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Updated: AIIA CEO steps down

Ian Birks leaves the ICT industry group to start his own consultancy company.

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) CEO, Ian Birks, will be stepping down from his role.

Birks has been AIIA CEO for three years and will be leaving in the next three to six months.

He has made the decision to resign so he could start his own consultancy business with a focus on how not-for-profit organisations can better exploit ICT and social media.

“The group board recently set another three year plan and it is necessary for the leader to commit themselves for another two to three years,” Birks said. “That is a little longer than I wanted to work for.

“I’m happy to do my own thing and basically follow my entrepreneurial lead.”

Through his three years as AIIA CEO, the group has play a part in voicing the industry’s concerns on the NBN as well as joined in on discussions pertaining to ICT at a Federal and State government level.

Birks said he will probably continue to work with the group as a volunteer and will miss being among the action in the industry.

AIIA is now on the hunt for a new CEO with a good grasp of the ICT industry and a good cultural fit with the association.

“It is a balance of running a SMB that is also a large advocacy group,” Birks said. “One minute you’re talking to [Communications Minister] Senator Stephen Conroy and the next minute you’re emptying the bins or cleaning out the kitchen.

“It’s a very broad role.”

Intel general manager and AIIA chair, Philip Cronin, thanked Birks for his contribution to the ICT community.

A spokesperson for the AIIA said a smooth handover is expected once a suitable replacement has been found. Birks will be assisting the process of finding his successor.

Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.

More about: AIIA, Australian Information Industry Association, IIA, Intel
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