Norman Lacy - IT Industry Executive (1994-2009)

IT Industry Executive (1994-2009)

After returning to Melbourne in 1994, Lacy became Professional Development Director of the Australian Computer Society from 1996-98. This position involved the strategic development and management of the society's CMACS certification program into an industry based, masters level, distance education program for the certification of senior information technology professionals. He achieved this by establishing alliances with Open Learning Australia, a consortium of Australian Universities; the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA) and Deakin Australia.

From 1998-2000 he was Managing Director, of The Swish Group Limited. The position involved the establishment of the company during 1998, firstly as a consultant, and then from December 1998 as Managing Director. The Swish Group was one of the early Internet Service Providers in Australia, focusing on website, touch screen kiosk and CD-ROM design, e-commerce solutions and hosting. His achievements in this position included the formation and integration of the company by the acquisition and merging of three companies, and its Initial Public Offer and successful listing on the ASX. In July 1999 he was invited to represent small business in the ICT industry on the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce IT&T Trade Mission to Israel, led by the Minister for Communications IT and the Arts, Richard Alston.

From 2000 to 2009, Lacy was the founding Executive Director of the Information Technology Contract & Recruitment Association. This role required the establishment of the Association, the development of its products and services and the ongoing management of its membership and revenue growth. During this period, ITCRA’s membership grew from 6 to more than 150 companies across Australia and New Zealand.

Lacy's other achievements in this position included the establishment of a national research project at the invitation of the Department of Communications, IT and the Arts in May 2006. SkillsMatch ICT Labour Market Analysis is an on-line consolidated national database that addresses the need for labour market participants to gain an informed understanding of the ICT skills market and future skills demand. With Tower Life Australia in April 2001, he established the IT Super superannuation fund. The establishment and growth of IT2 as the second most successful IT job board, in partnership with SEEK (2002–2005) and with Fairfax Digital (from 2005) was a significant achievement. As was the design, establishment and growth of the ITCRA Certified Recruitment Professional program.

Norman Lacy retired from full-time work on 1 March 2009 after 52 years in the workforce. He has been President of Independent Contractors Australia since October 1998.

He has held a number of memberships in a variety of national organisations during that time, including

• Fellow, Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation;
• Associate Fellow, Australian Institute of Management;
• Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors;
• Associate Member, Australian Computer Society;
• Member of the ICT Sector Advisory Committee of Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) (2005–2009);
• Member of the ICT Skills Foresighting Working Group at the invitation of the Commonwealth Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts, Helen Coonan (2004–2006);
• Member of the Information and Communications Technology Advisory Group at the invitation of the Victorian Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby (2001);
• Chairman of the Board of IT Super(2002–2009);
• Member of the Board of Independent Contractors Australia since 2000, and President since November 2008.