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Articles by Stuart Ridley
6 tips for building your board career
Jarther Taylor I can always rely on Andrew for a good perspective. We met 15 years ago when I was at IBM and he was heading up Ogilvy, and he’s always been genuine, present and interested. At school, there were the jocks and the nerds — I was certainly more with the nerds — although Andrew managed to be in both worlds, playing AFL, but also in the school orchestra. He combines marketing, sports and the arts — and has found a way to be super-inclusive.
Safety first: Why AI standards need to be ‘medical grade’
Before ChatGPT hit mass public adoption, the big question about AI used to be, “Will robots take my job?” Now more people are seriously asking, “How to make AI work (for you) at work”.
2021 Samsung IT Journalism Awards Finalists
We're pleased to announce the finalists for this year's upcoming IT Journalism Awards. "Tonight our community would have been coming together to celebrate the winners of this year's Samsung IT Journalism Awards, had we not been forced to postpone due to the current COVID situation," said Influencing CEO Phil Sim. Instead, we're announcing finalists and congratulating all those journalists who have been recognised.
Inside Australia’s digital identity journey
Nearly four decades have passed since the proposed Australia Card was dropped after heavy opposition from privacy advocates and politicians on all sides. And almost two decades have passed since an all-in-one Medicare smartcard trial in 2005 and a proposed Access Card in 2007 were also abandoned after similar campaigns about privacy concerns. Protecting people’s privacy is essential, although according to reports cited by the Department of Home Affairs, safeguarding identity is equally important.
Looking sharp
Australia’s tertiary institutions are regularly acclaimed for nurturing incredible research — sometimes world-leading — but they’re also occasionally criticised for being too slow, bureaucratic and not commercially minded enough. So, how do you accelerate R&D and get innovation into the market faster?
Chief data officers: Does your organisation need one?
How many C-level execs does an organisation need to manage its technology? The answer depends on what you’re trying to achieve – and for whom. Traditionally, organisations with complex technology needed to hire a chief technology officer first. CTOs choose and manage investments in technology infrastructure and R&D matched to the organisation’s overall business strategy. A chief information officer has a similar remit, with a stronger focus on information systems and services.
How the right data can help overcome policy challenges
There’s a wealth of data already helping agencies deliver improved services. And rapid adoption of digital technologies by Australians during the pandemic has helped increase the quantity and quality of data available to support decisions. But as former Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) head David Kalisch argues, more can be done with data to help policymakers do their jobs better.
Why government isn’t using the cloud to drive measurable benefits
Governments are massive data-generating machines. Some larger agencies, such as Services Australia, collect and store an incredible amount of data. But many data owners have no idea what data they hold, which is a little scary when you think about it. The biggest challenge for any public or private sector organisation is knowing their data.
Lies and statistics: Why Australia’s UN SDG measurement data is almost useless
If there’s a clear example of government’s challenge to use data to achieve desired outcomes, it’s Australia’s commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. The SDGs, which Australia signed up for in 2015, aim to “reduce poverty and hunger, improve health and education, advance gender equality and strengthen economic growth”, according to a foreign policy whitepaper.
‘Treat data like uranium’: Lessons from the ATO playbook
“Someone recently described to me that data isn’t gold – it’s uranium,” Jeremy Hirschhorn, second commissioner for client engagement with the Australian Taxation Office, said in an October address to the 2022 Tax Summit. “Before you get it, you better know how you’re going to use and store it … and there needs to be very good reasons to take the risk.” At the ATO, data and analytics are essential in delivering a fast and responsive taxation system.
Audits reveal weaknesses in government data security
The need to ensure a digital padlock is placed anywhere data exists to ensure bad actors are less likely to break in, steal sensitive information or attempt extortion has preoccupied the federal government. Various case studies such as Medibank, Optus and Telstra highlight the dangers of weak private sector systems. Medibank, for example, was the target of what the Australian Federal Police believes was an attack by Russian hackers.
How cloud helps government answer the hardest questions
The evolution of driving data to deliver outcomes in the past 15 years has shifted the mindset on how governments in Australia, Singapore, India and Hong Kong use their data and the importance of data. Leaders are asking questions of their IT departments that are significantly more complex because they know data-based decisions help them do their jobs more effectively. But those questions aren’t easy to answer.
