NZTech Update – Initial Skills Survey Results!

Kia Ora Readers,

Late last week, I received initial data analysis of the National Digital Skills Survey run by NZTech as part of the Digital Skills Forum. We are working on a detailed analysis of the digital skills needs for New Zealand, combining this research with a similar survey of Government agencies and with LinkedIn, for roles actually being advertised and recruited. We hope to share the final report next month, however, already I can report, that of the 131 survey respondents, there are just under 1000 open tech roles. There are recruitment plans for approximately 9,000 new roles over the next two years! In short, the answer is yes, there is still an enormous demand for digital skills. I can’t wait to finalise the analysis and share it with you

On a personal note, this week I am not flying anywhere! The family is very excited as I will be staying in Auckland all week. I will be working with the Techweek team and introducing NZTech members to a selection of opportunities to support Techweek. I’m keen to catch up with members who would like access to opportunities and help us put on internationally attractive events. There are several ways to host a micro event onsite in Auckland to showcase our innovation ecosystem, or the large AgTech/HortTech event in Tauranga, or a CreativeTech event in Wellington. Christchurch is hosting a major Advanced Materials event and the Hi-Tech Awards. There will be plenty of other events to support, so drop me a note if you would like more information.

As the dust settles following the final election results, I would like to congratulate the new Ministers, in particular Clare Curran, the new Minister for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, and the new position of Minister of Government Digital Services. I look forward to discussing with her a New Zealand CTO office, the Digital Nation 2030 Summit scheduled for February 2018 to design a digital plan for New Zealand and Labour’s digital economy plans.

All the best.

Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech

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A Global Future Summit

CONNECT

Hot off the press, we have three copies of No. 8 Recharged by David Downs and Dr Michelle Dickinson to give away, featuring world changing innovations from New Zealand. First emails  received will win a copy.

Please join us and fellow members to celebrate 2017 at our Christmas drinks. Register for Wellington on 30 November, Auckland on 6 December and Christchurch on 7 December.

For 20% discount to Friday’s Finnotec 2017 use promo code: F2017ABZ. Canterbury Tech hosts Inductive’s Andy Masters on 7 November. Meet Xero’s Alex Mercer at NZSA’s dinner on 14 November.

PROMOTE

IBM is working with local Kiwi company KlickEx on a simplified money transfer solution for the Pacific Islands built on Blockchain.

Interested in entering the 2018 Hi-Tech Awards? Meet previous winners and judges at launch events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Join AI in Health – Balancing the use of data with privacyon 17 November in Auckland. Attend Otago University’s 3D Printing in Medicine, next month.

ADVANCE

Congratulations to NZTech members Datacom, Duo, HP, HP Enterprise, Kinetics, Microsoft, Spark, The Instillery, Xero and Jo Haanstra for winning awards at the Reseller Awards.

Tech Futures Lab and The Next Billion’s Priti Ambani has been appointed as a New Zealand judge for Visa’s Everywhere Initiative. In an NZTech Q&A special, we asked what motivates her and how to empower women.

EPIC applications for European travel funding close 15 November. CERT NZ and Connect Smart present Cyber Smart Week from 27 November. Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator applications close 1 December.

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