ITP Regions and Branches

ITP's local activities are divided into three Regions, each with city-based branches:

  • Northern Region: Top half of the North Island (Taupo North), including branches in Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga

  • Central Region: Bottom half of the North Island, including branches in Wellington and Palmerston North and activities in Whanganui and Hawkes Bay

  • Southern Region: All of the South Island, including branches in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Nelson

Each branch coordinates a range of local events, furthers the organisation's interests in their region, provides valuable feedback through to the national organisation, and helps ensure we maintain a nationwide agenda. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Institute of IT Professionals New Zealand (ITP) is the professional body for the tech sector in New Zealand, committed to advancing education, professionalism, and innovation in the IT field. It operates nationally, with regional branches representing members across the country.

  • ITP Branch Committees are regional groups that represent ITP locally, organising events, networking opportunities, and discussions relevant to members’ interests in their region. Each branch committee serves as a special interest group for their local community, fostering professional connections and offering a platform to discuss and address regional issues in digital tech.

  • Branch Committees play a vital role in the ITP structure by providing local support, insight, and advocacy. They connect members in specific regions, acting as on-the-ground representatives of the organisation. These committees also support the ITP operational team, helping strengthen our professional network and ensure members have access to local resources and networking opportunities.

  • Branch Committee members are responsible for: 

    • Organising at least four events per year, such as speaker sessions, meetups, or networking events. 

    • Promoting ITP activities, raising awareness of the organisation, and engaging with local professionals. 

    • Supporting the ITP operational team by gathering feedback from local members, facilitating event logistics, and fostering member engagement. 

  • Each Branch Committee typically includes: 

    • Chairperson: Leads the committee, coordinates meetings, represents the branch locally, and oversees activities. 

    • Committee Members: Assist in event planning, take on specific roles or portfolios, and ensure that branch activities align with ITP's mission and objectives. 

  • Members of Branch Committees are elected through an online voting process. Each member serves a two-year term, with half the positions coming up for election annually, ensuring continuity within the committee. Committees may also co-opt members as needed to support specific initiatives – or during the year if others are no longer able to remain involved.

  • On average, the time commitment is: 

    • Chairperson: maximum 1-2 hours per month, plus time for event preparation and attendance. 

    • Committee Members: Around 1 hour per month, plus event preparation and attendance. Committees are encouraged to meet at least six times per year to plan and discuss activities. 

  • Branch Committees organise a variety of events to engage members locally, including: 

    • Guest speakers on tech topics. 

    • Casual meetups, such as coffee catch-ups or after-work drinks. 

    • Online discussions on issues relevant to the local IT community. 

    • Workshops or panel discussions addressing specific interests of local members. 

    For example, the Wellington Branch hosts a monthly coffee drop-in, offering members a relaxed environment to network and discuss current IT trends. 

  • No, all financial matters, including budgeting and expense management, are handled at the national level by ITP’s central office. Branches focus solely on local engagement, with funding and financial support provided by the national team. 

  • Communication with members is managed through ITP’s official channels to ensure consistency and compliance with privacy laws. Committees provide updates, event information, and news to the central office, which then distributes it to local members through established communication platforms. 

  • If you're interested in joining a Branch Committee, you can reach out to us at info@itp.nz or speak with a current committee member to learn more. Volunteering on a committee is a great way to network, develop professional skills, and contribute to the growth and support of the IT community in your area.

  • Yes. There is a slack channel, and a resource pack for Branch Committees who can update with ideas and share insights with other branch committee members. 

  • Upon election to a Branch Committee, you’ll be asked to sign a letter of expectation. This outlines the commitment to attend meetings, actively participate, and share in the responsibilities of organising and supporting local events. It’s essential that committee members can rely on each other to fulfil these commitments, as this builds a strong foundation for planning and delivering engaging events for the local digital technology community. Consistent participation ensures the workload is manageable for all, enabling the committee to meet the needs of ITP members in your area.

  • Yes Branch Committee members will receive 50% off their ITP Membership fee.  

    We are also working on a Volunteer Badge solution so you can proudly display your contribution on LinkedIN and other platforms.  

Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland

Alex Tjahjana* (National Board)
Founder, IT Account 4 U

Avinash de Silva* (National Board)
Head of Technology, Alvarium

Declan Burke
Head of Information Technology, AoFrio Ltd

Kevin Maloney
Consulting Director, The Point Group Limited

Krish Jayaratne
IT Specialist, R2CC

Nilesh Chand
General Manager: Supply Chain Transformation & Optimisation, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Te Papaioea/Palmerston North

Jeremy McClure
IT Manager
HFHL

Alexei Tretiakov
Lecturer, Massey University

Steve Pavarno
Executive Officer, ManawaTech

Heather Todd*
GM Professional Services, Yorb Limited

Brian Steele
Head of IT Operations, Comhla Vet

Branches:

Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington

Simon Lloyd-Evans
Consultant CIO

Ian Willock
Agile Project Manager, NZ Police

Simon Morris
Principal Consultant, TTC

Rochelle Fatai
Service Consultant, CoDigital

Muhammad Azam
Head of School- IT, Whiteclifffe

Sharifa Isaako
Operations manager, Wellington City Council

Emmanuel Cornejo
Product Manager, NZ Defence Force

Ōtautahi/Christchurch

Steve Allen
Retired, Motley Voluntary Projects

Tony Dale
Honorary Research Fellow, Canterbury Uni

Arifah Addison
Senior Lecturer, Ara Institute

Bernard Otinpong
Senior Lecturer, Ara Institute

David Weir*
Principal Academic Staff, Ara Institute

Hamish Rickerby*
CTO, Beecastle

Kirikiriroa/Hamilton Branch

Mehrdad (Merv) Behroozi*
IS Project Manager, Hamilton City Council

Sally Jo Cunningham
Associate Professor, University of Waikato

Susan Souren*
Solution Delivery Manager, Hamilton City Council

Alison Marshall*
Industry Relationships Manager, Wintec

Matthew Vaughan*
IT Manager, Tompkins Wake

Ian Kennedy
Scrum Master, Rabobank

David Hallett
Co-founder, Company X

Whakatū/Nelson

Simon Gutschlag
Programme Manager, New Zealand King Salmon Ltd

Hilary Williams
Senior Analyst, NZ Defence Force

Owen McCall
Founder, Owen McCall Consulting Group

Simon Ferrari *(National Board)
IT Leadership Consultant

Ali Kahwaji*
Educator, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology

Tauranga Branch

Grant Strang*
Professional services / CIO

Mike Dennehy*
Consultant, Cactus Consulting

Ōtepoti/Dunedin

Ian Simpson
Managing Director, The Logic Studio

Jamie Vaughan
IT Manager, Gallaway Cook Allan Lawyers

Kylie Jackson*(National Board)
Customer Success Manager, PaySauce; Managing Director, Ōtepoti Games Company

Mark Oliver
Manager IT Development, MTF Finance

Anthony Dowling (ex-officio)
ITP National President

Matthew Stark
Network and Modern Workplace Manager

Brendon Woodford
Senior Lecturer, University of Otago

Henk Roodt