Previous Board Members

MATTHEW SCHULTZ - PRESIDENT

Matthew Schultz ­ Ipswich City Council City Digital Officer has extensive experience and leadership expertise in smart city, connectivity, data, internet of things and spatial visualisation and analysis of data.

Matthew is an accomplished and experienced professional with over 23 years of experience in the Information Technology, Telecommunications, Digital Economic Development, Geospatial and Civil Engineering fields covering management, consulting, and technical roles.

Now as the City Digital Officer of Ipswich, Matthew leads an ICT Digital City group delivering Smart City, Spatial, Web, Analytics, Internet of Things and Information Management services.

In addition, Matthew has also positioned Ipswich City as a Top 7 worldwide Intelligent Community for 2015, 2017 and 2018.

PETER RUNCIE - VICE PRESIDENT

Peter is the New Industries and Platforms Leader for Data61 – CSIRO’s data science unit.  In this role he is exploring collaboration models that bring industry and innovation communities together to achieve significant national impact for society, the environment and the economy.

Smart cities, sensing, data analytics and secure data have all been recent focus areas while at CSIRO.  Peter came to CSIRO from National ICT Australia (NICTA) where he led R&D programs in structural health monitoring and cognitive load measurement.

Previously Peter led a number of initiatives in product, service and channel partnership development for Avaya Inc in the US.  Prior to that Peter consulted to Bell Laboratories and was the CIO of a technology based retail startup based in Sydney. Peter is an inventor on over 25 granted patents in voice and video communications, data networking and biometrics with others pending in civil engineering and data analytics.

Peter is a director of the NSW Smart Sensing Network and is the owner of a management consultancy firm specialising in corporate strategy, management team effectiveness, product development and innovation processes.

HELEN AIRIYAN - TREASURER

Passionate about transforming our Cities and Communities, Helen has been an active member of the IoT Alliance Australia where she has been promoting collaboration, open standards and innovation. With 20+ years of Australian & International experience, today Helen is a Sales Director at Reekoh - an award winning Australian company focusing on simplifying integration. Combining business and technology backgrounds, Helen helps create a vision and a strategy to get there.

Helen believes Internet of Things (IoT) and other emerging technologies have an amazing power to transform communities we live in and improve quality of life of every citizen!

MARISSA RACOMELARA - SECRETARY

Marissa is an experienced project and change professional with a demonstrated history of working in various levels of government. She is skilled in Strategy, People Management, Digital Transformation, Culture Change, and Performance Improvement. Marissa is a strong business development professional with a Masters of Management. Marissa is currently employed as the Director Transformation and Change at Georges River Council.

ROGER ROONEY - BOARD MEMBER

Roger Rooney has 23 years Federal and Territory government experience encompassing Broadband policy, Digital Economy research, Smart City strategy, Predictive Service Delivery and Digital Transformation projects such as CBRfree, one of Australia’s largest free public Wi-Fi networks, and Smart Parking Manuka.

A published author, Roger is also helping to enrich the world through his debut novel, True North, a Vietnam War story that is now being turned into a screenplay.

PETRHYCE DONOVAN - BOARD MEMBER

Petrhyce has 10 years’ experience as a public servant, working for Northern Territory Government and local government in NSW. 

In her current role, she is responsible for driving the innovation agenda for NSW’s largest Council (Canterbury-Bankstown) and guiding the Council, its staff, community and elected representatives on their journey to becoming a leading Smart City.

With qualifications in communications and digital anthropology, Petrhyce’s passions are simplifying government services, understanding how and why humans use technology and co-creating strategies for future success.

ZOE EATHER - BOARD MEMBER

Zoe is a bit of an untraditional engineer and a millennial with a passion for Smart Communities and Smart Regions, so not just in the big cities, but using technology and Smart ways of thinking as enablers to make the places we live more accessible, liveable and sustainable for all. She is driven to help regional areas access Smart concepts in a way that works for their communities.

