Local Council’s Top Lessons Learnt on the Journey to Microsoft 365 Success

Bruce Berends

Bruce has over 20 years’ experience across multiple technical consulting and management roles, with all these roles touching small to large businesses, public and private organisations, and a wide range of technologies.

Bruce has a passion for people and loves mentoring and leadership as part of managing highly effective teams. His technical specialties are architecture and solution design of Microsoft solutions. His strengths lie in bridging the gap between technology and business, with exceptional customer relationship skills alongside his technical skills and management experience.

He has obtained several Microsoft Certifications, and has most recently completed his Microsoft Teams Administrator Associate Certification.

Swetha Das

Swetha's current role is within the Australian Corporate Team as an Account Executive. She works alongside councils in Australia to help them on their digital transformation journey. She is also a freelance journalist, standup comedian and mentor with the Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN).

Prior to Microsoft, she has worked extensively in journalism and politics including writing roles for The Huffington Post and The Sydney Morning Herald, hosting a national television show on Foxtel for five years, and working for the communications team at the NSW Department of Parliamentary Services.

She has also completed reporting placements in Seoul and London, and received a 90 mark for my exchange unit at Cambridge University. She was also awarded a First-Class Honours degree from the University of Sydney for my research on the ethics of microtargeting ethnic minorities in New South Wales.

She is passionate about the intersection between policy and technology, mentoring young Australians and the power of storytelling.

Roger Verwey

Roger Verwey (Manager Digital Services, Hobsons Bay City Council) is a technology all-rounder with strong management and leadership abilities. With over 10 years ICT experience within local government, he has helped shape technology strategy and is passionate about making sure IT is an enabler for collaboration and productivity, and a positive user experience for staff and community.

David Jackson

David is an experienced leader with a belief in the ability for effective leadership to make a positive impact in people’s lives. He has a general curiosity of life but is particularly interested in organisational dynamics and how they intersect and are impacted by change. With a technology background focused on strategic planning, implementation and change management these personal interests are of great value.

David aspires to create enabled teams that facilitate amazing outcomes, with the teams he has led being officially acknowledged for their works through awards at Local, State and Federal levels. They have also seen David personally acknowledged as a Victorian Finalist in the Institute of Managers and Leaders "Leader of the Year" Awards and assisted Cardinia Shire Council to be listed as one of the Australian Financial Review’s Most Innovative Companies.