New AIIA board announced

A new 15 director board has been announced to lead the Australian Information Industries Association (AIIA) for the next 12 months.

Seven directors were continuing -- Accenture's Jane Hemstritch, HP's Paul Brandling, Microsoft's Steve Vamos, Telstra's Mike Foster, deputy chair Peter Kazacos of KAZ, treasurer John Stockbridge of Brookstone Technologies and chairman John Price of HR Innovation Centre.

Maxiem's Teresa White, IBM's Phil Bullock, Foursticks' David Bohn and Nortel's Steve Wood were all re-elected for three year terms.

Data#3's John Grant was elected to the board for the first time. Intel's Phil Cronin, Ideas International's Ian Birks and CSC's Mike Shove were also appointed, for 12 months only.

Rob Durie, CEO at AIIA, said the board was “representative” industry cross-section.

“It will continue to focus on expanding the local industry and representing the SMBs that make up 70 percent of our membership,” he said.

Durie said AIIA would try to keep influencing state and federal governments to aid Australian IT.

“The board will continue to introduce strategies and value-added services for members, as well as lobby for policies that ensure the industry remains strong,” Durie said.

John Price, managing director at HR Innovation Centre and continuing chair of the AIIA board, said the association had gained “explicit commitments” from the Howard government to improve liability provisions and commercialisation of IP in government contracting.

“The Coalition also promised to increase financial support for the Export Market Development Grant and oversee the Free Trade Agreement to the benefit of our industry,” he said.

The AIIA would keep pushing to ensure the Coalition followed through on those promises, Price said.