NZ strengthens campaign to recruit next-gen digital leaders in government

"GovTech Talent supports recent graduates who are consumers of digital technology to directly work with people and projects to influence their thinking on what is possible," says Ashley Mudford of the Department of Internal Affairs.

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The New Zealand government is intensifying its campaign to attract the best and brightest digital talent.

It is calling on students in their final year of tertiary study or recent graduates with up to 24-months' experience to apply for the GovTech Talent Programme.

The participants will spend 24-months working in three of the participating government agencies, spending eight months in each agency.

This project is a key part of a wider change programme to embed digital thinking into how the public service works

Ashley Mudford, Department of Internal Affairs

“This project is a key part of a wider change programme to embed digital thinking into how the public service works,” says Ashley Mudford, principal advisor, digital government at the Department of Internal Affairs.

“While other parts of the programme are about increasing maturity and providing an environment for change to be successful, GovTech Talent supports recent graduates who are consumers of digital technology to directly work with people and projects to influence their thinking on what is possible,” Mudford tells CIO New Zealand.

The DIA is the lead agency for the programme, now on its second year, and is accepting applications until 6 September.

“This is a chance to work within a programme that cares about you and with people that care about you so that you can help create solutions that show the government cares about the people of New Zealand,” Mudford quotes one of the current graduates.

The first batch of GovTech Talent participants are completing the second year of the programme.

This is a cross agency initiative to develop leaders who are passionate about how ICT, user-centric and digital technology can improve lives, says Nuwanthie Samarakone, founder and CEO of Ice Professionals, which has designed the programme.

As well, the graduates will understand how the government works and how it interlinks with the private sector, says Samarakone.

She says more government agencies are involved this year. These include the DIA, Statistics New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, NZ Transport Agency, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Inland Revenue, Ministry of Education, New Zealand Customs Service, and Accident Compensation Corporation.

She says the programme is open to students and graduates from various disciplines. These include management, human resources, linguistics, information systems, network engineering, political science, law, media, infotech, genetics, computer science, mechanical engineering, psychology and marine biology.

This is a cross agency initiative to develop leaders who are passionate about how ICT, user-centric and digital technology can improve lives.

Nuwanthie Samarakone, ICE Professionals

NZ GovTech says these are the traits they looking for:

Innovative thinkers to bring fresh and original solutions to complex problems.

Inspirational future leaders influencing new ways of thinking and getting things done.
A passion for technology and the difference it can make to New Zealand.
The participants will spend 24-months working in three of the participating government agencies, spending eight months in each agency