On the 11th of October, Cloud Context proudly sponsored and participated in the “Parramatta Where it’s AT” event held at the historic Parramatta Town Hall. This event was a significant milestone for the City of Parramatta, showcasing the collaborative efforts between Council and its partners to drive technological advancements and improve community engagement.
One of the core themes of the event was the transformation and modernisation of the City of Parramatta. The council’s CEO, Gail Connolly, emphasized the importance of this transformation, highlighting the rapid technology changes the city has experienced over the past 12 months. She noted, “The reinvention of Parramatta Town Hall is an ideal symbol of how our city is evolving as we enter a new era.”
This sentiment was echoed by John Angilley, Executive Director of Finance and Information, who discussed Council’s ambitious agenda and the need for a technology overhaul to support their strategic goals. Angilley stated, “Council hadn’t invested appropriately in its ICT and as a result, we had legacy infrastructure applications and equipment inhibiting our productivity, our ability to innovate and reducing our potential.”
John Crawford, Chief Technology Officer at the City of Parramatta, provided an in-depth look at the technological advancements and the challenges faced during the transformation. He highlighted the importance of having a cohesive team and the role of strategic partnerships in achieving their goals. Crawford stated, “The collaboration with our strategic partners has been pivotal in enhancing the council’s digital infrastructure and ensuring robust security measures.”
The collaboration with strategic partners was a significant focus. Cloud Context’s director, Elias Atie, discussed the company’s engagement with Microsoft to assist Council with Autopilot, Azure, Disaster Recovery (DR), and security improvements throughout their IT landscape. This collaboration has been pivotal in enhancing Council’s digital infrastructure and ensuring robust security measures. Microsoft’s involvement was further elaborated by Shailey Sharma, Public Sector – Councils Account Executive, Mark Dempsey, Azure Specialist Manager, and Josh Jones, Modern Work, Copilot & Surface Specialist, who discussed the various products and services provided by Microsoft that have been instrumental in the council’s digital transformation.
Cybersecurity was another major theme at the event. Sarah Sloane, Head of Government Affairs at Palo Alto Networks, discussed their role in improving the council’s cybersecurity posture. She highlighted the benefits of Palo Alto’s products and how they have helped Council mitigate cyber threats effectively. This was a crucial aspect of the organisation’s transformation, as Connolly pointed out the risks of cyber attacks and the need for robust security measures to protect the council’s operations and data.
The event also focused on the importance of AI and innovation in Local Government. Greg Yelas, Director of AI Driven Enterprise for Australia & New Zealand at Juniper Networks, presented on the relevance of AI-Native networking to Local Government. He emphasized how AI can enhance IT operations and improve community engagement and experience. This aligns with Council’s vision of becoming a global city by 2050, as Connolly mentioned, “We must accelerate beyond the bounds of current thinking because creating the city of tomorrow requires us to act boldly and dream big.”
Operational efficiency was another critical topic discussed at the event. Derek Walker, Client Manager for NSW Public Sector and Education at Lenovo, and Sumit Mathews, Smart Collaboration Business Development Manager, focused on their collaboration with the council to deliver advanced technology solutions. They discussed the implementation of meeting room technology at various council sites, which has significantly improved the council’s operational efficiency.
The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring representatives from the City of Parramatta, Cloud Context, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, Juniper Networks, and Lenovo. The panelists shared their insights on various topics, including the future of smart cities, cybersecurity challenges, and the role of AI in local government. Key takeaways from the panel discussion included the importance of continuous innovation, the need for robust cybersecurity measures, and the benefits of strategic partnerships in achieving technological advancements. John Crawford, Chief Technology Officer at the City of Parramatta, highlighted, “We must accelerate beyond the bounds of current thinking because creating the city of tomorrow requires us to act boldly and dream big.” Crawford also added, “The collaboration with our strategic partners has been pivotal in enhancing the council’s digital infrastructure and ensuring robust security measures.”
In summary, the event was a resounding success, highlighting the collaborative efforts between the City of Parramatta and its partners. The event underscored the importance of technological innovation in driving community engagement and improving public services.
Cloud Context is proud to have been a part of this significant event and looks forward to continuing its partnership with the council to achieve its strategic goals.
On behalf of us all at Cloud Context, thank you!
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