Garry Johnston is now digital experience engineering tribe lead at Vodafone, following over a year as business design and deployment manager.
His previous roles include executive director information technology at Te Wananga o Aotearoa and group chief executive at Vo2.
David Samuelson is the new CEO at ISACA, a global association of professionals in IT audit, governance, risk and security.
Samuelson joins ISACA following executive leadership roles as founder and CEO of Pinpoint Learning; executive vice president and general manager at Capstone Publishers; and more than 15 years in executive roles at Pearson plc. In recent months, Samuelson served as CEO of GreaterGood.com and on the board of its nonprofit partner, GreaterGood.org.
ISACA runs a globally recognised certification program, including the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA),
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), and CSX Cybersecurity Practitioner (CSX-P) credentials. ISACA developed the COBIT framework, which helps companies govern and manage their information and technology, and recently launched the newest version, COBIT 2019.
“In ISACA’s 50 th year, our entire professional community is not only reflecting on its rich past and industry impact, but is forging ahead and innovating its future,” says ISACA Board Chair Rob Clyde, CISM.
“David Samuelson is the ideal leader for ISACA as we continue to grow and expand globally. His far-reaching experience in learning and technology innovations and his latest nonprofit executive leadership role will be tremendous assets, inspiring the entire organisation as we advance the positive potential of business technology worldwide.”
Craig Sims, ASB executive general manager retail, says ASB customers now have the option to contribute their True Rewards dollars to the official Christchurch Foundation’s Our People, Our City Fund.
True Rewards is ASB's long-standing loyalty rewards programme. Members earn True Rewards dollars when they make purchases using their ASB True Rewards Visa credit card. Every True Rewards dollar is worth one NZ dollar.
“Our people and our customers have been asking how we can help the families most affected by the Christchurch terror attacks, and this seemed like another meaningful and practical way to do that,” says Sims.
Since Friday 15 March, the day of the Christchurch attacks, ASB along with ASB customers and staff have rallied in support contributing to the Our People, Our City Fund. The contributions will be used to meet the long and short term needs of the families most affected.
“Our hearts are with those affected by the Christchurch terror attacks and we’re just trying to show that we’re all standing firmly beside the Muslim community in solidarity of peace and unity,” says Sims.
Kiwi crypto-currency retailer Easy Crypto is expanding to Australia with the launch of https://www.easycrypto.com.au/on the back of high demand in New Zealand.
Easy Crypto, was established in New Zealand a year ago by brother and sister duo Alan and Janine Grainger. The company says it has seen 200 per cent growth over the last quarter of 2018, with over 4000 customers.
“While cryptocurrencies have the potential to transform the way we transact, save, borrow and invest, penetration in both Australia and New Zealand remains relatively low,” says Andrew Butler, Easy Crypto’s managing director for Australia. “With these currencies now being used not just for payments but for applications from smart contracts to cloud computing and file sharing, there is huge potential for early movers in this space.”
Julie Fry and Hayden Glass are authors of the new book Ambition: What New Zealanders Think and Why It Matters.
“Our goal in this book is to encourage a conversation about New Zealanders’ attitudes to ambition. We want to shed some light on the stories we tell about ourselves, and encourage people to talk about whether those stories are taking us forward or holding us back. This last brief chapter reflects on our work so far, and contains some thoughts on the work that might lie ahead.”
“Being more inclusive when we talk about ambition – instead of emphasising definitions that focus on money or thinking that ambitions have to be world-changing to count – could open up the idea of ‘being ambitious’ to more people, and might help us feel more comfortable with each other’s aspirations,” they point out.
“Certainly, our experience is that, when asked in an environment where they feel it is safe to share, New Zealanders say they are ambitious about an enormous diversity of things. But the fear of being perceived as unlikeable or different can hold people back from sharing their dreams or achievements. Ironically, many of our respondents described how sharing their ambitions with others helped them progress their goals.”
They point out: “Ambition is a fundamental – and neutral – human drive. It can lead us anywhere: to greatness, to ruin, or to a quiet, happy life – depending on how and where we direct it. We reckon it’s possible for New Zealanders to stay humble, and to do greater things – in our families, in our communities, in our workplaces, and in the wider world.”
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