New NZCS President

New NZCS President to focus on Certification and Representation

PRESS RELEASE – NZ Computer Society Inc. 26 November 2007 For Immediate Release

On Saturday 24th of November the National Council of the NZ Computer Society appointed Don Robertson the new NZCS President for a term of two years.

Robertson, a Wellington-based member with a history of involvement in the Society at Branch and National levels, says that he intends to build on the efforts of the previous Executive to bring international Certification to New Zealand. "The ICT sector needs a benchmark to independently measure the skills and knowledge of individual IT Professionals in New Zealand against an Internationally-recognised framework," Robertson said today. "The NZ Computer Society continues to work with our International affiliate organisations to bring a robust Certification programme to New Zealand."

Robertson also believes that education and certification of IT Professionals will be an essential component of future efforts to successfully deal with the current ICT skills shortage in New Zealand. This has been the case in other countries where Vendor-neutral certification has been introduced on a wide scale by NZCS’s international counterparts.

Robertson noted that the Society will also continue to take an active role in representing ICT professionals in New Zealand. "The NZCS has a large number of professional members and several thousand others affiliated to the Society through our Corporate Partners," he said.

"It is our job to advocate on behalf of ICT Professionals and professionalism across the ICT sector, and we're looking forward to continuing to build on a number of initiatives that will significantly benefit our membership and the ICT profession as a whole in New Zealand".

Robertson intends to continue the very successful work in these areas by his predecessor, Richard Donaldson. Donaldson's 2-year presidential term came to an end last week, however he will continue to be heavily involved in Society efforts as has been the case for many years.

"Richard [Donaldson] has contributed immensely to the Society, and we thank both Richard and Miles Trent, the previous Deputy President, for the huge effort they have put in over the last two years as President and Deputy, and for the many years prior they have dedicated to the Society in different roles" Robertson concluded.

David Cowman (previously a National Councillor from Waikato) was also appointed as Deputy President of the Society over the weekend when Mr Trent’s term also ended.

ENDS

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