Movers and shakers: Meet the 7 new members of the digital economy and digital inclusion advisory group

The digital economy and digital inclusion (DEDI) advisory group is now complete, with the seven new members named by Digital Media and Government Digital Services Minister Clare Curran.

“We now have 15 people with a wide range of skills and expertise, from across a variety of sectors, on the DEDI group. They will help us ensure all New Zealanders have affordable access to digital services and the skills and desire to be fully involved in our digital world,” says Curran.

The group was established earlier this year to advise the Government on how it can build the digital economy and reduce the digital divides.

The seven new members are:

• Amber Craig: Councillor at Internet NZ, Trust Chair of Whare Hauora, and Chair of Women Who Get Shit Done. Experience working in the ICT sector as a solutions architect. Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitane

• Cathy Hardinge: Founder and CEO of Digital Seniors, and Capability and Change Consultant

• Robyn Kamira: Founder and CEO of UAV company Incredible Skies Ltd and technology company Paua Interface Ltd. Board member of Institute of IT Professionals and Hi-Tech Awards Judge.

• Gregory Morgan: Head of Digital Solutions and Innovation at Auckland Libraries and member of Library and Information Association of NZ Aotearoa. Former board member and committee chair of Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind.

• David Moskovitz: Serial entrepreneur, angel investor, company director, philanthropist, mentor, software developer, and lexicographer on the Dictionary of NZ Sign Language and several M?ori dictionaries. Involved in interfaith community. Blogs at dave.mosk.nz.

• Damon Odey: Mayor of Timaru District Council and lead Mayor for the digital connectivity work programme for the Canterbury Mayoral Forum.

• Michael Taitoko: CEO and co-founder of Takiw?, a digital analytics and data visualisation firm.

The first eight members of the advisory group were announced in March, with Frances Valintine, founder and chairperson at The Mind Lab, and founder/CEO of Tech Futures Lab, as chair.

“The members have been appointed for a period of 12 months and I expect to meet with them next month to discuss the group’s work programme for the year,” says Curran.

She says there will also be opportunities for people with different sector-specific expertise to be part of the group’s work and shape the way New Zealand will tackle digital divides.

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David Reiss has been appointed as general manager, cloud, at Equinox IT, and will also have general management responsibility for the company’s Auckland office.

Reiss joined Equinox IT in 2016 as principal consultant digital transformation, after 14 years at Spark Digital (formerly Gen-i). Reiss has since played a central role in developing and growing Equinox IT’s cloud business and has instigated and led many of the company’s Cloud engagements with client organisations.

“There has been a real IT shift in recent years with smart organisations accelerating their efforts to digitise customer experiences using Agile, DevOps, and Cloud,” notes Reiss. “I’m looking forward to growing our cloud business, and the experience and expertise we already provide, to help more clients flourish in a digital world.”

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Ana Server has been appointed to the new position of chief business officer at 2degrees. Server has held senior leadership and sales management roles within national and international IT companies including Datacom, Jade and Oracle Corporation.

She holds a bachelor of commerce (honours) and arts from the University of Auckland and is a graduate of the Global Women Breakthrough Leaders Programme.

“2degrees is an amazing company built in New Zealand for the New Zealand marketplace. Unburdened by old thinking and old systems it is nimble, fast and flexible with people are passionate and customer inspired,” says Server. “Business and public sector customers are looking to partner with providers that offer a complete service and define performance in terms of business outcomes.”

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Anthony Leverington is now the country manager of NGINX in Australia and New Zealand.

He brings with him almost two decades of experience in the systems architecture and cloud industry. Prior to joining NGINX, he held key roles in companies including Amazon Web Services, and VMware, as well as experience working with some of Australia’s key enterprises such as Telstra, ANZ Bank, National Australia Bank, and Optus.

“With digital platforms becoming a mission-critical channel for interacting with customers, it is imperative for businesses across ANZ to deliver extraordinary real-time, agile, cross-device customer experiences,” says Leverington. “I am thrilled to join NGINX in its journey to help ANZ businesses seize opportunities in the digital era and address new-generation consumers’ needs through improved control, deployment speed, and developer agility.”

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Potentia Recruitment recently hosted an interactive session on Diversity in Tech as part of the Potentia Conversations series of events. The panel consisted of Kim Gordon, executive director, ITNewcom; Nuwanthie Samarakone, CEO of ICE Professionals; Flynn van Os, Potentia scholar and graduate in residence; and Simon Cumberlege, technical platform manager, healthAlliance.

Simon Cumberlege

Flynn van Os

Nuwanthie Samarakone

Kim Gordon