Future-Proof Your ERP Transformation Programs

Andrew McPherson is a technology executive with broad experience leading strategy and delivering projects at scale.  Recently, as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Stuff, Andrew led the technology transformation to re-platform the business and launch digital subscription products, introducing AI to automate the workflow across the portfolio of 50 newspaper titles.

With experience spanning various industries, including Media and entertainment, Telecommunications, and Banking and finance, Andrew has held key roles at SkyCity and Spark. He has also founded and successfully exited technology startups, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit.

Before his role at Stuff, Andrew was the ICT Product Category Leader at SkyCity, where he led technology teams and strategy for Hospitality, Food and beverage, and Hotels. Notably, Andrew led the delivery of digital technology for the prestigious 5+ star Adelaide hotel, EOS by SkyCity.

As CEO of ECONZ, Andrew spearheaded the business transformation into an agile development organisation, focusing on low-code platforms and innovative partnerships with enterprise clients. He successfully led complex projects for organisations such as Chorus, Spark, and the NZ Automobile Association.

With a background in technology consulting at Gen-i (now Spark Digital), Andrew led the ICT Consulting Practice, overseeing various aspects, including technology strategy, enterprise architecture, cyber security, and cloud infrastructure for enterprise clients.

Andrew's entrepreneurial journey began when he co-founded International Telematics (now Coretex Limited) in 2004. As the CEO, he developed an advanced IoT enterprise fleet management solution that propelled the company's growth and expansion into the North American market.

Andrew McPherson's expertise, entrepreneurial mindset, and proven leadership in delivering successful technology transformations solidify his position as an influential CTO in the New Zealand technology landscape.

Toni Warren is a transformational senior leader and portfolio test manager with over 20 years of experience in technology and QA management across various industries, including telecommunications, energy, and financial services. With a strategic and methodical mindset, Toni has a proven track record of building influential partnerships with senior executive teams and external stakeholders.

Throughout her career, Toni has led teams of test professionals and successfully managed multi-disciplinary and diverse teams while linking performance to organisational strategy. She has expertise in financial management, overseeing budgets of over $10 million.

Toni's leadership extends to cultivating camaraderie and team engagement, even during challenging times, such as the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her ability to form collaborative relationships and practical problem-solving skills have resulted in functioning outcomes within deadline-driven environments.

Notable achievements in Toni's career include leading the testing program for the retail integration between Mercury NZ and Trustpower, implementing and managing the program test strategy, and successfully delivering a new digital front end, core system uplift, and integration layer.

At 2degrees, as the Test Practice manager, Toni oversaw the delivery of quality into production across different portfolios and ways of working. She managed an extensive test capability through significant capital plans and was vital in successfully delivering projects such as the 5G program and a new ERP system.

Toni's initiatives, which included introducing a culture of continuous improvement, adopting 100-day plans, and implementing test automation, have led to substantial improvements in testing practices and efficiency. Additionally, she facilitated the transition of test resources to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic without impacting project delivery.

By initiating the transition of several operational tasks offshore, Toni reduced overnight work for onshore resources. She also implemented new defect frameworks and standardised approaches for assessments and engagement with third parties.

Toni Warren demonstrates advanced leadership skills, social and environmental awareness, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results in complex and dynamic environments.

Shikar Ramchand is a seasoned Client Solutions Manager within the Assurity Digital Delivery team. With a career spanning over 16 years in software Quality Assurance (QA), test delivery consulting, and people leadership, Shikar has a history of success in orchestrating and executing test efforts across diverse industries, including banking, trading, telecommunications, entertainment, and government.

Shikar's professional journey has taken him to South Africa, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. He has led and orchestrated comprehensive end-to-end test and QA strategies for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions in these diverse markets. These efforts have included overseeing functional, integration, performance, operational readiness, and business acceptance testing. His expertise also extends to collaborating with vendors from the sub-continent and the Americas.

In addition to his robust technical proficiency in software testing, Shikar has consistently exhibited exemplary leadership skills, guiding and managing test delivery teams while assuming supplementary people leadership roles. He is known for his unwavering commitment to professionalism, meticulous attention to detail, adaptability, and an unyielding dedication to excellence.

Recent milestones in Shikar's career are his roles as the Program Test Manager for the 2degrees MS Dynamics365 Finance and Operations implementation and his oversight of the replacement of a gambling licence management system with MS Dynamics365 CRM for the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

Shikar's capabilities encompass devising strategic approaches, meticulous planning & estimation, and the successful delivery of quality assurance initiatives. His reputation extends to managing complex programs with far-reaching downstream impacts and geographically dispersed teams.