Our People

Ann Smith

Ann's experience in business and information technology projects extends over 25 years across the private, community and public sectors.

At Spectrum Management Agency she managed the $10+ million RADCOM development project, a major GIS implementation with significant implications for the telecommunications industry. As Director of Business Solutions & Services at the AIPO she implemented structured project management techniques, integration of project management and system development lifecycles, and preparation of formalized business cases. She coached up to ten team leaders to successful annual delivery of up to 150 projects, sized up to 30-35 person-years. As well she used quality management techniques to obtain 18% per annum savings in support costs. As Branch Software Manager for MDS-Qantel (Australia) she had responsibility for requirements analysis, implementation and support of commercially-oriented IT systems across WA. She was a trainer for and administrator of the Administrative and Clerical Officers' Association's internal training programme for the S.A. Branch (a training programme of up to 1,000 student days per year delivered by a pool of 10-20 contract trainers). With MDS-Qantel and, with ACOA, she developed and presented staff and client training in computer familiarization, applications and operations procedures. As an independent consultant Ann's clients have included AXA (Australia), for whom she prepared and delivered a large Business Analyst development program. This major capability improvement project entailed planning the management of analysis skills across Australia and New Zealand, and training of a team of several dozen staff. Other clients include Department of Family & Community Services and Department of Health & Aged Care.

With Thomsett International Ann presents workshops on Business Analysis, Business Case preparation, and Project Management, both publicly, and in-house. She has assisted several organisations to develop project management and analysis skills in-house, including BT Financial Group, CPAA, and Cuscal, developing tailored training and coaching staff. She has worked with organisations covering all sectors, including financials, utilities, educational institutions and government departments, including: Department of Finance in Fiji, AMP, Asgard, Australian Taxation Office, Charles Sturt University, Coca-Cola-Amatil, Commonwealth Parliamentary Reporting Staff, CPA, Cuscal, Department of Education, Science and Training, Department of Health and Aged Care, Geoscience Australia, Monash University, OneSteel, Sealcorp, South East Water, Tower Life, University of Melbourne, Yarra Valley Water, and Zurich.

Ann has assisted a wide range of organisations with project-related considerations, conducting risk analysis workshops for such projects as Healthconnect, project prioritisation in OneSteel, and has facilitated project planning sessions for numerous projects, attended by up to 100 people, for organizations including TowerLife. She has conducted requirements analysis workshops for such organizations as Monash University (IT Services) and CSIRO. She also provides quality assurance services for business cases, project documents and business analysis documents and processes.

Ann has developed tutorials and workshops on Business Systems Analysis, Data Analysis and Presentation, and Facilitation for Analysts, and she has been invited to speak on project issues. Her professional affiliations include: IIBA, ABAA, and Membership of the Australian Computer Society.

Her recent contributions to industry include:

• presentations across Australia at BA World in 2009,
• participation in panel discussion on competencies at the BA Symposium in Sydney in July 2008,
• 2 papers Agile Methods and Complex Projects presented at the National Conference of the Australian Institute of Project Management in Canberra in October 2008, and
• publication in Information Age in 2009.

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