We’re still on our data journey but something’s brewing
Data is the lifeblood of the modern economy. It impacts, enables and personalises how we work, play and engage socially. It’s crucial for the operation of the economy and society. Banks and financial services companies can increasingly be thought of as data and digital services organisations with some bricks and mortar operations. Without trying too hard, that analogy can be applied to all sectors of the economy, including government. Value comes from creating, using, protecting and sharing data.
The benefits of a digitalised government finance platform
Matthew Ng, ANZ Microsoft Dynamics 365 (finance & operations) GTM manager, offers up the top trends for CFOs, including the benefits of a modern finance system in the government sector. We all know that delivering consistent, proactive and secure services is a complex job in the public sector. A rapidly changing economic landscape requires most government CFOs to manage financial resources more effectively and with clearer citizen and policy outcomes.
For public sector leadership on artificial intelligence, set your sights on Defence Original
When it comes to modernising government agencies, machine learning and artificial intelligence – or AI – provide a range of exciting opportunities. AI can make predictions about potential non-compliance and decide on the optimal response. From a service perspective, it can identify what people need and help them get the right information, the right service and the right support.
How service performance reporting dropped off the to-do list
A project on service performance reporting designed to bring greater consistency to disclosures in the government sector has been resuscitated after public sector organisations and accounting groups told the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) of its importance. Service performance reporting has been up and down the AASB’s work program like a yo-yo over more than a decade, but no final standard has been successfully pushed out the door.
Technology and culture must work together to improve customer experience
Australia’s public sector is clearly beginning to step up and compete with its private counterparts when it comes to customer experience (CX). “The public sector has delivered, with significant improvements in the lived experience of citizens accessing services from the governments,” said one recent KPMG CX excellence report.
How governments can be more sustainable and innovative
Throughout history, governments at all levels have faced constant pressure to deliver faster, cheaper and more effective services. But today they must add one more challenge to their list – delivering services that are also sustainable. For many, that means turning to the very concept that has driven us into our current climate mess.
Promising signs government workforce culture is adapting to an uncertain future
The CSIRO recently published seven megatrends that it believes will shape the next 20 years. It’s the big picture, about dealing with significant climate, health, technology and societal issues, and the “opportunity we have to invent the world we want to live in”. The CSIRO describes these megatrends as a type of wind tunnel, where we can test and refine existing strategies to ensure they’re robust, whatever the future holds.
Seven tactics for managing a public sector workforce
Those managing large teams in the public sector are looking forward to the dust settling on post-COVID’s new normal. But with every change of government bringing a new agenda, leaders must constantly reflect on how new ways of working affect organisational culture. A key goal for leaders is to equip your staff to work effectively even as you implement a simpler operational model for managing devices and securing access to data.
Agencies need to be battle-hardened to repel cyber attacks
How safe are Australia’s information systems and critical infrastructure from attacks? How well are specific agencies prepared to deal with the increase in digital attacks by rogue players? Australia’s agencies are clearly aware of threats and cyber attacks attributed to foreign actors. High-profile corporate data leaks, such as those that impacted Optus and Telstra, have heightened concerns. It’s a challenging environment for governments across the globe.
Collaboration and flexibility: What connected government looks like
Although there’s a perception Australia doesn’t do well when it comes to connected government – myGov is just one example of a citizen-facing service in need of modernisation – the nation scores reasonably well when compared with other industrialised countries.
Don’t forget to bring your trusted workforce on the road to digital transformation
Government agencies have been praised and criticised in almost equal measure for their adoption of digital technologies while wrestling with the problem of replacing antiquated mainframe computers. Optimistically, tax commissioner Chris Jordan wants ATO to be fully digital by 2030. Meanwhile, there’s still much kludging of modern interfaces onto legacy systems to be done.
Welcome to the future of digital government services
At some point, almost every important interaction with a government agency via a digital channel becomes personal. And so it should. Australians now expect the same kind of personalised service from government organisations online as they receive from commercial organisations – at least since CRM technologies hit the mainstream 20 years ago. Yes, they want to access general information too, though mainly to find out what’s available to them personally. And then they want service.
