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AIIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Sheryle Moon, looks back on the year and reflects on the Association’s many successes in 2006. 2006 has been a very positive year for AIIA. As our industry continues to evolve, so too does the Association. In 2006, AIIA has grown to represent more than 450 member companies that generate combined annual revenues of over $40 billion, employ 100,000 Australians and have exports of more than $2 billion.
This year, the Association has focused on issues of government procurement, environmental management of e-waste and the treatment of intellectual property. We have refined our suite of programs and products for members and championed the interests of local industry by fostering collaborative networks, training budding ICT entrepreneurs and providing research and recommendations on emerging risks and opportunities for the local ICT industry. New online directory links members to customers AIIA today launched its new online directory, FindICT. FindICT is business matching service that links ICT buyers to software, hardware and services suppliers in a few simple clicks. Customers can access an online database and search for companies based on a range of criteria including location, service or product type and budget. The database will then match the criteria with any number of AIIA’s 450+ member companies.
Read more AIIA's commitment to e-waste recycling scheme For the past three years, AIIA has been working closely with member companies to develop a voluntary industry-driven product stewardship strategy to address the environmental management of e-waste at the end of life stage of the product lifecycle. A sustainable environment is a key driver for many governments and plays an important role in their policy development. The issue also has a high profile and, as the peak ICT industry association, AIIA views it as important that we are leading developments in this critical area. AIIA wants to keep members up to date with important movements in this area, as it affects not only our industry but the wider Australian community. Read more Leadership group to encourage participation in ICT skills and work Peak information and communication technology (ICT) associations, AIIA and the Australian Computer Society (ACS) have established the Industry Leadership Group to develop and facilitate participation in ICT study and careers as recommended in the 2006 Building Australian ICT Skills Report of the ICT Skills Foresighting Working Group. Joining the Industry Leadership Group are organisations representing federal and state governments, school, vocation education, and tertiary education providers, ICT and business associations, the ICT research community, and women in ICT (see full list below). AIIA’s Chief Executive Officer Ms Sheryle Moon said, “A pivotal issue identified in the Report was the lack of public and private sector co-operation on many of the workforce issues challenging the ICT industry”. “The Working Group recommendations provide a real opportunity for AIIA and the ACS to make significant progress on key ICT workforce issues. Both associations are committed to demonstrating leadership to ensure we can capture the imaginations of the next generation of ICT workers,” Ms Moon said. ACS Chief Executive Officer Mr Dennis Furini said, “The continued development of a skilled ICT workforce will play a critical role in either limiting or facilitating industry growth in the coming decade – and establishing the Group is a step in the right direction.” “AIIA and ACS are very pleased with the strong endorsement by our Group colleagues for determined action to develop long-term strategies which will ensure our industry has the necessary skills for the future,” Mr Furini said. “This will include skills for the growth and development of our industry and skills for the application of ICT right across our economy.” The Group will also support an alliance partner program as the inclusive device to enable those groups to contribute, participate and share in the overall objectives of this initiative. The Group recognises the many committees, organisations and agencies which have well-developed interests in, and activities designed to attract people to ICT study and work. According to ACS President, Philip Argy, the organisations will be working on a broad front to follow up on the Reports’s recommendations, especially improving the image of ICT as a career and identifying clear pathways from education to careers. “The ACS is committed to addressing the nation’s ICT skill shortages, which is highlighted by our cooperation with AIIA. The only way to help improve and alleviate the industry’s skill shortage is for the industry, federal and state governments and education providers to work together,” Mr Argy explained. Mr Argy acknowledged the support of federal and state governments in funding past initiatives in attracting people to ICT study and work and added that without the ongoing support from the federal and state governments, it would be difficult to implement the recommendations outlined in the Building Australian ICT Skills Report. AIIA’s Chairman, Peter Kazacos also emphasised the importance of attracting the most talented people to the industry. “Building and maintaining a world-class ICT workforce is necessary to meet the current and future needs of the economy. ICT is becoming more pervasive and more embedded in every aspect of human activity. So, we are going to need more people with ICT skills, not fewer,” said Mr Kazacos. “The ICT industry is currently worth 4.6 per cent of the nation’s GDP, and we must fight for our fair share of talent to ensure that Australia continues to enjoy strong productivity, economic and social benefits from ICT,” concluded Ms Moon. In February 2005, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, established the ICT Skills Foresighting Working Group to consider the Australian ICT labour market. The Report’s seven recommendations are:
The Report of the Working Group was endorsed by Minister Coonan and released at the National ICT Skills Summit in Brisbane in June 2006. Participating organisations  |  Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 passed into law On 5 December 2006, the Federal Parliament passed the Copyright Amendment Bill that had been introduced to Parliament on 19 October 2006. The Bill implements the outcomes of several copyright law reviews during 2005-2006 and also implements Australia’s remaining obligations under the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement by implementing a new liability scheme for the circumvention of technological protection measures (TPMs). Nick Abrahams and Trent Lyndon of Deacons Lawyers have prepared a brief summary of what this could mean for AIIA members. The article follows on from a presentation to AIIA’s Legal Forum in late November. Read more Technologist’s rise from backroom to boardroom The Australian Computer Society (ACS), the recognised association for ICT professionals, acknowledged ICT industry professional and business leader Ralph Norris, Managing Director and CEO of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, with a rare Honorary Membership on Wednesday 6 December in Sydney. Read more |
It is an exciting time in the Australian ICT industry and I am pleased to be leading the peak representative body at this time.
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