Today marks a new era for Australian Government ICT.

Following Ann Steward’s retirement, the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) has taken the opportunity to consider how we could restructure AGIMO to better meet the ICT needs of the Australian Government. The work of AGIMO has been diverging over time between two distinct areas: whole of government policy and governance, and whole of government services delivery (eg, networks, online, contract management). As such we have created two distinct roles to serve each of these areas more fully.

This change aligns with the Williams Review from earlier this year which recommended AGIMO focus more on identifying and developing common approaches to ICT across government, including an emphasis on whole of government policy. It also creates a stronger capacity to deliver on the Australian Public Service ICT Strategy Vision 2012-2015.

Glenn Archer will be taking the role of Australian Government Chief Information Officer, providing ICT Governance and policy investment advice around information and ICT for whole of government.

John Sheridan will be taking on a newly created role of Australian Government Chief Technology Officer, providing whole of government service delivery and support including networks, online services and ICT procurement. John will also take on the wider role of Australian Government Procurement Coordinator.

In practical terms, the AGCIO will have the resources of the current Policy and Planning Division and the AGCTO will have the Agency Services Division.

“There is no doubt that AGIMO has been a key contributor to driving improvements in service delivery through better use of ICT over the last 7 years. The combination of embedding AGIMO into one of the core groups within Finance, together with the creation of the new CTO role, not only confirms the important role of ICT in the operations of government, it ensures that the ability of the AGCIO and the AGCTO to influence the future application of technology is both broader and deeper.” Glenn Archer, AGCIO

“These changes provide an exciting new opportunity for whole of government ICT. The chance to be the first Australian Government CTO is a privilege and I am determined to live up to the confidence placed in me by the Secretary. The emphasis on combining procurement activities will allow new synergies to be explored in achieving efficiencies and effectiveness in government purchasing. Similarly, maintaining the focus on the combination of ICT functions that will be concentrated in Technology & Procurement Division will help to continue the successes in IT service delivery that have been the hallmark of the division since it was first created.” John Sheridan, AGCTO

The AGCIO and AGCTO functions will continue to exist within Finance, which itself is focused on a number of whole of government approaches including management of government resource assets, contracts, superannuation, procurement and more. It is a useful platform for supporting a whole of government approach. These changes will take effect from 4 February 2013.

Over the coming months we will put more information about the new roles on this website and engage in discussions with stakeholders and the public on our direction. We look forward to working more closely and collaborating with agencies on government ICT, and we look forward to your support in 2013.

Wish you all the best for the holiday break and the new year,

Glenn & John

For media enquiries please contact the Department of Finance and Deregulation Communications & Public Relations team at mediaenquiries@finance.gov.au