The public sector must make the right digital choices to attract top talent
‘Great place to work’ lists are regularly peppered with well-established organisations, though they now feature more technology companies than representatives from any other sector. This is because tech companies tend to invest in workplace innovation as a core strategy. Encouraging employees to explore new ways of working can nurture better-connected cultures and accelerate product development.
Community and connection: How Mirvac is reimagining Aussie shopping centres
g>Kelly Miller: Our Mirvac Retail Voice of Consumer Survey tells us that creating a sense of belonging is the number one attribute for satisfaction and at Mirvac we’ve doubled down on our focus to be a force for good: · Our portfolio contributed to Mirvac becoming net carbon positive nine years ahead of target, with all shopping centres providing renewable electricity · We’ve delivered more than 450 community programs and relaunched our family and friends program, Together & Co, to be more...
pite its challenges and the industry taking hits we will never recover from (such as months of closures), we not only survived, but actually kicked some huge goals. This is testament to the tenacity of our team, a clear company vision and amazingly successful collections. The challenges were numerous, with products delayed, major retail disruptions, raw material pressures in pricing and procurement, and seeing major projects stalling…again.
Community and connection: How Mirvac is reimagining Aussie shopping centres
g>Kelly Miller: Our Mirvac Retail Voice of Consumer Survey tells us that creating a sense of belonging is the number one attribute for satisfaction and at Mirvac we’ve doubled down on our focus to be a force for good: · Our portfolio contributed to Mirvac becoming net carbon positive nine years ahead of target, with all shopping centres providing renewable electricity · We’ve delivered more than 450 community programs and relaunched our family and friends program, Together & Co, to be more...
Re-purpose, recycle, repeat: Harris Farm reveals plans for 2022
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How Every Human is changing the game for people with disabilities
ilitates authentic and empowering conversations.” Before EveryHuman was launched in November 2019, the industry for adaptive products barely existed. People with disabilities had to pay extra to get items altered or tailored if they wanted something slightly better than tracksuits. Sure, tracksuits can be comfortable, but they’re rarely stylish. And frankly, as Skerritt noticed in the nursing homes his family owned and managed, there’s no dignity in wearing daggy trackies every day.
Re-purpose, recycle, repeat: Harris Farm reveals plans for 2022 Original
aware food production, while also encouraging farmers and producers to adopt methods that actively reduce carbon emissions. “We believe strongly in doing – not saying,” co-CEO Tristan Harris says. “The Re-Purposeful Picks campaign is a good example: instead of saying we are going to reduce food waste, we’ve just jumped in and done something about food waste.
Australia needs its own CDC to coordinate health advice, say experts
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) is made up of the country’s chief medical officers to assist in managing diseases and illnesses. Chaired by federal CMO Professor Paul Kelly, it’s achieved prominence during the pandemic as governments have sought the most current (and reliable) health advice to ensure coronavirus doesn’t cause as much harm in Australia as it has in other countries.
How the pandemic has encouraged APS collaboration and risk-taking
Whether it’s been securing mass quantities of personal protective equipment, abruptly adopting remote working, rolling out telehealth services and economic support packages or procuring COVID-19 vaccines and testing kits, Australia’s public service has had many challenges responding to the pandemic. “It’s been non-stop crisis management and seven-days-a-week pressure for our public sector managers,” says Nathan Schlesinger, partner and national health and wellbeing leader at PwC Australia.
How skyrocketing demand for government services accelerated digital transformation
Australians wanting government support during the pandemic quickly discovered ready access to digital records could help speed up each transaction. While plenty of digital transformation programs were underway across the public sector before COVID-19, Australians’ interest in digital-first interactions with government was massively amplified. Accountants used to only hearing from clients at tax time were swamped with requests to get financial records up-to-date and digitised.
Djokovic case highlights public service collaboration failures
Abul Rizvi is a member of a walking club of 80 former Immigration officials who take in Canberra’s scenery while catching up on the latest news every month. When these experienced public servants met for their walk and talk in January, however, they only wanted to discuss one thing – Novak Djokovic – and it wasn’t the Serbian star’s two-handed backhand.
What we can learn from our COVID-19 vaccine distribution experience
By the end of March 2021, just 600,000 Australians had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine – well below the Department of Health’s publicised target of four million. At the time, media outlets blamed the federal government’s domestic distribution and vaccine-administration strategies for the delay. Some focused their criticism on the use of private contractors, while others called for a re-think of the entire plan.
