Pat O'Connell bio / election statement
Pat O’Connell is CIO of the Rank Group, a large, privately owned organisation headquartered in Auckland with extensive manufacturing operations across the globe. Pat has been involved in information and communications technology for over 30 years, in all aspects of the field in distribution, communication, manufacturing, and consulting operations. He was previously CIO at Carter Holt Harvey Ltd, and has held senior positions at Ernst & Young and Telecom New Zealand.
Pat has two daughters attending university in Christchurch and Dunedin. What spare time he has is spent trying to maintain a reasonable level of fitness – being a keen runner and swimmer, and more recently – following a dare from friends – mountain climber of sorts.
Why am I standing for InternetNZ Council?
In my role as CIO of a widely distributed organisation, I have seen firsthand both the increase in reliance on the Internet as a critical business tool and the comparative usage of it in differing geographies across the globe.
The accelerating advances in technology delivered by the communications industry over the next few years will force enormous change on our business and social communities. The opportunity offered to New Zealand by ubiquitous open access to a safe and secure Internet, the network of networks that has now found its way into most corners of our lives, will negate the remoteness that plagues our individual and national competitiveness and will provide a platform to harness the creativity of all New Zealanders.
I have been fortunate, also, to have been closely involved with the sweeping changes to the telecommunications industry in New Zealand over recent times in my role of TUANZ Secretary. There is nothing more certain to me than the fact that this exciting network enablement coupled with a smoothly functioning Internet will bring about a sea change in how New Zealanders will work, live, and play in a new global community.
I will bring with me to the role of Councillor a track record of governance, a global business perspective, and a strong technology history. With these strengths I intend to help InternetNZ continue to be a major contributor to the new New Zealand.
