Stephen Kowal

COMMAND & CONTROL is the system empowering your people to exercise authority and direction over assigned resources for the accomplishment of objectives and outcomes. Every organisation needs this… … and every organisation needs EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP too! Here’s confirmation why you shouldn’t confuse one with the other… https://lnkd.in/gDSmdBNF

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Stoked that the hard work from our growing team has been recognised - backed by some really solid numbers in a competitive field of finalists in the Telstra Best of Business Awards. Our clients are leading the way by taking proactive, thoughtful approaches to managing their risk - and it's a privilege to partner to develop world-class cyber security capabilities in Australia. What this award says about the current cyber environment: 🎯 Every sector, vertical, and industry is significantly investing in safeguarding their assets and operations. 🎯 There is immense value in obtaining an independent, qualified, expert opinion. 🎯 Customising your approach to security helps to balance the competing demands of efficiency, protection, resourcing, and cost. 🎯 Values-driven, hardworking, and quality-focused businesses are making a significant impact on addressing cyber security issues in Australia. Not sure where to start? Send me a message here or email [email protected] #bestofbusiness #telstra #cybersecurity #penetrationtesting #GRC #strategy #defence

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Securing your brand is one of the first, often overlooked, set of actions that an international business should take when considering expansion into Australia.

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This is all really good stuff. Missing an element in my opinion though which is that the Government Business Process Owners (Service and Program Delivery senior officials) have the responsibility to understand which technologies support their business processes and where these technologies integrate with other technologies and processes. This is where risk and governance decisions and investments and trade offs need to be made in big IT projects. And it isn’t okay for your IT department to be taking these decisions any more than it is for external vendors to be doing it. Today, 25 years into the 21st century, it isn’t okay to be a leader in public sector Program or Service Delivery and not understand your supporting technology. Today, technology IS your frontline. It is NOT your back office.

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Key strategic IT investments shaping business transformation Australian businesses must prioritise foundational data management over AI and cybersecurity to secure competitive advantages in digital transformation. https://lnkd.in/eEH4qkT4

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Great move by the Commonwealth. Moving from a data mindset to a claim/proofing one using attestation moves us to Zero Knowledge Proofs #ZKP. ISO 18013 and 23220 allows these attestation and claims to be shared in a secure way both online and off-line. This has security benefits but also starts changing our mindsets on eligibility. Where we move from seeking data to accepting claims. #Digital #Technology #identity 👏👏👏

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A Virtual CFO (vCFO) engagement with Nexia provides a flexible, cost-effective way for businesses to access specialist knowledge or manage short-term resourcing needs. Beyond traditional part-time executive roles, our vCFO services offer tailored, scalable solutions for managing forecasts, enhancing strategies, navigating economic shifts, and more—all without the long-term financial commitment of a full-time CFO. If this sounds relevant to your business, please take a look at this article and reach out if you have any questions.

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Qantas “new distribution model” The claim… “Additionally, for agents it opens up new revenue opportunities, makes it easier to sell ancillary products, streamlines the process for refunds and changes, and empowers them with the tools to create a more personalised experience for each traveller.” There is no evidence that this will happen. No credible examples. The empty promises were first made on 1AUG 2019 with the announcement of the Qantas Channel. “Agencies who have signed up to the Qantas Channel will, over time, be able to offer customers new content, sourced from the New Distribution Capability (NDC)-enabled Qantas Distribution Platform (QDP) Greater reward and recognition of our Frequent Flyers and the ability to deliver targeted offers for our Agency Partners are just some of the benefits that are in the pipeline.” The reality. Plenty of evidence. More surcharges and content chaos. More investment in direct sales eg Qantas Business Rewards. With a new side of “Premium- by invitation only” truffle fries for the elite few who earn their “Golden Ticket” #Qantas #Qantas Distribution Platform #MarketPower #OptinProgram #Fragmentation #Discrimination #NewDistributionCarnage

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Last week I was invited to the Data Innovation event, led by Peter Kasprzak and his team at Innovate Australia. The event, attended by many AIML professionals and companies, shown that Perth indeed has what it takes to be at the forefront of AI technology revolution for Australia. Some of the interesting companies and their AIML solutions are as follows.. * Russell Wilson, from Ecocentric Energy, shares about Numen: revolutionizing data center power management with AI-powered preemptive maintenance solutions. * David Lucido shares about how Sentient AI can empower businesses with strategic scenario modeling through advanced AI analytics, integrating multiple AI and data sources for a unified view. * Maciej Cytowski from Pawsey: sharing our WA Super Computer Setonix, the world's 4th greenest supercomputer and some of the world projects using Pawsey computing resources now. Great to see that WA is investing and nurturing some great innovations here locally. #PerthInnovation #AI #MachineLearning #InnovationAustralia #WesternAustralia #technology

