BCS CEOs panel discussion:

'Synchronising Business Solutions for Business'

The British Computer Society Sri Lanka Section organized BCS CEO Power breakfast and panel discussion titled 'Synchronizing Business Solutions for Business' recently at Cinnamon Grand Colombo.

This was the second of a series of annual events targeted at creating interest at the CEO level on IT organised by the British Computer Society Sri Lanka Section. In 2008, BCS Sri Lanka started the first event i.e. enterprise resource planning as an initial step towards establishing professionalism in IT in Sri Lanka to bring Business and IT Managers to a common platform to discuss about the importance of the IT role in an organization and how IT could evolve in the business processes.

Business success often depends on IT based Business Solutions in place to run your business, sometimes the business solutions in place are focused towards one area of the business like Finance and not synchronized with the all business functions. In addition due to changing market conditions and opportunities the business plans and direction change, these business changes bring misalignment with the business solutions already in place.

The synchronization of business solutions with the business is a key to business success.

This is best achieved with the direct involvement of the CEO in the synchronizing process. Often CEO's do not see the importance of IT and concentrate their effort and time more on Finance and Marketing.

The purpose of the panel discussion is to listen to the thoughts of the panel members and share the experiences of the CEO's in the audience and create a dialogue on IT challenges for CEO's in Sri Lanka.

The panelists are well experienced and conversant in both business and ICT in local and international.

Whilst Ranjith Fernando, Thomas Peterson and Jay Keller speak on different aspects on the subject Jayantha de Silva, a past president of BCS Sri Lanka Section serves as the moderator.

Ranjith Fernando was formally the CEO of National Development Bank and is one of the most respected and well known CEO's in Sri Lanka.

He is currently an independent consultant and has undertaken consultancy assignments for the world bank, ADB and the FAO. His current interests are banking, corporate finance, micro finance, strategic planning, leadership, corporate law and corporate governance. He is a fellow of both the chartered institute of Bankers and the chartered institute of management accountants London. He is also an attorney-at-law (first class) of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He would bring in the point of view of CEO's and share his experiences with the panelist.

Jay joined MAS in September 2006, as their CIO and a member of the Apparel Board at MAS Holdings.

In the past he worked for companies such as Sony Corporation and Johnson and Johnson as well as many other bigger and smaller companies. He is a cosmopolitan who worked in Europe as well as in the US, was responsible for worldwide projects and organizations.

Thomas Petersson is a senior vice president of the IFS Group, heading up the Products and Marketing division, a position he has held since 2006.

In his present role, Thomas is responsible for product development, marketing, partnership activities and specialist industry teams. Since Thomas joined the company he has held various positions in the company including Managing Director of IFS Financial Systems before moving to head up the EMEA division in 1996.

Jayantha de Silva would moderate the event. Jayantha holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Systems, University of Washington D.C. He is a Fellow of British Computer Society (BCS), Chartered IT Practitioner (CITP), Past Chairman BCS Sri Lanka Section and Software Export Association Sri Lanka (SEA) and is a Member of the Board of University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC).

The BCS is one of the largest computer societies in the world and the BCS Sri Lankan section has over 4000 members.

BCS is the premier IT professional qualification students can obtain in Sri Lanka.

BCS has been conducting examinations in Sri Lanka for over 25 years. BCS has a regional office in Sri Lanka established in 2006.

The BCS Sri Lankan section was formed in 1996. The BCS Sri Lankan section has been organizing the annual National Best Quality Software Awards that recognizes software developed in Sri Lanka for the last 10 years and is one of the most active computing societies in Sri Lanka and involved with promotion of IT professionalism in Sri Lanka.

BCS members hold prominent positions both in the academia and industry.

At this time, over 125 Business leaders from different Industries confirmed their participation, which has made by invitation.