Ian Birks
Industry stalwart and former CEO of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), Ian Birks, has passed away.
Birks had a long history in the Australian ICT industry. He was CEO at the AIIA between 2008 and 2011 and also served as chair at the IT Industry Innovation Council between 2010 and 2013. He was most recently the CEO at Australian Services Roundtable.
Birks spent 25 years between 1987 and 2012 as director of IT industry research firm, Ideas International Limited. Ideas was acquired by Gartner in 2012.
He was also a member of the Australian government’s Small Business Ministerial Advisory Council, the CSIRO Digital Productivity Flagship and Services Advisory Committee, and chair of the government’s IT Industry Innovation Council.
The AIIA said on Tuesday that Birks “brought with him stature and integrity, a sharp strategic mind and selfless generosity to his colleagues and peers.
“Ian was more than a colleague, AIIA chair, Kee Wong said in a statement. “He was an outstanding leader and voice in advocating the role of ICT in driving Australia’s economy.”
“His passing is a great personal loss to me – and of course, a sad loss for the industry,” he said.
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