ITP Techblog

Well what an amazing month we've had at ITP, and this week is going to be no exception.

We've been running our ITx conference this years as a series of mini-conference "Innovation Days" in cities across New Zealand. I'm lucky to have got along to all of these so far, and it's been great catching up with hundreds of our members and others all around New Zealand.

Check out the New Technology session with Kathryn Ryan last week, talking about a whole range of topics, and have you checked out the winners of the New Zealand Excellence in IT Awards yet?

 

July has been a month of Innovation

As most will know, we've been running our ITx conference this years as a series of mini-conference "Innovation Days" in cities across New Zealand. It's been great catching up with hundreds of our members and others all around New Zealand.

2 weeks ago were the "central NZ" cities, last week we headed north and this week is our southern cities with Innovation Days in Dunedin and Christchurch.

The feedback from these events has been incredibly positive. Most attendees thoroughly enjoyed them and, as importantly, went away with some broader perspectives and thoughts about tech and what's happening in our industry.

ITx conferences are about exactly that: broad perspectives.

Some people look at the programme and think "hmm, I'm a [insert role here] and there's not a lot on that…". Those who attend ITx events do it because of that. 

ITx isn't about developers going to a developer conference or IT Managers going to an IT Management conference. It's about topics and talks *outside* our core roles, for those who understand that this is how we grow as professionals.

So thanks to everyone who came along to their Innovation Day over the last couple of weeks, and those coming along in Dunedin and Christchurch this week - look forward to seeing you there!

My favourites

I don't like to choose favourites as quite genuinely, I've enjoyed every ITx talk I've attended. But there were some that really stuck out for me.

The first was David Downs' opening keynote in Auckland. As with half the industry it seems, I've known David a while and his story is an incredible one. He's had a varied career - I got to know him when he headed up South East Asia consulting for Microsoft, but since them he's worked mainly at NZ Trade and Enterprise, helping kiwi tech take on the world, then heading up the Agritech Industry Transformation Plan, and is about to start as CEO at the NZ Story - helping take New Zealand's story to the world.

He was also the main driver behind SOSCafe/SOSBusiness during lockdown, and a bunch of other things. But more than that, he's literally alive today due to technology - he himself is a "Genetically Engineered Organism". But I won't ruin the story - check it out yourself.

Another truly incredible story is that of Rasha Abu-Safieh, also at the Auckland event. Rasha is a Palestinian and told the story of growing up as a woman in Palestine - with widespread poverty, electricity only a few hours a day and a 40% unemployment rate, lifting to over 90% for young women.

But like David, Rasha is someone who steps up when things are tough and understands that any of us can make a difference in this world. Her story was that of GGateway, a programme she created in Palestine to take young women in Gaza, give them a tech education then using tech as their gateway out of poverty. Truly inspiring stuff.

So many other stories at these events - stories of changing lives as well as trends, case studies and so much more. I feel like I should talk about all of them - Elf's great coverage of cybersecurity, Igor's warnings about post-Covid infrastructure, Ray's moves to reinvent the consulting industry, Billie taking elderly to compete in the world's biggest hip-hop contest, Minas's research creating bionic limbs and improving assistance robots, Tim's work using tech to map out hazards for those with disabilities - meaning they can get out of their house and travel safer, Hilary using tech to get older people physically active, and so so much more.

If you didn't come along to your Innovation Day, you really should have - it's been incredible. If you're in Dunedin or Christchurch you still have the opportunity this week - I really do hope to see you there.

However if you did miss out, a selection of these and other talks will be available on the ITP Members' Video Library in the next few weeks - free for ITP members. I strongly urge you to check them out!

And a massive thanks to those in our industry who put their hand up to speak at these events. We owe you a debt of gratitude for sharing your stories.

  

RNZ Tech Segment: Cybersecurity, trends, MIQ and more

Quite a bumper New Technology slot late last week, on RNZ's Nine to Noon programme with Kathryn Ryan. I spoke with Kathryn about:

• The unprecedented statements from the NZ Government pointing the finger clearly at China for recent cyber-attacks.
• The tech trends emerging from the ITx events around NZ
• Some of the big winners from the New Zealand Excellence in IT Awards and how the industry is becoming more diverse - albeit slowly!
• The really disappointing MIQ booking system and the lack of humanity, expecting kiwis around the world to stay up all day and night hitting refresh on a Government website while others pay thousands to hire bots to jump the queue.
• Cleantech, and the boost that kiwi tech tackling climate change is getting.

You can listen to the whole segment here

  

New Zealand Excellence in IT Awards - Winners 

If you haven't checked them out yet, take a look at the winners from the NZ Excellence in IT Awards. And a massive congratulations to all finalists and winners - there was some seriously tough competition this year.

Read about the winners here

 

2021 ITx Innovation Days - Christchurch and Dunedin

This year, the big ITx conference is going on the road. In fact, we'll be running 8 different mini-conferences right across New Zealand, each showcasing the latest tech trends, local talent, case studies and so much more.

These mini-conferences have been awesome so far! We have some amazing speakers to announce shortly, right across New Zealand.

The next ITx Innovation Days will be happening on these dates:

• 27 July Dunedin 1-6pm
• 29 July Christchurch 9am-6pm

Drinks and refreshments will follow each Innovation Day.

It's not too late - get along to your Innovation Day and register today.

Find out more here

 

Become an ITP Mentor

As many ITP members will be aware, we recently re-launched our Mentoring programme for tech professionals. The free programme helps our people set clear career goals and objectives, understand that they have the ability to achieve these, and put in place a plan to do it.

The launch has been a huge success... so much so that we need more mentors! We're especially looking for senior developers, people who have moved from ops into management roles. and anyone with gaming or design type experience.

The process is super easy, and we provide induction, guidance, resources etc - you're not on your own.

Does that sound like you? Check out more info here

 

Get your ITP gear

Now is the perfect time to head over to the ITP store and grab yourself some sleek and practical items for work and play. These customizable items come in a variety of designs and are perfect for work, networking or casualwear.

The official ITP store has a whole bunch of professional and casual clothing options, some which can be co-branded with your company. It's a great opportunity to show that you don't just "do IT" - you're also serious about professional practice. 

Pop on over to shop.itp.nz to check it out.

 

Previous webinars - all available free to members

All past webinars are available on the ITP Video Library for members:

• 2020's Top 10 Hacking Techniques
• Down-to-Earth Leadership Skills for Technical Geniuses
• How technology enabled the health response
• How Covid is impacting the Gaming Industry
• Creating a plan for Digital Skills
• Cybersecurity and the recent attacks
• Tech legal update - what you need to know
• An afternoon with Nanogirl
• Taking kiwi tech to the post-Covid world
• Tech startups in a post-Covid world
• The IRD Transformation
• Digital Government and Covid-19
• Tech and the Covid-19 recovery
• Privacy in the days of Covid-19
• Leading Wellness in uncertain times
• Meet the ITP Workshop Presenters
• The data behind Covid19
• Innovation in tough times: Don't Hunker in the Bunker
• Covid19: Tech and the Law
• Cybersecurity from home
• Clarke Ching on disaster innovation
• CITPNZ and CTech: The What, How and Why
• Working Remotely - How to get through

Check out the webinar section here

Heaps coming soon from the Innovation Days in Auckland and Wellington!