Moon over AIIA, caretaker CEO may take it all

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has announced that current CEO, Sheryle Moon, will be departing at the end of this week.

Moon — who is also a regular blogger on ZDNet.com.au — will step out of the AIIA's national offices for the last time on Friday to become ANZ director for the Julia Ross recruitment agency.

Outgoing CEO Sheryle Moon

Credit: AIIA

The AIIA has appointed current board member Ian Birks, former managing director of ASX-listed IT research and advisory firm Ideas International, to take over from Moon. It is unclear if the move will be permanent.

Outgoing chief Moon told ZDNet.com.au today that Birks will take up the appointment until "at least the end of the calendar year", when the board will "perhaps" start looking for a new CEO.

Newly appointed AIIA CEO Ian Birks said he was committed to "providing industry leadership and influence in our critical focus areas of industry development, infrastructure, workforce, procurement and the environment".

"I will be unashamedly vocal about the contribution that ICT is making to our economic and social wellbeing and the potential it has to underpin future opportunities for Australians and the Australian economy," declared Birks.

Moon said she found championing the role of women in ICT one of the most rewarding aspects of her tenure.

"One of the things I have learned at AIIA is the great value of working with Australian companies to see them grow in both national and international markets," she said.

Speaking at January's inaugural Million Dollar Babes awards — to recognise the achievements of businesswomen in ICT — Moon said it was important to combat the stereotype of the "male geek" IT worker, leaving technology as an "unattractive" option for many women.

"These stereotypes are misleading and dangerous to the future of our workforce; less than 15 percent of all ICT employees are women. And that number is falling, along with the number and percentage of women enrolling in ICT studies," she said.

"We need to change the way that people think about our industry, and the way that our industry thinks about people," said Moon.

John Grant, Chairman of the AIIA Board of Directors said Moon had "left her mark" on the industry.

"Sheryle is widely recognised as a leading figure in the industry, and in the time that she has been our CEO she has definitely left her mark. We wish her all the best in the next stage of her career," he said