Island IT expert leads UK IT

Isle of Man IT expert, Steve Burrows has been appointed as the new chair of a major UK Information Technology body. BCS ELITE (Effective Leadership in IT) is, with c. 3,000 members, the UK’s lead group for IT leaders, Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers, IT Directors and others influential in setting the direction of UK IT. ELITE holds learning and networking events across the UK for its members, and such is its influence that past speakers have included Michael Dell founder of Dell Computers, Bill Gates founder of Microsoft, and many other IT luminaries. ELITE also contributes to several major UK IT conferences and to the research and development of influential IT and data strategy reports which inform and influence IT and data policy across the UK.

Mr. Burrows, who is a regular contributor to the Isle of Man Examiner Business News with his “IT Matters” column and was founder of the Manx ICT Association, has been an elected member of the ELITE executive committee for nearly six years, and Vice Chair for the past three. Commenting on his appointment as Chair he said “It’s an enormous honour to have been asked to lead ELITE. Improving national exploitation of IT is key to economic growth in both the UK and Isle of Man, and the better equipped that IT leaders are to meet that challenge the better the chances of our economies surviving the rapid advances in digital engagement, automation and robotics that are starting to impact all highly-developed nations. Being given the opportunity to lead the premier UK forum for IT leaders and influence UK thinking is a huge privilege, but we also need to look further afield:- much of the legislation around IT and data now comes from the EU so earlier this month I travelled to Berlin to progress discussions for ELITE to become part of the European CIO Association and gain more direct influence in the EU”.

Whilst ELITE is hosted by BCS The Chartered Institute for IT it is open to qualifying BCS members and non-members alike and includes many of the most influential leaders in UK IT across business, government and the UK tech industry.

ELITE appoints SBA Consultant as Vice Chair

Steve Burrows has been elected Vice Chair of the Effective Leadership in IT group (ELITE), which is the primary forum for CIOs and IT Directors in the UK. ELITE, which is the IT leadership group within BCS The Chartered Institute for IT, has over 3,500 members, all of whom are recognised IT leaders. ELITE hosts thought leadership events around the UK both in its own right and as part of major IT industry conferences to help its members maximise the benefits that organisations obtain through their use of IT.

Immediately following the ELITE AGM at which Mr. Burrows was elected he chaired an ELITE event in London for a packed audience exploring the behaviours, skills and competencies necessary to make a truly complete Chief Information Officer capable of enabling and leading an organisation at a strategic level. Steve is also Vice Chair of Membership Board for BCS The Chartered Institute for IT, a director of the Isle of Man section of the Institute, and both a Chartered Director and a Chartered IT Professional.

Steve Burrows appointed Vice Chair BCS Membership Board

SBA are delighted to report that Steve Burrows, our principal consultant, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Membership Board at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

The mission of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is to enable the information society. It promotes wider social and economic progress through the advancement of information technology science and practice.

BCS brings together industry, academics, practitioners and government to share knowledge, promote new thinking, influence the development of computing education, shape public policy and inform the public.

BCS vision is to be a world-class organisation for IT. Its 70,000 strong membership includes practitioners, businesses, academics and students in the UK and internationally.

It delivers a range of professional development tools for practitioners and employees. A leading IT qualification body, it offers a range of widely recognised qualifications.

Steve has led the Membership Board's strategy working group since its inception, creating and driving proposals for the future of BCS. He said "I'm honoured and delighted to have been appointed to this position, having done considerable work on the development of strategy for the board it's good to have a hand on the wheel as we drive forwards to our vision.".

Steve Burrows to speak to BCS ELITE about IT & Business Strategy

SBA's principal consultant, Steve Burrows, will be a key speaker at a forthcoming event organised by BCS ELITE. ELITE is the Chartered Institute for IT's group for Effective Leadership in Information Technology, and claims to be "the UK lead forum for IT Directors and Senior Managers to exchange experiences, views and expectations on how information systems should be managed to achieve business objectives."

At the event on September 22nd in BCS London offices Steve will address the theme "IT's Role in Business Strategy, is IT Strategic?", presenting a business view of IT opposite Dr. Richard Sykes who is a board member of Intellect (the UK IT industry trade association) and past Group Vice President of IT for ICI. Their debate, in front of an audience of senior UK CIOs and IT Directors, will be chaired and moderated by Dr. Ben Booth, Global CIO for Ipsos-Mori.

For more details see the ELITE website .

SBA advises on Global IT Strategy

CABI is a not-for-profit organization established by a United Nations treaty-level agreement between 46 member countries. Headquartered in the UK, CABI operates in over 70 countries, helping to develop agricultural biosciences and enhance global food security. It is one of the world's largest publishers of agricultural bioscience research, holds a globally important collection of fungi, is a world authority on crucial issues such as plant health and invasive species, and delivers information and research capabilities into rural areas all over the world.

SBA Principal Consultant Awarded Chartered Director Status

Steve Burrows, SBA's principal consultant, has been awarded Chartered Director status by the Institute of Directors. In order to gain the award Steve had to complete the formal IoD Director Development training syllabus, pass the examinations for both the Certificate in Company Direction and the Diploma in Company Direction, compile a portfolio of his directorial experience, and be challenged on this in a viva voce examination by a panel of directors.

Steve said "I am delighted to have achieved this award. There are only a handful of people who have gained both Chartered IT Professional (CITP) and Chartered Director (CDir) status and it is an enormous privilege to join them".

In achieving both awards Steve has reinforced his position as one of the leading thinkers of modern corporate IT.