The Australian Government Information Management Office Archive

Executive Profile - Ann Steward

Chief Information Officer

Ann Steward is Chief Information Officer of the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO), Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance).  AGIMO fosters the efficient and effective use of ICT by Australian Government departments and agencies.  It provides strategic advice, activities and representation relating to the application of ICT to government administration, information and services.

Ann has a degree in Applied science from the University of Canberra, and over 20 years' public sector experience in Australia and the UK, covering policy and operational leadership responsibilities, with core strengths addressing both strategy and development and its execution. Ann has completed extensive management training during her career with the Australian and UK civil services. This has included participation in programs on leading edge public sector strategy and management issues provided by world leading organisations such as the OECD, MIT and UC (Irvine).

Through this activity, she has established extensive senior level contacts in the public sector worldwide, and has led or participated in key G8 and OECD programs driving change in the application of IT for business transformation and integrated electronic service delivery.

Ann was most recently General Manager, IT Planning and Refresh, in Centrelink’s IT Group. She led the implementation of Centrelink’s major new service capability initiative called Refresh.  Ann also managed Centrelink’s Enterprise Architecture, Strategic Planning and Technology Strategies – all key strategic foundations for improved service delivery to citizens and business by Centrelink.

Prior to joining Centrelink in April 2003, Ann held the position of Principal Adviser, e- Strategy in the National Office for the Information Economy, where she successfully established and led the work program for the Information Management Strategy Committee and its supporting Chief Information Officer Committee, that has representation from all major departments and agencies across government.

From July 1998 until September 2002, Ann was seconded to the UK Government where she was Director e-Government in the Cabinet Office and worked on detailed policies, strategies and related funding for Central and Local Government initiatives involving central departments and agencies, Local Government Associations and the local authorities. She completed and implemented enhanced governance arrangements that applied across the UK public sector to the online program. 

Whilst working in the UK Cabinet Office, Ann completed the Review of Major IT Projects.  This Review reported a comprehensive set of recommendations that are having a major impact on the way IT projects are planned, implemented and managed in the UK public sector.

Prior to her secondment to the UK Government, Ann held senior executive positions in a number of Australian Government agencies and participated in extensive forums with state government counterparts.

Since 1993, Ann has been actively involved in the International Council for IT in Government Administration (ICA), a unique global organisation comprising membership from public sectors worldwide, focusing on strategic IT issues for government. She was Vice-Chairman and Chairman of ICA – a position she held for two years, and was awarded the Superior Leadership award for outstanding service as ICA Chair in 2001 and a Distinguished Service Award in October 2004 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the successful development of ICA.