Queensland reshuffles acting CIO position as chief role stays empty

Sue Rickerby is to step up as Queensland's acting CIO after state Premier Campbell Newman announced changes to its department heads.

On Monday, Newman announced that Rickerby would move from the Department of Premier and Cabinet to the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA) as its director-general.

Traditionally, the director-general of DSITIA has held the responsibility of acting as the Queensland Government CIO when the position is vacant, as it is now.

Current DSITIA director-general Andrew Garner is in the role, but his six-month contract with the state is due to expire in mid October, a spokesperson for DSITIA told ZDNet. Garner will leave DSITIA and the Queensland government at that point.

Rickerby currently holds the director-general position within the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and has been in the role since February 2013. Prior to her contributions at a state level, she held a number of executive roles at a local level for Brisbane City Council. Her government profile indicates that her past experiences are in marketing and communications roles, although she has also been instrumental in the government's Open Data project.

DSITIA confirmed that in stepping into the position, she will inherit the responsibility of acting Queensland Government CIO until that role can be filled.

Meanwhile, the state continues to look for a new CIO after placing its former CIO Peter Grant on a side project.

Garner has not been given any special consideration for the CIO role if he were to apply, with the department stating that all applications will be assessed through an open merit process and in accordance with the state's recruitment policies and processes.