in brief The Queensland Government appears to have suffered a substantial blow to its attempts to reform its technology infrastructure, with the news reported late last week that the executive in charge of that renewal program, Glenn Walker, had resigned for a position in the private sector. Technology media outlet iTNews tells us (we recommend you click here for the full article):
“The office of IT minister Ian Walker confirmed today the executive director of ICT renewal within the Department of Science, IT, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA) Glenn Walker (no relation) has resigned to take on a new role”
Walker was appointed to the role, according to his LinkedIn profile, in May 2013. The appointment came as one response by the state government to a landmark audit of its ICT infrastructure. That audit, published in June 2013, found that ninety percent of the Queensland Government’s ICT systems were outdated and would require replacement within five years at a total cost of $7.4 billion, as Queensland continues to grapple with the catastrophic outcome of years of “chronic underfunding” into its dilapidated ICT infrastructure.
Walker’s LinkedIn profile states: “ICT Renewal and Strategic Sourcing within the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, administers ICT procurement across Queensland Government through whole-of-government Information Technology and Telecommunications contract management, and strong industry engagement.”
“Glenn’s successful appointment to Executive Director sees him take on the exciting challenge of heading the implementation of the ICT Strategy and multi-faceted Action Plan. The ICT Strategy outlines the vision for the future and how Government will transform its use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to provide high value digital services to Queenslanders. Glenn is passionate about innovation and revolutionising the way the Queensland Government does business, he is committed to delivering a modern and cost effective ICT services that create public value.”
The executive’s departure is not the first time an extremely high-profile IT executive within the Queensland Government has departed for a private sector role. In January 2008, the state’s whole of government chief information officer Peter Grant took a role as State Director of Microsoft, before being re-appointed to the post of whole of government CIO in December 2011.
Image credit: Glenn Walker