Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has appointed the state’s first Government Chief Information Officer (GCIO), charged with stabilising the state government’s ICT costs, develop a whole-of-government ICT strategy and build the capacity of WA’s ICT sector.
Giles Nunis, who has been acting in the role since April this year, has been officially appointed to the new position. The Office of the GCIO was established on 1 July 2015, with funding from a $25 million ICT Renewal and Reform Fund.
“The Government spends $1 billion to $2 billion on ICT and this needs to be strongly managed to ensure we deliver the best value to West Australians,” said Barnett. “Mr Nunis has 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.”
WA Finance Minister Bill Marmion said Nunis and his office have already made some significant achievements in the last six months.
“The office of the GCIO has made excellent progress against its objectives, including helping launch the Government’s important Open Data Policy,” Marmion said. “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.”
Prior to taking on the role of GCIO, Nunis was deputy director-general, resources and industry development, in the West Australian Department of State Development. Previously, he was consulting director and then managing director of OT consultancy Ajilon Australia, responsible for managing public sector accounts including the departments of the Attorney-General, Planning and Infrastructure, Treasury and Finance, and Police.
The ICT Renewal and Reform Fund was established in March, with a specific mandate to develop a reform plan for more efficient ICT spending.
