Gloomy predictions?
Now's the time for career development

20 May 2003

IBM Warwick  

9.00 Registration and coffee   10.00am Welcome and introduction Geoff Petherick, briefing organiser Gloomy Predictions? - Now's the Time for Career Development   10.10 Not quite ready for the cardigan and slippers? Colin Beveridge, Conbrit How you can prepare yourself for the changing workplace and prolong your active working life…   Government kite - Raise the state retirement age IT sector is different, retire at age 45 - Now what do we do? Pension goal-posts swiftly disappearing - Leisurely early retirement is no longer an option. A second career for a life after IT - Maybe even longer than our first careers. Interim Management and Portfolio Working - The real opportunities and pitfalls Colin is a widely experienced interim IT Director and a leading commentator on technology management issues. He has very strong opinions, backed up with genuinely substantive experience, gained from working with dozens of leading blue-chip clients. In the past three years, Colin has also embarked upon the path of Portfolio Working, channeling his energy and experience into various activities, including Conbrit - an initiative to promote collaboration, communication and co-operation within the information technology community. 10.50 So you want to be a Chief Information Officer? Roger Ellis, Black Raven   What does an IT Director actually do? Why is the role of a CIO different? Networking - why it is so important and how to start The changing role of IT What does the future hold? Roger is the Managing Director of Black Raven Limited, the respected management consultancy and conference firm. Roger is well known to many in the industry having served as IT Director at Blue Circle Industries for some 12 years and also as a Chairman of Elite, the IT Director's arm of the BCS. Prior to Blue Circle, Roger also spent 16 years with Gulf Oil in various senior managerial roles, living and working in Italy and the USA, as well as the UK. With a total of over 35 years experience in the industry, he currently still serves as Treasurer for Elite, is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and sits on Computer Weekly's editorial advisory board. He enjoys cooking, food and good wine and some time ago clay pigeon shooting (sounds dangerous combination to me!) 11.30 Coffee   11.55 "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790 Russell Harbison, Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College   Options and choices for further study It's never too late to learn Changes in direction Lifelong Learning Building on Success Russell joined the Buckinghamshire University College in 1989 as a Senior Lecturer in the Engineering Department teaching on HND and associated courses. As a founder member of the small team which wrote the first engineering degree courses he has long had an interest in engineering education and a particular interest in the teaching of part-time and vocationally oriented students. As the Head of Engineering he pioneered a number of new initiatives both within and outside the department including Graduate Apprenticeship and franchising arrangements and as member of a number of committees within the University College he also has a great interest in engineering education in schools and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Young Engineers for Britain run by the Engineering Council. 12.20 A Career in Outsourcing Speaker to be confirmed - Computer Sciences Please keep checking back here for further updates. 13.00 Lunch   14.00 Developing IT Professionals Competence Sue Kilford, PinkRoccade   Developing IT Professionals competence across the IT function - The challenges A backdrop of cost reduction, outsourcing, acquisition, staff loyalty etc. The methods we use internally - The Human Resources role What role should an individual play in progressing their own career development? What is the Employers responsibility and what is the Individuals responsibility for ongoing development? Sue Kilford is Director of Education Services for PinkRoccade and her group delivers training in Service Management based on the "de facto" standard ITIL offering accreditation from Foundation to Masters level, Relationship Management focusing on bridging the gap between IT and the Business, and Project Management utilising the PRINCE2 methodology. She has an extensive background as a presenter having worked in 3 Service Management training organisations and has spent several years developing and delivering courses for PinkRoccade in the Relationship portfolio. Additionally Sue has a responsibility to deliver an Internal Education Schedule that meets the demands of the PinkRoccade Managed Services and this has proved one of the most challenging client to keep satisfied. Her sessions have a reputation for keeping the audience "wide awake" and on the edge of their seats! Just the thing for after lunch! 14.40 Doing Your Own Thing - A Risky Business? Geoff Petherick, CNG Development   What skills do I have - Can I really make it? What is the best market to get into - IT maybe? Setting up your own company - What do I do now? Selecting a partner - Sharing the risk. Sales & Marketing - Networking as a vital ingredient. Geoff Petherick started his IT career in operations and systems for BT in the 60's and left in the late 70's to become a salesman. He has run three US Software companies at up to International VP level and in '91 decided to 'Do his own Thing' setting up one of a number of his own companies in a variety of different markets including Outsourcing and Supply Chain. During this time he has had many "interesting experiences" which he will cover in his talk. A keen golfer, his efforts in reducing his handicap have always failed due to his desire to go the tree lined route.   15.20 Close and Afternoon Tea