WA confirms first whole of government CIO

Western Australia has appointed Giles Nunis as its first ever government CIO in a push to develop the state government’s ICT strategy and cut costs.

As part of his new role, Nunis will be helping to stabilise the State Government’s ICT costs, with the WA Government currently spending between $1 billion to $2 billion on ICT per year.

Nunis will also head up the development of a whole-of-government ICT strategy, and build the capacity of WA’s growing ICT sector. He previously served as the state’s acting whole of government CIO since April 2015, and his permanent appointment was confirmed today by WA Premier Colin Barnett.

The Office of the GCIO was formally established in July 2015 and is funded from a $25 million ICT Renewal and Reform Fund.

Prior to taking up the role, Nunis was deputy director general at the Department of State Development where he was responsible for negotiating commercial state agreements and managing the government’s international trade offices since 2010.

Giles was also seconded to the Department of Health where he helped restructure the department’s Fiona Stanley Hospital ICT Program.

Between 2008 and 2010, he was managing director at IT consultancy Ajilon Australia, responsible for managing public sector accounts including the departments of the Attorney General, Planning and Infrastructure, Treasury and Finance and Police.

Premier Barnett said in a statement that Nunis possessed “the right combination of professional skills and practical experience, with a fundamental understanding of the private and public sectors and how to negotiate and deliver large ICT projects”.

Since Nunis began acting in the GCIO role in April 2015, the Government has chalked up some significant achievements, according to WA Finance Minister Bill Marmion.

This includes the launch of the government’s Open Data Policy, and WA winning the Best Government Participation award in the national GovHack competition, with efforts of Landgate, the GCIO and various government agencies.

“The office is well advanced on a whole-of-government ICT strategy, in consultation with industry and Government. Aimed at efficiencies and cost savings, this should be presented to the Government early next year.”