Arben

05/05/2026

Is humanity intelligent enough for artificial intelligence?
An interesting question I asked myself the other day and then attempted to answer in my blog, have a look.

18/06/2023

In a leadership role in the digital space, or want to be? Then sign up for this course. I have run this course twice now and the response from the attendees speaks for itself "Having done this course before I recommend it. Great to expand your tech leadership network and expand on your skills, Paul Natac" We had called it Effective CIO, but that does not do the course justice, it's for all Digital Leaders at every level, it's about the business not the Tech. If you want to succeed as a digital leader you have to know how organisations work, how to deliver business value, how to operate high performance teams and how to link you actions to the business strategy.

ITP's popular "How to be an Effective CIO" course is back for 2023. This break-through course equips aspiring or new CIOs with the skills, knowledge and mindset needed to be effective. Delivered live online by CIOs and other experts over a series of 12 weeks, this course draws on deep experience and...

09/05/2022

Need a career development tool, look no further.

ITP have developed a SIFA aligned tool to help manage your career and skills roadmap. Free event this Thursday, pop along and have a look.

We'll kick off the session with an overview of the ITP career advance program that is free to all members and hopefully get you to take the next step.

Find out how to complete a reflective current state analysis of your own skills using ITP's Skills Portfolio and the SFIA8 framework.

Find out how ITP can pair you with a mentor to help you with the next steps.

Don't waste the opportunity, make 2022 the year you take the step to focus on yourself. This could be the most valuable meet-up and chat you've ever had.

https://itp.nz/events/wellington/2197-ITP_Networking_How_can_you_move_toward_your_next_career_step_

Welcome back to in-person events with the ITP Wellington Branch committee! Come along and join us at the ITP events space for a brief overview of the ITP career advance programme followed by an informal...

11/12/2021

Log4J / Log4Shell. Spreading fast to a webserver near you, check you are upto date. This vulnerability is very easily exploited.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/dec/10/software-flaw-most-critical-vulnerability-log-4-shell?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

https://www.cert.govt.nz/it-specialists/advisories/log4j-rce-0-day-actively-exploited/

An unauthenticated RCE vulnerability in the commonly used log4j java library is being actively exploited.

16/11/2021

Arben in partnership with IT Professionals NZ have recently completed another Effective CIO Course. Rather than me sing its praises I will let some of the attendees do that:

This is an excellent course. It is especially useful in guiding you with the softer skills of leadership and people management; taught by industry leaders but augmented by the collegial support of peers who shared the highs and lows of their experiences.

Simon consolidates complex topics down to consumable ‘bites’ of knowledge, and he has so much of this to offer. His approach is relaxed and accommodating where ‘any question is reasonable’; I found this an excellent way to engage with the content.

The course is enlightening for someone who is more technically, than critically, focused on the goals of the organisation. It was stimulating and the three-hour sessions seemed to pass quickly with much left to contemplate and digest. It was a well-structured course and I enjoyed the light hearted banter and hearing that others are much in the same boat as myself.

I found Simon’s style easy to follow, positive and thought his energy shines through his work which demonstrated the passion for what he believes and does. It was refreshing and I enjoyed the humour, articulation and his expertise. Probably one of the best tutors I have had the pleasure to train under in years.

The course introduces concepts in a short few weeks that only some IT professionals learn after years of interactions with Senior Management. This is a fast-track course to being a better CIO.

Simon is knowledgeable, supportive and very approachable. His style of teaching encourages feedback and lets you absorb the information easily in the classroom.

I will be running another course in the first half of 2022, visit Arben.co.nz and register your interest.

15/11/2021

This week it's International Fraud Awareness Week. Do you know the fraud behavioral red flags? Be aware of them and trust your instincts if you feel something doesn't add up. And don't be afraid to report irregularities. Need to know more about how you and your organisation can prevent fraud? Contact Arben.

04/07/2021

It's the new financial year and there are still spots available on the "How to be an Effective CIO" course. A host of IT specialists will share their knowdge about a range of topics, including communicating with Executives and Boards, Negotiation, Governance, Managing Risk, Leading Teams, and Being a Change Leader. Sign up now.

We're now taking bookings for Simon's CIO Course. As usual, we're running it through ITP NZ and there is a host of fantastic guest lecturers.

So, if your career is looking for a new dawn, sign up ASAP to get your spot. First gathering August 2nd.
https://itp.nz/courses/online/2154-How_to_be_an_Effective_CIO

15/06/2021

We're now taking bookings for Simon's CIO Course. As usual, we're running it through ITP NZ and there is a host of fantastic guest lecturers.

So, if your career is looking for a new dawn, sign up ASAP to get your spot. First gathering August 2nd.
https://itp.nz/courses/online/2154-How_to_be_an_Effective_CIO

01/06/2021

What's the difference between a plan and a schedule?

Schedules are invaluable implementation tools. Task by task, they map out what's happening when, who's doing what and how much each step will cost. Used appropriately they can also assist with communications. There are numerous scheduling tools available to meet the needs of different types of projects, methodologies and organisations.

Plans are different. They set out the approach you're going to take to the project, state how you plan to mitigate risks, ensure you've taken into account the dependencies and constraints required and are a constant reminder that the business case needs to make sense.

A good plan results in an actionable schedule.

A schedule without a plan often results in a long trip to the procrastination zone, or worse, it's abandoned as people ignore it to 'just get things done'. The digital equivalent of a document being used as a doorstop. Push back if you're asked to go there. Or look for a new job.

Thank you.

29/05/2021

Insight Engines. What do you know about them? Here at Arben we've been thinking long and hard about them. And we think we have the Insight Engine for you - designed in New Zealand by a Kiwi and set to take the world by storm. Curious? Contact us to hear more.
https://arben.co.nz/how/partners/

27/05/2021

Our big tech prediction for the year was security, security, security - and unfortunately it's delivered in spades. If you're in doubt about your business set up, contact us. Arben, and our network of cyber security specialists will see you right.

The world is changing faster than ever, and the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated many technology trends. In this article, we look at the biggest trends for 2021 everyone should get ready for now.