years, stepping up from group director, ICT services.

She leads a team of 170 people, and is responsible for information technology provision for AUT’s staff and students. Her role is focussed on contributing to the University’s strategic direction, creating and executing ICT strategy, building collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across the University and ensuring that ICT delivers excellent services and value.

She ranked number 10 in the 2017 CIO100, the annual report on the New Zealand’s innovative and transformative CIOs.

Gosling studied Computer Science at the University of Westminster in London, and holds an MBA (Human Resources Management), Distinction from AUT. She has worked in the IT industry for over three decades, in New Zealand, the US, UK and Europe, in a variety of roles in commercial and not for profit organisations, and in both vendors and client companies.

“I am incredibly mindful of the responsibility of taking on this role given the hard work of all the previous incumbents over the last thirty years.” says Gosling, in a statement.

“I am passionate about the need for all New Zealanders to access high quality connectivity, and about the transformative power of education. I will be bringing that passion and experience as a CIO in highly transformative environment to the role of Chair. I look forward to working with Craig Young, the CEO and the rest of the team to continue to look to the future in making sure all New Zealanders can make the most of the connected future.”

Craig Young, TUANZ CEO

The Board likewise noted the significant contribution made by O’Connell, who was elected seven times over seven years by the wider membership of the organisation as Chair and was recently returned to the board for a further two-year term.

Pat O’Connell

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