NSW is already benefitting from digital transformation with streamlined and improved access to services for residents and businesses. We now want to accelerate our digital transformation by building strategic partnerships with industry to help maintain our status as the leading Australian government for digital readiness.
Partnership with Microsoft
Last week, the Government's Chief Information and Digital Officer Greg Wells, and Microsoft Australia's Managing Director Steve Worrall, announced the first of these strategic partnerships with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Microsoft Australia at the opening of Microsoft's new Microsoft Technology Centre (MTC) in Sydney.
The MOU provides the framework in which Microsoft and NSW Government agencies can collaborate to accelerate the digital transformation of NSW Government services, in a major boost for NSW. Based on key priorities in the NSW digital roadmap we have identified potential collaboration opportunities to create a positive impact for citizens and businesses as well as operational efficiencies for Government. The opportunities for greater collaboration include building a data-centric approach to good government (building on work already started with the Data Analytics Centre) and improving customer experience enabled by important cyber, technology platforms and capability development initiatives.
Our initial focus will be on improving our cyber capabilities, modernising our technology platforms by migrating to as-a-service offerings and cloud services, and building our own capabilities in critical areas.
One of the most exciting aspects of the partnership is the potential is to build digital capability of public servants across NSW. DFSI is already working with the Public Service Commission to build a digital-savvy workforce. This initiative can clearly be supported by our existing investment in Microsoft and the partnership we're creating. 'Building digital skills is one of our biggest challenges. If we can create a pool of digital practitioners, policy makers, data analysts, designers and leaders across government we can speed up initiatives that have a real customer impact,' Greg Wells said. 'That's the target, it's a real practical impact this can make.'
Having the support of Microsoft's experts will allow us to rapidly build this experienced pool, with whom we will be able to greatly accelerate the Government's digital journey.
An ecosystem of strategic partnerships
Our intention is to grow our own ecosystem of strategic partnerships, including with traditional and non-traditional suppliers, to deliver the NSW Digital Government Strategy, foster innovation and harness the potential of digital and emerging technologies to improve how government and citizens interact and deliver better outcomes for the state. Our ecosystem is expected to include a variety of suppliers, both local and global, that can deliver the required technical solutions and provide knowledge and experience to build our own digital skills.
These strategic partnerships will mature the NSW Government's engagement with industry, from a traditional buyer-seller relationship to a collaborative partnership.
The recently announced Pitch to Pilot Program, which provides innovators with direct access to NSW Government, is a complimentary initiative that further demonstrates our desire for a more mature engagement with industry to collaborate on innovative technologies and solutions. It aims to recognise Australian businesses who can deliver improved efficiencies, better services and enhanced outcomes to the citizens of NSW. The 13 finalists selected by this program include both small and large organisations.
These initiatives will lead to new and innovative services for the people of NSW and help maintain our status as the leading Australian government for digital readiness.