Zoe keeps up-to-date with the latest trends and shares her learnings through hosting The Smart Community Podcast and was recently awarded a Churchill Fellowship to travel to eight different countries to research Smart Mobility, which includes connected and automated vehicles, mobility as a service and shared assess to mobility.

Zoe's background includes civil construction, project management, environmental engineering and advanced and emerging transport technologies. Through her boutique consultancy Zemcon she offers Smart City advisory services with a focus on Smart Mobility, Smart project management, Smart technology in regional communities, dealing with disruption and facilitating genuine collaboration.

GERARD ROSSE - BOARD MEMBER

Gerard began his career as an urban planner and development professional contributing to a range of projects including greenfield town-centre developments, master planned communities along with providing strategic planning and approval services. In subsequent years and through various roles in both the public and private sectors he has delivered various major infrastructure and development projects along with leading the preparation of economic development policy and infrastructure plans across Queensland and more recently in the Northern Territory.

Gerard is currently the Director of the City Growth and Operations department at the City of Palmerston in the Northern Territory, one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia. During his time in the Northern Territory he has led several smart city programs across multiple Local Governments driving a smart city and digital transformation agenda that captures the unique context of Northern Australia.  Gerard is passionate about utilising the national smart city movement as a tool to overcoming urban challenges and capturing innovation opportunities and aims to improve Local Government collaboration through his role on the ASCA Board.

Gerard holds tertiary and post graduate qualifications in Urban and Environmental Planning, Financial Accounting and Business Management along with certified professional membership to both the Planning Institute of Australia (MPIA) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

BROOK DIXON - PRESIDENT

Mr Brook Dixon is President of the Australian Smart Communities Association, working with counterparts across Australia to promote smart city solutions that improve liveability, sustainability and productivity in our cities.

He is also Managing Director of Delos Delta, driving smart city and digital transformation for clients around the world.

Brook is a Churchill Fellow, who has visited and studied the drivers of digital transformation in leading global cities. As part of this study, Brook visited cities in Asia, Europe and the Americas in 2016.

 Brook is an experienced leader, smart city creator, strategic planner, keynote speaker, business moderniser, digital city exponent, public administrator, economist, and policy developer.

PETER RUNCIE - VICE PRESIDENT

Peter is the New Industries and Platforms Leader for Data61 – CSIRO’s data science unit.  In this role he is exploring collaboration models that bring industry and innovation communities together to achieve significant national impact for society, the environment and the economy.

Smart cities, sensing, data analytics and secure data have all been recent focus areas while at CSIRO.  Peter came to CSIRO from National ICT Australia (NICTA) where he led R&D programs in structural health monitoring and cognitive load measurement.

Previously Peter led a number of initiatives in product, service and channel partnership development for Avaya Inc in the US.  Prior to that Peter consulted to Bell Laboratories and was the CIO of a technology based retail startup based in Sydney. Peter is an inventor on over 25 granted patents in voice and video communications, data networking and biometrics with others pending in civil engineering and data analytics.

RAY HEFFERNAN - SECRETARY

Ray had an extensive career in Telstra spanning technical, administrative marketing and sales roles.  He established Aston House Consulting Services to provide strategic advice to government and industry on the digital economy and on telecommunications matters and is currently the Manager. Ray also has served on the Board of Queensland’s largest vocational education institution guiding its commercialisation framework and practices.

Ray is the Executive Manager at the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) and has provide significant advice and guidance on infrastructure projects, training, policy development and promoting the digital needs of Central West Queensland. He has held a directorships and executive positions in a number of organisations

BROOK DIXON - PRESIDENT

Brook is Managing Director of Delos Delta, driving smart city and digital transformation for clients around the world. 

Brook is an experienced leader, smart city creator, strategic planner, keynote speaker, business moderniser, digital city exponent, public administrator, economist, and policy developer. 

