GHD recognised for digital leadership

One of the world’s leading engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services companies, GHD, has been recognised as a leader in using Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to drive productivity and innovation.

Three GHD people received Gold Disruptor awards from the Australian Computer Society (ACS) in Sydney. Additionally, the company’s ISHELP team was recognised as one of the best in Asia, taking the Silver award for Excellence in Customer Service as part of Shared Services Week in Singapore.

Elizabeth Harper, GHD’s Chief Information Officer, says, “As a leading professional services company, we are always looking for better ways to support client delivery, collaboration and knowledge sharing. Our investment in digital systems underpins our strategic vision of seamless service across our connected global network.”

Elizabeth Harper

Elizabeth Harper has been named Gold Disruptor in the ICT Professional of the Year category for transforming the company’s IT culture and service offering to improve service delivery, consistency and engagement.

The award recognised Elizabeth’s leadership in reducing operational costs while increasing engagement. With almost 80 percent of technical support enquiries now resolved during the first call, satisfaction with IT services has soared amongst GHD’s 8500 people spread across 200 offices globally.

Elizabeth has also commercialised IT services for external clients to complement GHD’s extensive range of technical offerings.

The ACS also cited Elizabeth’s passion for supporting women in traditionally male-dominated fields like IT and engineering. She participates in the Women in Technology "Mentor for a Moment" program and developed a structured leadership development program for her team, which enables people to build individual career plans and maintain skill levels in a rapidly changing environment.

Mat Mirabito

Mat Mirabito, GHD’s Manager of Applications Infrastructure, received Gold Disruptor in the Young ICT Professional of the Year category. ACS recognised his leadership of a global team of seven IT specialists based in Australia, Canada and the USA. The team is responsible for the architecture, security and deployment of enterprise-level technologies for GHD’s teams around the world.

During the recent integration of GHD and CRA, Mat and his team were tasked with handling the marriage of two very complex IT networks, as well as minimising disruption for GHD’s people and clients. The success of such a large integration was hugely dependent on Mat’s resourcefulness and his ability to manage a complicated transition with a small team.

Elizabeth comments, “The award also recognised Mat’s focus on training. He has implemented an internal wiki as the primary knowledge base for the Applications Infrastructure team, with more than 600 articles now. What’s more, a training program Mat has developed called ENGAGE has now become part of a course offering through the GHD Business School.”

Elizabeth adds, “One of the challenges for IT teams is dealing with highly sensitive data. Mat has tackled the issue head on by championing ethics, accountability and transparency as key parts of the training program.”

Yanan Liu

Yanan Liu, a Systems Analyst at GHD, has been named Gold Disruptor in the Young ICT Professional of the Year category by ACS. The award recognised her key role in realising the company’s vision for shared IT, Finance and Human Resources systems.

Having joined GHD’s Beijing operations in 2011, Yanan quickly distinguished herself by becoming GHD’s expert user of a program called Cherwell – a request management solution for shared IT services. Now based in Brisbane as a Systems Analyst, Yanan has become a ‘one stop shop’ to tailor the program to achieve strategic and commercial results.

Under Yanan’s custodianship, the basic Cherwell templates have been transformed into a highly efficient task management system. She has also applied her software design and creative thinking skills to adapt the program to support GHD’s transition to shared Finance and Human Resources services.

Elizabeth says, “Yanan is a master of transformation, shaping an out-of-the-box tool into a commercial game-changer for GHD. Her metamorphosis from helpdesk operator in China to Systems Analyst and software specialist in Australia is a testament to her adventurous spirit and love of change.”

ISHELP

GHD’s shared IT support team ISHELP was named one of the best in Asia at the Shared Services & Outsourcing Network Excellence Awards in Singapore, picking up the prestigious Silver award in the Excellence in Customer Service category.

Elizabeth comments, “I am extremely proud of ISHELP, which has grown from just one person in 2010 to 55 IT professionals serving GHD’s global network of 8500 people today. With our culture of teamwork and client satisfaction, I have no doubt that the best is yet to come.”