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NZTech Update – Creating a collaborative partnership
Last week’s update on the CTO role got a few people excited! I guess my frustration came through strong as I spent most of last Monday dealing with media, including a good chat on RadioNZ and NewstalkZB. As the week progressed, I had feedback from multiple people, including many who applied for the CTO role, offering support to get on with the development of a national strategy.
On Thursday, the NZTech Board strategy planning day looked forward for the next three to five years. We considered the future of NZTech and the potential role it can play in helping make New Zealand more prosperous. Discussion included the Chief Technology Advisor role and we formed the opinion that the Government is still a critical component. So while we do plan to push ahead and develop a national technology strategy, we will work hard to do this with Government.
Over the past few years, NZTech and the Government have been collaborating incredibly well. With MBIE’s support we have been able to grow Techweek to help inspire more people about the potential of technology and showcase our best technology to the world. The collaboration has extended to working with NZ Story and NZTE to develop the Upstarters campaign promoting New Zealand tech to the world. We have also collaborated with the Ministry of Education on digital technology in the school curricula, plus work with the Digital Skills Forum and the inclusion of digital as a core tenant of the trade agenda. It is our intention to build on this collaboration and help align our energies on this important subject.
After consideration, it seems like a good option for the Government to appoint a Chief Technology Advisor as a partner with the Chief Science Advisor. Place them together, with resourcing, allowing them to determine who does what in areas of crossover. NZTech could collaborate with this partnership to help provide breadth and depth of information.
If you reached out last week and I haven’t replied yet, please bear with me as I work through everyone’s messages. Thank you for your support and I look forward to our continued work to help make New Zealand more prosperous underpinned by technology.
Nga mihi
Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech
PS: Next month, the Blockworks conference showcases practical applications of Blockchain technology. We have secured a $100 discount for NZTech members. Use this promo code: NZTECH-Guests.
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Discover emerging AgriTech. Join the 2018 Agritech New Zealand Roadshow in October to learn more about new partnerships. Attend this free event series in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga Palmerston North, Wellington, Lincoln and Dunedin.
FinTechNZ invites you to InsurTech’s Transforming Customer Engagement in the Digital Age on 4 October in Auckland. Request an invitation to the Blockchain South 2018 Leadership Summit and the Singapore FinTech Festival.
Join Canterbury Tech on 2 October in Christchurch. If you missed #cantysummit18, view highlights here. Tech Marketers meet in Wellington on Thursday. Attend SIBA’s AGM on 27 September and secure your tickets now to the 2018 New Zealand Spatial Awards on 17 October in Wellington.
PROMOTE
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Attend Helping Women Thrive in the Digital Ecosystem tomorrow in Wellington. Also, join NeSI for Machine Learning and Supercomputing in Science in Auckland.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Make the most of Expo 2020 Dubai, with NZTE’s Gulf Opportunities Showcase in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch in October.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Last week, FinTechNZ’s James Brown commented on Amazon’s move into India’s insurance market and its likely ripple effect in New Zealand. Attend the New Zealand FinTech Summit on 29 November in Auckland.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
ADVANCE
With over 700 incidents in the last quarter, New Zealand is facing a growing number of cyber incidents as reported in CERT’s latest quarterly update. CERT’s Cyber Smart Week is 8-12 October. Check out their new resources and become an official partner.
Register your interest for Callaghan’s delegation to SaaStr’19 in San Jose. Applications for NASA internships and New Zealand Space Agency scholarships close 12 October. Entries for #TechRocketshipANZ close 23 November.
If you’re not on the New Zealand AI ecosystem map, please email the AI Forum to be included in the next update. Save these 2019 event dates; Tech Marketers conference on 28 February, AI-Day on 28 March and Techweek 20-26 May.
Techweek is hiring! We need a marketing executive to help deliver Techweek’19.
