Reforming Defence ICT Systems
Mr Greg Farr (Department of Defence)
NICTA SEMINARDATE: 2011-09-21
TIME: 17:30:00 - 18:30:00
LOCATION: NICTA - 7 London Circuit
CONTACT: JavaScript must be enabled to display this email address.
ABSTRACT:
Mr Greg Farr is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Department of Defence, one of Australia's largest telecommunication organisations. Beside the normal demands of clients, staff and stakeholders, he also responds to the demands of Parliament, government policy makers and Australia's military operations. As the CIO of Defence, Mr Farr ensures information and communication technologies are available to over one hundred thousand users across domestic and deployed environments ranging from the public domain to those classified top secret. He coordinates a capability that includes eight satellite constellations, four mainframe computers, over 200 server rooms containing 10000 servers, around 3000 applications, and one of the largest terrestrial communications networks in Australian, as well as controlling a billion dollar budget. Mr Farr acknowledges that Defence has challenges that cannot be met in isolation. To hear how Mr Farr is reforming ICT in Defence and creating deeper relationships with industry, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ACT Section, the IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) and National ICT Australia (NICTA) have arranged a presentation on 21 September. Please arrive from 5:00 pm for a 5:30 pm prompt start in the NICTA Seminar room, 7 London Cct, on the west side of Civic (between Gordon St and Farrell St). Parking is available directly across from the venue on London Cct. For catering purposes, please RSVP to: ieeeact@gmail.com
BIO:
Mr Farr has occupied the position of CIO of the Australian Department of Defence since November 2007. As the coordinating capability manager of the Australian Defence Information Environment he has responsibility for the architecture, integrity and evolution of all ICT systems within Defence other than those forming an integral part of specialist military equipment. Mr Farr is leading the whole of Defence ICT strategic change agenda, which seeks to radically reform ICT delivery to the ADF and simultaneously achieve $1.9billion in savings to reinvest in the Defence portfolio. Under the reforms Defence will move to a Single Information Environment (SIE) where Defence's information services are stable, secure, consolidated, standardised and optimised and where information is quickly and universally available to decision makers including ADF commanders. Previously Mr Farr occupied the position of Second Commissioner of Taxation (Chief Operating Officer) for the Australian Taxation Office. In this role he was responsible for a range of major initiatives including management of the Reform Program Office during the implementation of A New Tax System including introduction of a GST. In addition he managed a major transformational change program which encompassed enterprise wide CRM, new income tax processing systems and new case management systems. He is married to Yvonne and enjoys a quiet glass of good wine and riding motorbikes.
