Daniel Merriott
Hi, I’m Daniel. I’m passionate about the people who make tech work and use tech to solve challenges. As founder of the Digital Skills Agency, I help organisations grow those people. My experience includes IT infrastructure, architecture, project management, and senior IT leadership. I can offer strong tech and business insights, previous governance experience, and a people-first approach whilst having fun! I’m based in Rolleston, and when off duty I love spending time with my wife and my four-legged family, rock music singalongs on road trips to new places, and I’m told I make a mean homemade pizza.
What specific expertise can you bring to Canterbury Tech Board?
I have nearly 30 years of experience across hands-on technical roles, tech leadership and advisory work – but I’ll always be a techy at heart. Alongside this, I can offer:
- Volunteer and board experience across multiple organisations.
- Extensive expertise in people development and skills assessment within the tech sector.
- Experience coaching & mentoring tech leaders.
- I’m also a Certified Management Accountant, Certified in IT governance and audit, and hold a Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors NZ. I hope this mix of experience and expertise can add value to complement the existing the Canterbury Tech Board.
What do you see are the top three opportunities to advancing the tech sector in Canterbury?
- Attract diverse talent: Attract people from diverse backgrounds into Canterbury’s tech sector – we all want and need this, so let’s give it focus.
- Address skills gaps: Identify the skills gaps holding back local tech businesses, and co-creating solutions – combining local training, mentoring, job swaps, volunteer experience, and regional communities of practice to grow the talent we need.
- Elevate tech leadership: Make Canterbury’s tech leadership the gold standard for NZ. We could facilitate peer support for senior and emerging leaders, focusing on governance, entrepreneurial thinking, board reporting, communicating cybersecurity risk to nontechnical audiences, developing and delivering investment pitches, etc. Let’s build a reputation for confident, future-ready leaders.
What would be your first point of action/suggestion on the Board if you were to be elected?
I’d propose launching the Canterbury Tech Leadership Awards – to recognise tech leaders at all levels for developing their teams, growing their organisations, and contributing to the wider community. Leadership has an outsized impact (positive or otherwise) on individuals and organisations. I’d like to see us showcase outstanding examples and promote excellence. These awards would recognise good practice, inspire emerging leaders and reinforce Canterbury’s reputation as a hub for confident, future-ready tech leadership.
