NZICT Group is pleased to announce that a new board has been elected following its 2^nd Annual General Meeting at the end of last week.

New NZICT board members include Kordia CEO Geoff Hunt, Microsoft NZ Managing Director Paul Muckleston, Richard Laverty who is the Director of creative, services and information and communication technology at NZ Trade and Enterprise, Fronde CEO Ian Clarke and SwayTech Director Bob Pinchin.

The new board members join those board members who were re-elected to the board for a second term: Cisco NZ Country Manager Geoff Lawrie, IBM Asia Pacific senior manager Daryl French, Gen-i Australasia CEO Chris Quin, Simpl CEO Bennett Medary and Kinetics Group CEO Andrew Hunt. 

The NZICT board also has two Independent Board Representatives: Telecommunications Carriers’ Forum CEO David Stone and Westpac General Manager of Customer and Technology Services David Boyes.

A new Chair will be appointed at the first meeting of the Board in August 2010.

NZICT Board members represent the diversity of our membership and will assist with the industry’s growth and economic development plans, both in terms of productivity improvements in the domestic economy and growth in export revenues, says NZICT CEO Brett O’Riley.

NZICT membership is nearing 100 New Zealand technology firms and related organisations with collective revenue of more than $10 billion and staff of around 10,000.

With exports of around $5 billion, the technology industry has become the third largest export segment market in New Zealand.

“We have an exciting range of programmes in prospect including the Digital Technologies Symposium, Small Business Competition, Smartstreet Fibre Pilot, China ICT Trade Mission, and the Rutherford Hi-Tech Forum, the latter in conjunction with RWC 2011,” says O’Riley.

“We will continue to drive awareness of what technology can do for businesses and the community.”

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For more information contact: NZICT CEO Brett O’Riley 02102709021

NZICT Group Board

Tier 1: Geoff Lawrie - Cisco, Geoff Hunt - Kordia, Daryl French - IBM, Paul Muckleston - Microsoft, Chris Quin - Gen-i

Tier 2: Bennett Medary - Simpl Group, Richard Laverty - NZTE, Ian Clarke - Fronde

General Tier: Andrew Hunt - Kinetics Group, Bob Pinchin - SwayTech

Independent Board Representatives: David Stone - TCF, David Boyes - Westpac

View Board Profiles

Kiwi technology firms will have their own chance to star and win on a global stage during next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Industry group NZICT is organising a hi-tech forum that will coincide with the tournament and match local firms with potential international investors, distributors and customers.

Read the full article here

Following the AGM held on 22 July 2010 where candidates for the Board roles were elected, the NZICT Group is pleased to announce the new NZICT Board representatives.

Tier 1

• Chris Quin, Gen-i
• Daryl French, IBM
• Geoff Hunt, Kordia
• Geoff Lawrie, Cisco
• Paul Muckleston, Microsoft

Tier 2

• Bennett Medary, Simpl
• Ian Clarke, Fronde
• Richard Laverty, NZTE

Tier 3

• Andrew Hunt, Kinetics Group
• Bob Pinchin, Swaytech

Board Profiles

Have you been thinking about investing in smarter technologies for your business? Will better ICT help you to grow?

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New Zealand’s Minister of Commerce yesterday confirmed that computer programs will be excluded from patentability in the new Patents Act, but inventions for embedded software will be allowed.

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The Dangers of WiFi^TM - Copyright Infringement

Owners of wireless internet connections are vulnerable to a number of dangers if they do not exercise adequate security precautions. A recent decision from the German courts has highlighted one potential risk of which New Zealand wireless owners should be mindful: copyright infringement.

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The US Supreme Court has issued its decision on the long-awaited Bilski case, confirming the broad range of patentable subject matter in the US.

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NZICT welcomes further clarification from the Minister of Commerce Simon Power around the intent of the Patents Bill 2008.

Simon Power today stated that the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) will now work on guidelines for patents for embedded software.

In creating these guidelines, IPONZ will now consult with interested parties, which will result in a clear definition around the patentability of software,” says NZICT CEO Brett O’Riley.

“We look forward to participating with IPONZ in creating guidelines on software patents.”

Furthermore, NZICT welcomes additional clarification around the intent of the Commerce Select Committee, which indicated that certain types of software would be patentable in line with current practice in Europe and the UK.

“Our goal is to ensure that industry participants clearly understand their legal options in commercialising intellectual property and taking it to market.

 Our objective is to grow and improve New Zealand’s international competitiveness as a result,” states O’Riley.

Entries are now open for the 2010 Australia and New Zealand Internet Best Practice Awards.

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