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

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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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.

NZICT is pleased to announce that Westpac GM of Customer and Technology Services David Boyes has joined the NZICT board as an independent director.

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The group that represents the New Zealand ICT industry, NZICT, warns that a Select Committee recommendation to abandon software patents is worrying for New Zealand.

A Select Committee focusing on Patents Bill reforms recently recommended the Government to remove patent protection for software programs in New Zealand.

NZICT chief executive Brett O’Riley says the country’s software development sector deserves the same protection as other sectors where invention and innovation occurs.

“Software patents, while acknowledged as a less than perfect solution in some areas, are none-theless integral to an individual or company’s right for commercial protection and essential for competing globally. We believe that it is very important that companies retain the option to protect their innovations under patent law, if that is their choice “

O’Riley is perplexed by the recommendation, as it contravenes current New Zealand economic policy and contradicts the policy to continue software patents which had been confirmed in 2005 after industry consultation.

O’Riley also warns that the wider implications of such a law change is inconsistent with the policy of our trade partners and may have an impact on New Zealand’s ability to negotiate trade agreements.

“New Zealand’s ability to trade and compete internationally in the digital economy depends upon a supportive legislative environment that harnesses and recognises New Zealand ingenuity and innovation.”

He strongly urges the Government to rethink the implications of removing software patents if it is serious about supporting New Zealand’s innovators and economic growth for the nation.

“Strong Intellectual Property protection systems, supported by Government, encourage innovators and attract foreign capital and investment into innovation.

“The business incentive for research and development is that it can lead to intellectual property assets that can be turned into commercial products.

“As a small nation competing on a global stage, we cannot afford to set a precedent that will limit our ability to develop digital exports,” says O’Riley.

Abandoning software patents is a major policy change. NZICT is concerned that the software industry has not been consulted sufficiently on this change and recommends the Government be cautious to ensure that it is acting in the interests of the industry as a whole.

For more information contact:

NZICT Communications Executive Paul Clearwater - phone 027 282 0016

NZICT is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Board members - CEO of Gen-i Australasia Chris Quin and Country Manager of Dell NZ Mike Hill.

Richard King stood down from the Board late last year, while David Stone will remain on the Board as an independent member in his role as Telecommunications Carriers’ Forum CEO.

NZICT Chair Geoff Lawrie said that it was gratifying to have such a strong interest from a range of high caliber candidates for a position on the Board.

“I offer the Board’s congratulations and welcome to both Chris and Mike, and believe they will do an excellent job of representing the interests of members,” said Lawrie.

Chris Quin, CEO Gen-i Australasia, said; “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the NZICT Board and hope to bring a fresh perspective on how we can enhance the provision of ICT in New Zealand.

“Gen-i’s partnerships with our 3,000 clients across New Zealand and Australia give me strong insights into how the ICT sector can help businesses achieve their goals. I am committed to the success of ICT in New Zealand and the role it plays as a facilitator of business and national economic success.”

As a member of the NZICT Board, Dell NZ Country Manager Mike Hill said he will aim to promote issues such as ICT in schools and ICT’s role in protecting the environment.

“I look forward to working and collaborating with the other Board members who I hugely respect and being part of building the future of ICT in New Zealand,” said Hill.

NZICT board members include:

• Independent Chair Geoff Lawrie - Cisco
• Andrew Hunt - Kinetics Group
• Bennett Medary - Simpl
• Chris Quin - Gen-i
• Daryl French - IBM Asia Pacific
• David Stone -Telecommunication Carriers’ Forum
• Kevin Ackhurst - Microsoft
• Mike Hill - Dell
• Pat Rossiter - Hyperion Management Services
• Rhoda Holmes - Raghnall
• Tony Skelton - ACE Training and Development

View Board Profiles

NZICT believes that the Government’s film tax credit scheme is a great way to support innovative New Zealand companies and argues that it should be extended rather than curtailed. read more »

The International Institute for Software Economics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Inc. (IISEIE) and NZICT Group form the ICT Research Forum. read more »

NZICT recently joined the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA).

read more »

New Zealand has outperformed other Asia-Pacific countries with the performance of its
technology sector in a major annual survey.

Fifty-one New Zealand companies were included in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500
report.

NZICT, the group that represents ICT companies and organisations involved in the
provision of software, hardware, services and networks hailed the result, which comes
amidst a tough trading environment.

“Innovation is alive and well in New Zealand. This is a huge result that we must build on
to grow these companies further. This is a massive improvement on last year’s results,
which included 31 New Zealand companies,” said NZICT CEO Brett O’Riley.

“With four New Zealand ICT-related companies in the top 50 (NextWindow, Telesmart,
Sonar6 and TracMap NZ) it shows that New Zealand is strengthening its ICT position.”
While the report indicates that the New Zealand Hi-Tech sector is vibrant, O’Riley
commented that we need to ensure growth continues. Many of NZICT’s recently
released Near Future Digital Priorities focus on areas that influence growth.

“We are looking for support from government policies and improved infrastructure. The
forthcoming findings from the Capital Markets review are important in creating an
investment environment where capital is available through multiple investment tiers,”
said O’Riley.

“With ubiquitous high-speed broadband eventually reaching more places, New
Zealand’s technology sector will have a better framework to not only improve its
products and services in the domestic market, but internationally,” noted O’Riley.

As the global economy recovers from the recent recession, ICT and the digital economy
are increasingly seen as a driver for global economic activity and growth.

“New Zealand companies need support from both the public and private sectors
including investors to propagate ICT growth and export potential,” said O’Riley.

Related Information:

Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific 2009 - New Zealand Rankings (PDF)