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There are some fascinating details in the 2024 National State of the Assets Report, put together by IPWEA in partnership with the Australian Local Government Association. For example: 1. Local Governments collectively own one-third of all Australia's public infrastructure assets, yet employ under 10% of the public workforce. 2. Local Governments are the most asset-intensive level of government in Australia. 3. Total value of assets under Local Government control is $643bn, yet amazingly, their combined revenue was just a fraction of that (around $60bn in 2022-23). Just imagine operating, maintaining and renewing all those assets on this budget - let alone funding all the other non-asset services delivered by Local Government, such as urban planning, economic development/tourism, environmental health (nobody likes dodgy takeaway), animal and pests/weeds management and so much more... It is a real challenge to balance the needs and expectations of the community with financial reality. Therefore, it's not surprising that ~8% of L.G. assets (worth $50-55 billion) are in poor condition. Take just roads... Poor to very poor roads can have significant social, safety and productivity implications at a local and national level (even people living in the big cities don't want bananas bruised from a farm=>store journey via a washed out or potholed road!). All of the above, extracted from the report below, help to emphasise the need for continual improvement to our asset management and long-term financial planning capacity. This continual improvement and, importantly, the long term financial planning and properly funding renewal and replacement of ageing assets takes strong yet delicate leadership. I do not envy any Local Government politicians who seriously engage with this challenge. If you're a local government infrastructure operator, and you'd like to understand more about your assets, we'd love to hear from you! #LocalGovernment #Assets #Planning #AssetManagement #FinancialPlanning #FinancialSustainability #Infrastructure #Australia #Queensland #NorthernTerritory Mangoesmapping GIS Mapping (Mangoesmapping)

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October 2024 Edition of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Magazine. #Cybersecurity ranks as the number-one concern for businesses, followed by financial, legal and regulatory risks, a new report has found. In partnership with YouGov, McGrathNicol surveyed more than 300 C-suite executives and board directors across Australian businesses with 50 or more employees. Cyber risk was a top-five concern for 2024 for 68 per cent of organisations, the highest of any risk category. The report found 71 per cent of organisations don't conduct due diligence on their key suppliers' cybersecurity practices, and over 75 per cent don't require mandatory reporting of cyber or data breaches affecting their suppliers. While 87 per cent of surveyed organisations were confident their business has a comprehensive insider risk management program in place, less than a third have implemented fundamental insider risk controls. Only 28 per cent use a risk-based vetting and due diligence framework for employees and suppliers or contractors, while only 27 per cent have education/awareness programs in place, and just 18 per cent have appointed an authority accountable for insider risk. BSI Learning #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth

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“The promise of #NDC is to improve efficiency and foster a better relationship between airlines and TMCs. Instead, we’re witnessing a shift toward further fragmentation, where benefits are reserved for a select few.” Just another broken promise. This stuff has always been about the $$$. Never about the customer. Never about technology. “Pre internet technology”? Rubbish. It is another full frontal assault on the economics of airfare distribution. Market dominant airlines could not care less about fragmentation. In fact they encourage it. Comparison shopping? Discourage it. It’s naive to think otherwise. The “by invitation” category is yet another charade. Your Golden Ticket will be earned. By a process of elimination. EOI. Straight out of Animal Farm. “4 legs good, 2 legs bad.” Favouritism 101. The shortlist will already have been drawn up. Yet more fragmentation. “Together we can work towards a future that benefits everyone involved”. Really? Where was the consultation before this latest missile? There is not a snowflake in hell’s chance of collaboration happening. Regardless of the length of the “runway”. Zero. It’s just another #NewDistributionCluster

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Avec have just released our latest report with strategies and insights into the federal government’s allocation of funds to boost data and digital capabilities, and how to ensure successful implementation. Our federal leaders are navigating a number of public sector technology strategies with a view to improving service delivery and driving efficiencies, including: · Implementing a more agile approach to delivery to optimise technology investments. · AI adoption and a robust governance framework for the safe and responsible use of AI. · Secure and connected public services with enhanced cybersecurity and data management · The focus on cloud migration and uplift projects to drive government transformation Check out the downloadable report below!

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The importance of a data governance strategy cannot be overstated - and the necessity for this to align with the cyber strategy is fundamental to ensure a solid cyber foundation is in place. If a cyber crisis hits, the need to understand what data is at risk must be addressed. #informationassets #datagovernance #cyber

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Spark NZ's future with Renee Mateparae Today I am joined by Renee Mateparae (Spark NZ) as we delve into Spark's plans for data centres, the benefits of 5G Standalone, transition from 3G and the role of AI in service enhancement. Plus tech news from the week including NZ banks' new scam protection tools, Meta's $10B subsea cable project, Australia pass social media under 16 ban. Tune in and hear Spark's strategic vision for the future of telecommunications.

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A recent analysis of two major transformations showed just how critical it is to have the right enablers in play for a successful outcome. Tony Boyd’s article in the AFR (https://ow.ly/ppZb50RqjTH) about two such projects illustrates just how critical leadership, planning, and the right level of engagement with third parties is for the outcome of transformation initiatives. Visionary leadership, strategic planning, meaningful engagement with external experts, and a keen focus on outcomes form the backbone of successful digital transformations. For leaders embarking on high-risk projects goes beyond oversight; it's about integrating change into the very fabric of the organisation, ensuring alignment with the overarching vision. Third-party consultants play their role best as enablers, not as the driving force, supporting internal capabilities with their expertise. Remember, accountability for the transformation's success rests firmly with the executive leaders. When leadership remains hands-on, the trajectory of core projects aligns closely with success. #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #ProjectManagement #ITGovernance #CorePlatforms #StrategicPlanning #AccountabilityInLeadership For more insights: https://ow.ly/B0F450RqjTG Follow the Bulletin: https://ow.ly/96aH50RqjZ

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Are we driving innovation in our industry? At Micron21, we believe innovation isn’t just a choice - it’s a responsibility. In today’s fast-paced digital economy, Australian businesses need reliable, secure, and scalable IT solutions to remain competitive on a global stage. Our state-of-the-art data centres, cutting-edge infrastructure, and proactive approach to emerging technologies are helping businesses not only adapt but thrive in an ever-changing environment. By investing in the future of Australian businesses, we’re not just enabling success - we’re shaping it. #Leadership #Innovation #DataCentre #AustralianBusiness #FutureProof

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