David Cunliffe to be Honoured by NZCS

David Cunliffe to be Honoured by NZCS

PRESS RELEASE – NZ Computer Society Inc. (NZCS)

26 June 2008

For Immediate Release

The NZ Computer Society today announced the intention to confer the honour of Honorary Fellowship of the NZCS (HFNZCS) on Hon David Cunliffe, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at a ceremony next week.

NZCS Honorary Fellowship, regarded as the highest honour that can be bestowed on an individual in the ICT profession, is very highly regarded both in New Zealand and around the world.

NZCS President Don Robertson today said that “this honour is only conferred on those that have contributed significantly to ICT in New Zealand or to the Society, and in this case is recognition of the significant contribution Hon David Cunliffe has made to ICT”.

“This includes work towards improving both access to and performance of broadband in New Zealand and local loop unbundling and separation of Telecom, as well as for a number of initiatives such as the Digital Strategy, where Minister Cunliffe has achieved an all-of-government approach to dealing with the ICT issues of New Zealand,” Robertson said.

“There is a comprehensive process of nomination within the Society, including nomination by two National Councillors, a vote of the full National Council, followed by a vote of the entire body of Fellows (the senior members of the Society). Both of these votes require a 2/3 majority for the nomination to be successful,” Robertson said.

Previous recipients of HFNZCS include Sir Gil Simpson, Founder of Jade Software Corporation, and Ralph Norris, who helped shape New Zealand’s acceptance of online commerce as CEO of ASB Bank (spearheading the creation of BankDirect, the first fully online bank in New Zealand), and then as CEO of Air New Zealand, responsible for moving the business model to widespread e-ticket usage, as well as many of the country’s top academics.

The Honorary Fellowship will be conferred on Hon David Cunliffe at a short ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington next Monday, 30 June 2008.

“As the professional body of the ICT sector, the NZCS continues to formally recognise those that provide true excellence in and for the sector, and we’re very happy to welcome Hon David Cunliffe to the prestigious family of NZCS Honorary Fellows,” Robertson concluded.

ENDS

About the NZ Computer Society

The NZCS is the professional body of ICT professionals in New Zealand, and achieves its mission of increasing the professionalism of the NZ ICT industry via a range of initiatives. The Society’s membership includes a large number of senior ICT figures in New Zealand, as well as corporate partnership with many of the most successful ICT organisations in New Zealand.

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