FROM THE
ACTING CHAIR
3
Dear Members
First off, a belated, but heartfelt ‘Happy New Year’ to you all – this is the first opportunity I have had to extend to the Service Management community my best wishes for 2021. I hope this finds everyone well, rested and ready to tackle 2021 head on! I’m optimistic we have turned the corner on the worst of the previous year and have a great deal to look forward to. First item on my 2021 agenda is to simply remind everyone that ITIL v3 will be retired by Axelos at the end of 2021 – if you haven’t done so already, you need to make a move on bringing your professional development up to date. That said, it’s great to see the increased level of interest in ITIL 4. And the increasing numbers of people who are fully trained and ‘up to speed’ in the new, and considerably improved framework.
As you no doubt would expect, planning is already underway for our 2021 Conference in Brisbane in September. As you would also expect we are planning for an ‘in person conference’ but are making plans and provisions for those that are still not able to travel. Again, I’m very optimistic that we will have experienced a pretty much complete reversal of fortunes in regard to those factors that led us to suspend last year’s event and opt instead for a completely ‘Virtual’ gathering.
If our recent, and indeed continuing COVID-19 experiences have demonstrated anything it’s that ‘Virtual’ events are a viable means to deliver content. State Branch
Committees have been busy planning their quarterly events for the year, so expect to see a few different formats, virtual, in person and hybrid in person / virtual presentations this
year. I’m personally excited by the possibilities of extending our events into the virtual realm – it opens up new and expanded audiences, increases our reach and removes some of the actual, and very real, physical constraints on attendance.
Another issue that we’re working through is the development of a new membership type that we hope to release in the coming month or so. Stay tuned for this one – I’m very pleased with how this is coming along, but it’s just that bit too early to release any detail of what we’re doing.
Finally, may I offer the best wishes of the Board and staff to you as you work through the remnants of what has been a very trying, and for many, a stressful time. I think (hope!) we have the worst behind us and with the roll-out of a vaccine there’s a lot to be optimistic about – but there is also the prospect of continued setbacks. We need to remain strong, but even more important, we need to remain sensitive to how the people around us are travelling. My suggestion for a simple strategy – just ask them “How you doing?” You might be surprised by the answer.
Enjoy your Bulletin.
Brendan Cullen
Acting Chair, itSMF Australia.