Jim Ellis
Sharon Brown

Jim Ellis

It would be kind to describe Jim Ellis as a “veteran” of the ICT industry; he has worked in the industry for well over 40 years – more or less since its very inception! Until he moved to Perth in 1981, he was employed by multinational computer suppliers in England, Eastern Europe and South East Asia.

After working in Perth for both international and local organisations, Jim founded Westinfo Services in 1997 as the Gartner distributor for Western Australia, and later also for the Northern Territory. In 2000 Westinfo Services became a major Channel Partner in WA and NT for Thomson NETg, one of the world’s largest providers of on-line training courses. In March 2006 Westinfo Services and Gartner reached agreement for Gartner to operate directly in WA and NT, bringing these operations into line with the rest of Australia. Westinfo Services remains a key Thomson NETg Channel Partner.

Jim has held positions on the AIIA WA Branch Executive since 1991. “I see it as a way of contributing something back to the industry that has been so good to me over so many years” he says. Amongst other roles, he is currently involved in the Local Industry Action Group (LIAG) activities on the WA Branch Executive, a role that running his own small ICT business has equipped him well for.

Besides being Managing Director of Westinfo Services, Jim is also currently chairman of the Centre for Enterprise Collaboration and Innovative Systems (CECIS) at Murdoch University, and chairman of the WA Chapter and a national board director of the Australian Computer Society Foundation. He conceived and founded the WA IT & Telecommunications Awards (WAITTA) and was Chairman from its inception in 1991 until March 2003, and remains a committee member of that organisation.

Sharon Brown

Sharon Brown is a dynamic businesswoman who held the title of West Australian Telstra Businesswoman of the Year in 1999 and was the first female to be elected to the position of Convenor at the Australian Information Industries Association (AIIA) for two consecutive years.

Sharon has held positions both in Australia and America that have increased the fortunes of the respective companies.

Sharon is employed as the Strategic Business Manager for AlphaWest Services Pty Ltd, the biggest multi-disciplined inormation technology company in Western Australia.

She manages a team of Unit Managers, Consultants and Account Managers specifically focused to grow the business within AlphaWest and to expand the company’s portfolio and business value of ICT and Telecommunications services.

Since winning the Telstra Business Woman of the Year award, in addition to her other roles, Sharon has been appointed to serve on the following committees –

• Chair of the IIFWG – Information Industry Forum Working Group working with the Office of Information & Communication (OIC), Commerce and Trade, State Supply Commission and CAMS (Contract & Management Services for the WA Govt.)
• The SCIENCE & TECHONOLOGY INNOVATION STRATEGY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
• Two year term on the CENTRAL METROPOLITAN COLLEGE OF TAFE GOVERNING COUNCIL appointed by the Minister for Employment & Training
• Two year term on the CENSORSHIP BOARD appointed by the Minister for Labour Relations; The Environment
• Three year term on the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA COUNCIL appointed by the Governor General of Australia
• Six year term on the WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY ADVISORY COUNCIL appointed by the Deputy Premier Minister for Commerce & Trade, Regional Development, Small Business
• Three year term on the WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ONLINE ADVISORY COUNCIL appointed by the Deputy Premier Minister for Commerce & Trade, Regional Development, Small Business
• Six year term on the INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD’S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE appointed by the Senator The Hon Nick Minchin
• Three year term on the INSURANCE COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA BOARD appointed by the Governor General and Minister Nick Griffiths
• Founding Member NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES EXPERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE appointed by Minister Peter McGauran
• ROTTNEST ISLAND MARINE ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE appointed by Clive Brown Minister for State Development
• DEFENCE RESERVES SUPPORT COUNCIL appointed by Dan Smetana
• EXTERNAL REFERENCE GROUP FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT RENEWAL appointed by Minister John Kobelke
• KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY TASKFORCE appointed by Minister Clive Brown
• Current Chair of the ICT Collaboration Centre for Western Australia

Of her role in the AIIA Committee, Sharon says “I enjoy being part of WA AIIA and in getting the message to government that the WA ICT sector is significant in its own right, and more importantly as an enabler for all WA industry sectors. It is the ICT industry that will drive WA's 'post-boom’ economy".

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