Laurence Millar bio / election statement
Dear Internet NZ member
Why you should vote for me as Vice President
Internet NZ is in a key position to contribute to New Zealand's future in a globally connected 21st century economy. The transition to this new information-based economy is at the early stages, and there are huge opportunities for those who have the courage to pursue them. You can read more about my views on this at http://globalvillagegovernance.blogspot.com/.
If elected I will apply my energy, experience and passion to developing a strategic approach for InternetNZ to actively contribute to this future. The approach must build on the unique values and strengths of the organisation – transparent, representative and inclusive, operating from a base of technical expertise and neutrality.
I believe in an open, uncapturable Internet that is accessible to all and is actively leveraged for a strong position for New Zealand in the world; I consider that my vision, experience, knowledge and connections will be of value to InternetNZ in continuing to provide national and international leadership.
My experience includes work in the public and private sector, in the UK, USA, Asia and New Zealand. For the last five years I led the New Zealand e-government programme, including responsibility for the moderation of .govt.nz, and provided oversight of government ICT investment; I finished in the role of NZ Government CIO on 1 May 2009.
While most InternetNZ members will know me from my recent government roles, the majority of my career has been in the private sector. The following examples illustrate this experience.
I worked as a consultant offshore (mainly in Asia) from 1998 to 2003. For the first 2 years, I led the strategic IT unit within PLDT (the dominant telco in the Philippines), overseeing investments in business systems to create a more integrated approach to the deployment of technology. I worked on a start-up, providing ASP and eCommerce solutions to the supply chain and distribution industries in locations from Beijing to Jakarta. I also developed an e-Business strategy for a mobile carrier in Chicago.
In the 1980s, I worked for Databank Systems, where I was responsible for the development and maintenance of all banking software including the implementation of ATM sharing between banks, introduction of EFT-POS version 3, wholesale bank clearing, national clearing and settlement systems, and credit card processing.
Before coming to New Zealand, I worked as a technical consultant in the networking subsidiary of General Electric, focused on global banking services. I also spent a year with a PC start-up, supporting LAN installations in 1982 (very early days for local area networking). I sighted one of the Apple PCs I supported at Reuters in the Museum of London!
So members, while you may know me as a creature of government, I can assure you that I have a depth and breadth of private sector experience to draw on.
I have a passionate interest in the freeing up of government data to enable the creation of value by the public – both businesses and individuals. The broadband map (www.broadbandmap.govt.nz) is an example of this, and the recently launched www.opengovt.org.nz is an initiative that we should all get behind. This is another area where NZ has a strategic opportunity to establish a position of world leadership.
I have a solid understanding of governance from my role as Deputy Commissioner at State Services Commission (SSC), in particular from my oversight of government agencies in the education and cultural sectors. The work of SSC on accountability, integrity and leadership are highly relevant to the InternetNZ Council.
I have now moved back to the private sector and am operating as an Independent Advisor, with a focus on evaluation of ICT strategy and investments.
My decision to stand directly for Vice President, rather than “doing my time” on Council, is a deliberate one. Council has the depth of knowledge and experience in the issues facing InternetNZ, and my career as a “fellow traveller” means that I am familiar with, and can rapidly assimilate, the history of the issues facing Council. My unique contribution and the key strengths that I bring to Internet NZ are experience in strategy, governance and leadership; these can be best exploited by Internet NZ if you select me for the office of Vice President.
If elected, I will actively support the elected President, and contribute ideas and energy through the Council, so that InternetNZ can respond to the opportunities presented by the information economy for the benefit of NZ Inc.
I would consider it an honour if I were selected to serve.
If you have any specific questions that you would like to ask me, please contact me at laurence.millar@xtra.co.nz.
