Appointment of new chairman of the ICPAC announced

16/6/99
The Western Australian Government's highest level advisory body on information and communications technologies has a new chairman.
Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan has announced the appointment of Professor Tony Watson, Head of the School of Computer and Information Science at Edith Cowan University, as chairman of the Information and Communications Policy Advisory Council (ICPAC).
Mr Cowan said the chair became vacant following the resignation of the council's inaugural chairman, Curtin University's Professor Dennis Moore.
The Minister thanked the outgoing chairman and said ICPAC had provided valuable advice directly to the Cabinet Standing Committee for Information and Communications Issues.
He said matters considered under Professor Moore's chairmanship included telecommunications infrastructure for regional areas, Government information and communications purchasing policies and barriers to the extension of on-line services.
ICPAC, established in September 1998, had 16 members including the heads of six key Government agencies and representation from industry, local government, regional Western Australia and the Technology and Industry Advisory Council.
The Office of Information and Communications in the Department of Commerce and Trade will provide executive and administrative support.
Professor Watson has a high profile in WA computing circles as an academic and industry consultant. He was awarded the ACS WA Information Technology Awards Achiever of the Year in 1993 and has pursued international research activities.
He said the council has a vital role in providing Government with good advice.
"Computing, communications and information technology infrastructure play such an important part in underpinning our lifestyles and community growth," Professor Watson said.
"The impacts on business of rapid change and new technologies such as E-commerce mean that it is even more important for WA to be competitive on a world scale."
Media contacts: Peter Jackson 9222 9595
Professor Tony Watson
Head School of Computer & Information Science
Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia
email:a.watson@cowan.edu.au phone 93706470