The CIO Exchange 2011 Scrapbook

See the highlights of our annual gathering of Canadian chief information officers, where we discussed the theme, "The Future CIO - Seizing the Opportunity for Change," at the Toronto Board of Trade on Sept. 15, 2011.

By Shane Schick - Editor-in-Chief IT World Canada

Meet the president

Gary Davenport, president of the national chapter of the CIO Association of Canada, takes notes during the proceedings. Davenport is also vice-president of IT at MTS Allstream in Toronto and took on his new role in the association earlier this year.

Big data, big problems

Software AG vice-president and general manager Scott Camarotti, along with senior director of system engineering Peter Palmer, discussed "CIOs, the customer and the data dilemma," including ways a variety of organizations have gained greater control of their data, mined it for the insights they need and so delivered better outcomes for customers.

Question period

Andrew Dillane, CIO of Randstad Group (centre) makes a point during a discussion on CIO priorities as NetHope's Kelvin Cantafio (left) and Software AG's Peter Palmer (right) look on. Dillane, who recently ended a three-year stint as national president of the CIO Association of Canada, was presented with a special thank-you gift at the event.

Take it from someone who knows

Former CIO for the Province of Ontario Greg Georgeff discusses his role in the public sector as well as stints at Noranda and elsewhere in the kick-off for a session called "The new competencies and the CIO career path," a panel discussion which he moderated.

Talking heads

Lars Gorenssen and Tony Olvet, both senior vice-presidents at market research firm IDC Canada, confer with each other before taking the stage to present "Making sense of the current ICT environment and what it means for the CIO," which included answers to questions that were drafted with direct imput from CIO Association of Canada members.

Receptive audience

City of Brampton CIO Rob Miekle takes in the insights of IDC Canada's research during the first major session of CIO Exchange.

Working remotely

OCAD U's Nabil Harfoush and Steve Heck, CIO of Microsoft Canada, keep up with the outside world via their mobile devices during a networking and refreshment break.

Opening remarks

Peel Region District School Board CIO Laura Williams gets to her feet to offer feedback on the future CIO during table discussions that kicked off CIO Exchange 2011. Table questions included "What have you changed your mind about since becoming CIO?" and "What do you wish your CEO understood about technology?"

Teachable moments

Ken Grant, a professor with Ryerson University, drew upon his extensive experience in consulting as well as education to talk about how CIOs can start to actively plan and develop a strategy for their careers.

A Canadian event for CIOs, by CIOs

The CIO Exchange 2011 Advisory Board, starting from back Row, left to right: Donna Butts, IT World Canada; Almin Surani, Canadian Red Cross; Steve Heck, Microsoft Canada. Front row: Laura Williams, Peel District School Board; Sherif Seta, Baxter; Nabil Harfoush, OCAD University; Andrew Dillane, Radstad Group; Gary Davenport, MTS Allstream; Kelvin Cantafio, NetHope; Mary Anne Ballantyne, Bishop Strachan School; Dave Codack, TD Bank; Shane Schick, IT World Canada.