Edward Wegner
I have been a member of Canterbury Tech since its inception. I am a retired software engineer with extensive software technical management experience at Tait Communications. I hold a Masters Degree in Computer Science, having successfully changed careers from being a school teacher (with an M.A. in Education and a B.A. in English). Prior to emigrating to NZ in 1992, I was a Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories in the D part of Bell Labs’ R&D. At Tait, I spent most of my nearly 25 years building software capability in a predominately hardware/manufacturing company, and raised the profile and importance of software to senior management. I provided advice on risks and recommended actions to the C-suite execs on all proposed and active development projects. I have a well-oiled bull**it detector on all things technical.
What specific expertise can you bring to Canterbury Tech Board?
I am a retired software technical manager who reported to C-suite managers for nearly 25 years at Tait Communications. My strengths are in understanding how to build teams who are both technically competent and able to understand business objectives. I have been a member of Canterbury Tech (formerly Canterbury Software) since its founding. Being retired, I have time to contribute and a passion for continuing to promote technology in Canterbury and New Zealand. I am keen to “give back.”
What do you see are the top three opportunities to advancing the tech sector in Canterbury?
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Engage diverse membership: The cluster has developed from a pure technical group to an organisation that represents all aspects of technology companies in Canterbury. While this is a good thing, it presents challenges for Canterbury Tech to be able to engage all its membership with speaker topics and even Tech Summit speakers who are of interest to the whole tech community.
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Advance the national impact of tech: More broadly, there is a national political aspect to advancing tech. While not a political organisation, it is important for Canterbury Tech to advance the story of the positive economic impact of tech in New Zealand.
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Focus on collaboration: A focus on inter-company and University/Polytech collaboration.
What would be your first point of action/suggestion on the Board if you were to be elected?
If it is aligned with the Board strategy, I am personally keen to re-start the mentoring programme that was run successfully for at least five years, but stopped two or three years ago. Otherwise, I am also happy to contribute to board strategy in whatever way I can.
