Vic Govt recruits CIO and CTO

Victoria has appointed a chief information officer (CIO) and a chief technology officer (CTO), in what is claimed to be a state government first.

Australian Defence Force CIO Patrick Hannan has been poached for the role of Victorian CIO. Tony Aitkenhead, former Information Services Branch executive officer at the Victorian Department of Human Services, will take up the CTO position.

Making the announcement, Victoria's Information and Communication Technology minister, Marsha Thomson, said the appointment of a CIO and CTO are a first for any Australian state or territory.

Thomson said this confirmed Victoria government's position as a leader in eGovernment, and a leading-edge user and developer of innovative e-Government applications.

"E-Government is more than simply offering online services, it is about being smarter in the way we use networks and new technology to enable Government to provide better services to Victorians," the Thomson said.

Hannan, as CIO, will be responsible for general ICT policy, internal government ICT policy, and implementing a whole-of-government IT strategy. One of his first initiatives, according to the statement, is architecture planning and standardisation of corporate ICT infrastructure.

Multimedia Victoria (MMV) will continue to implement the Connecting Victoria policy, which drives the Government's ICT strategy and industry development for the state.

"It's expected that the appointment of the CIO will increase efficiencies by consolidating the Victorian Government's ICT infrastructure and laying the foundation for more shared services," Thomson said.

Hannan's extensive experience in strategic planning and aligning ICT with business goals, including his work as the CIO of the Defence Department, makes him an “excellent choice” to be the first state-appointed CIO, Thomson said.

The CTO, Aitkenhead comes to the job with experience in implementing large-scale ICT projects in various government departments, according to Thomson.

Aitkenhead, who will work from the Department of Infrastructure, will oversee the delivery and administration of shared ICT initiatives, such as the Telecommunications Purchasing and Management Strategy (TPAMS) and purchasing.

Hannan will commence in his new role on 8 December, while Aitkenhead will start on 1 December.