The perfect fit: Custom tailor Institchu reveals growth plans for 2022 Original
on shopping or online shopping, operating on a reliance on heavy sales periods,” Wakefield explained.
Australians making the shift to digital health services
The pandemic has undoubtedly helped accelerate the adoption of digital services as in-person interactions shifted to virtual. Arguably the more significant shift has been in people’s willingness to interact with organisations via self-service platforms. That shift in behaviour is a key aim of digital transformation programs in the public and private sectors to drive value at the back end.
How Superdry is putting its own spin on athleisure
dry CEO Antony Hampson said. “That said, there is always a requirement for brands to attract and talk to a new, potentially younger consumer.
Why we need to put ethics in AI
By Stuart Ridley Accountants aren’t just record keepers. They are trained to be adept at managing huge amounts of data and making sense of it. Indeed, ‘making sense’ of it is at the heart of the profession. So it’s hardly remarkable that some accountants were among the earliest adopters of desktop computers, or that now they’re helping organisations of all sizes with their digital transformation in the cloud.
Sense and stability: Westpac’s Michael Rowland FCA
By Stuart Ridley Photo Graham Jepson There was a time when walking into a big bank felt much like entering a mausoleum or another monumental building that projected power, wealth and permanence. Today, Westpac’s HQ at 275 Kent Street in Sydney looks more like a modern art gallery than a fortress of finance. It has its own calm, confident power, but it’s not intimidating. And its openness feels reassuring, particularly in these strange pandemic days.
Finalists announced for 2021 IT Journalism Awards
MediaConnect is delighted to be able to announce our shortlist of finalists for this year’s 2021 Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards. This year’s awards is one of the closest on record, with a number of categories being separated by a single point. Shortlisted finalists are announced only for all individual/journalist categories (in alphabetical order). Media categories include all nominees as listed below.
Hard head in the clouds
Paola and Michael Karamallis’ part-time experiment spinning up clouds of sweet joy to sell at local markets steadily grew to become Australia’s most-awarded fairy floss brand. Here’s how they transformed Fluffy Crunch from an events-based business to an online success story. Stuart Ridley writes. This article was first published in Food & Drink Business March 2021. Paola Karamallis always dreamed of owning her own café instead of working for someone else.
Data for Decision Making Special Report Category
How important is data to organisations? Many say it’s like oil, water or gold.
Venture capital on investing for the future
Venture capital investors, including CSIRO's Main Sequence Ventures, AirTree Ventures and Blackbird outline the growth opportunities that lie ahead. As political leaders scrambled to manage their countries’ economies during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, venture capitalists also quickly tweaked their plans. However, they didn’t stop investing.
How to repel a COVID-19 spike in cyber threats
By Stuart Ridley Fraud is a horribly opportunistic crime because it involves people exploiting trust to take advantage of a business. And businesses with weak internal controls or inadequate accounting policies are most at risk. “The biggest fraud risk you’ve got is people inside the business,” explains Andrew Tragardh, barrister and managing director at fraud investigation firm Duxton Hill.
Why every board needs Indigenous directors
First Nations Foundation chair Ian Hamm says reconciliation action plans are a good start, but how many Indigenous Australians are active in your business? The relationship between government and Aboriginal communities is quite a tight one. Even now, people look at Aboriginal communities and say: “The government should do this”. But early on, I decided I’d get involved for my people inside government and the community sector, because I believe they can work together.
A strategic harvest for premium products
Artisan products can get lost on supermarket shelves (if they even get there), so managing director of Random Harvest Gourmet Matthew Jinks came up with a smarter distribution strategy targeting the premium end of the market. Stuart Ridley writes. This article was first published in Food & Drink Business May/June 2020. It’s easy to call something ‘gourmet’ but how do you prove it?
What was a bigger hit than Gangnam Style for this accounting firm?
By Stuart Ridley The moment of celebration and congratulations isn’t the most important part of a success story; rather, it’s identifying the moment when everything changed. For Prime Partners, named 2019 Xero Accounting Partner of the Year (NSW/ACT), that pivotal moment was in 2012, a year best remembered for the London Olympics and pop sensation “Gangnam Style” by Psy.
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