Daniel High - vice president

Experienced in Economic Development, urban regeneration, place making,project management and smart city technology and strategy. Demonstrated history of working across all tiers of government in collaboration with private enterprise. Experienced Board member. Skilled in project / corporate governance and business strategy - self confessed urban development addict - graduated from Curtin University with a Commerce double degree and Australian Institute of Company Directors Directors Course.

Matthew Schultz - Treasurer

CDO and Digital Transformation advocate for Ipswich City leading an ICT Digital City group deliveringSmart City, Spatial, Web, Analytics and IoT services.

Ray Heffernan - Secretary

Ray is the Executive Manager at the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) and has provide significant advice and guidance on infrastructure projects, training, policy development and promoting the digital needs of Central West Queensland. He has held a directorships and executive positions in a number of organisations

Alexia Lidas

Alexia is a policy advisor, business strategist and built environment enthusiast. She is Managing Director at Metis Advisory and CPD, the Design Futures Council and an Advisor to the Australian Smart Communities Association. She has represented the built environment to State and Federal Government on issues and assisted industry with topics such as procurement, contractual terms, infrastructure financing, diversity, community and stakeholder engagement. 

Peter Runcie

Peter is an experienced professional with broad experience across a range of technical and business disciplines.  Specialties include: business development, software development, product and solution development, technology commercialisation, patents, IP portfolio development, market analysis and strategy, channel development, M&A, assembling and managing teams including virtual teams, project management, IT services, general management.

Michael Whereat - President

Experienced Lead with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry.Strong professional skilled in Negotiation, Business Planning, Training Delivery, Management, and Community Engagement.

BROOK DIXON - vice PRESIDENT

Brook is Managing Director of Delos Delta, driving smart city and digital transformation for clients around the world. 

Brook is an experienced leader, smart city creator, strategic planner, keynote speaker, business moderniser, digital city exponent, public administrator, economist, and policy developer. 

Ray Heffernan - Secretary

Ray is the Executive Manager at the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) and has provide significant advice and guidance on infrastructure projects, training, policy development and promoting the digital needs of Central West Queensland. He has held a directorships and executive positions in a number of organisations

Matthew Schultz - Treasurer

CDO and Digital Transformation advocate for Ipswich City leading an ICT Digital City group deliveringSmart City, Spatial, Web, Analytics and IoT services.

Daniel High - Board member

Experienced in Economic Development, urban regeneration, place making,project management and smart city technology and strategy. Demonstrated history of working across all tiers of government in collaboration with private enterprise. Experienced Board member. Skilled in project / corporate governance and business strategy - self confessed urban development addict - graduated from Curtin University with a Commerce double degree and Australian Institute of Company Directors Directors Course.

Peter Runcie - Board Member

Peter is an experienced professional with broad experience across a range of technical and business disciplines.  Specialties include: business development, software development, product and solution development, technology commercialisation, patents, IP portfolio development, market analysis and strategy, channel development, M&A, assembling and managing teams including virtual teams, project management, IT services, general management.

Peter Auhl - board member

Peter is Chief Information Officer of the City of Adelaide. He is passionate about meaningful Digital Transformation and Government “getting out of the way” and letting people make their own decisions to shape their futures. To achieve this at State and Local Government levels, he had built focused, action oriented teams united by a vision of enabling economic growth and creating smarter, more connected communities through technology.

Glenn Pomeroy - board member

Glenn is the Coordinator, Innovation and Transformation of the City of Bendigo. He is pursuing innovative and transformational projects that build jobs and support managing growth for Bendigo.

Brook Kitson - board member

Brook was previously Manager for Cardno and also Project Director for Pelican Waters - Design and construction Maroochydore City Centre - Design & construction and Aura (Caloundra South) P1 - Construction (Inc. EDQ - Project Coordinator role)

Robert Smallwood - board member

Robert’s specialties are: executive leadership, strategic planning, commercialisation, marketing, customer service, renewable energy, energy policy, change management, capital raising, project management, sales and business development, market research, branding strategy and staff motivation. Additional expertise in energy technologies, innovation management and academic research.