Telecommunications Carriers' Forum agree on Synergy manager to lead number portability project

Media Release 15 May 2006

The Telecommunications Carriers' Forum (TCF) has agreed on an international IT executive to tackle the complex task of co-ordinating the implementation of number portability.

Synergy programme manager Gillian Clark, who moved to New Zealand earlier this year, has been appointed as the new project manager for the Local Mobile Number Portability (LMNP) project by the TCF.

The TCF was established by the telecommunications carriers in 2002 to facilitate cooperation within the industry and encourage efficient provision of regulated and non-regulated telecommunications services, including the operation of a mobile and telephone number portability service in New Zealand.

TCF chair Malcolm Alexander said the organisation is on track to complete all its LMNP implementation plans by April 2007 to meet the target set by the Commerce Commission. “Gillian Clark's role is to ensure the successful delivery of the programme by working with all the key players, overseeing the project, including identifying and assigning issues and monitoring progress in resolving them,” he said.

Gillian has over 24 years experience in the IT industry, and for many of those years she has held senior positions in multinational organisations and been responsible for managing many complex projects. Her skills have been used by ABN Amro (UK), Docucorp EMEA (UK), Halifax Cetelem Credit (UK and France), Mobil Oil Corp (New York) and UCB Group (UK).

“The TCF were looking for a strong and experienced manager who would cope with the complexities of a multi-company, multi-dimensional project and who would focus on delivering the project,” Gillian said.

Synergy's chief executive Jim Donovan said it was very satisfying to see a Synergy consultant chosen for the role and it enhanced the company's reputation for attracting and employing the best people in the industry.

Synergy designs, builds and operates ‘industrial-strength' business transaction and payment systems and services for clients in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, North America and Europe, and works with all the major telecommunications companies in New Zealand.