Movers and shakers: Simon Pomeroy is now Chief Transformation Officer at Westpac

Simon Pomeroy

Simon Pomeroy steps up the newly created role of Chief Transformation Officer at Westpac with Melissa Steward taking over as Chief Digital Officer. She was formerly Head of Global Transaction Payments.

Alistair Vickersresigns as technology manager from Advanced Metering Services, part of the Vector Group, and is now working as a business strategy consultant. Michael Peterson, former GM of Arc Innovations that AMS acquired at the end of last year takes over his role. Vickers was previously CIO of MetService.

Alistair Vickers

Nigel Bailey is joining TasNetworks in Tasmania as Leader, Information Technology (CIO). His previous roles included GM of Fairfax Production Services and GM technology for Fairfax NZ.

Nigel Bailey

Xindi Zhang of the University of Auckland is named Potentia Computer Science Scholar.

Zhang was selected after a robust process that included 12 shortlisted applicants, says Abinesh Krishan, Client Strategy Director at IT recruitment firm Potentia.

Xindi Zhang (third from left) with Abinesh Krishan, Client Strategy Director, Potentia; Prof Gilllian Dobbie of the University of Auckland’s Department of Computer Science, and Nathan Bryant-Taukiri, GM, Potentia.

Krishan points out apart from her academic credentials, Zhang excelled in a significant portfolio of extra-curricular activities which stood her apart from her competition, says Krishan.

She is co-president of Make Difference with Economics (MADE), a student led organisation that aims to empower students to make social change through the application of economic principles and analysis. Last year, she spent five weeks in Costa Rica as a volunteer in the Costa Rica Sea Turtle Research Conservation Project.

She was also an investment banking intern at J.P. Morgan, working for four weeks with the Mergers Acquisitions team in Sydney.

This is the second year Potentia has been granting the scholarship. The inaugural scholar, Tom Sammons, was also present during the awarding ceremony.

“This is a continuation of a long term commitment by Potentia to embrace the academia – industry divide and ensure that our IT graduates embed effectively into industry post their studies,” says Krishan.

Xindi Zhang at the awarding ceremonies with Nathan Bryant-Taukiri and Abinesh Krishan at the Potentia offices in Auckland’s CBD.

The iSANZ organising committee is accepting entries in the 2015 iSANZ Awards. The Awards recognise excellence in New Zealand’s world-class information security (InfoSec) industry – lifting the lid on the many local people and organisations working to protect networks from malicious activity.

All New Zealanders or New Zealand-based individuals and organisations doing interesting or innovative things with InfoSec are encouraged to enter at www.isanz.org.nz.

The 2015 iSANZ Award categories are:

Nicole Ferguson is the new Chief Executive Officer of REANNZ, the telecommunications network for New Zealand’s research, education and innovation community.

Nicole Ferguson

She replaces Steve Cotter,who is leaving next month to head G?ANT, the pan-European research education network.

Steve Cotter

Jim Donovan, Chair of REANNZ, says Ferguson has an in-depth understanding of REANNZ, having previously been its CFO, and has played a key part in most of its major developments in recent years. Ferguson is currently business partner – customer services at Inland Revenue Department.

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