CIO exit interview: Steve Hodgkinson, Victoria Health and Human Services

It’s been seven years since Steve Hodgkinson began the task of leading complex digital transformation programs at the Victoria Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as CIO. “Seven years is a long time in the CIO game,” Hodkinson says, “so I think it’s time to step aside and let somebody else lead the next phase of the digital transformation journey for the Department of Health. The department is charting a new way forward, changing gears on the COVID-19 pandemic response and embarking on new reforms in mental health, so it’s a good time for a fresh broom.”

Hodgkinson is leaving the department in April 2022 to join Victoria Police as its new chief digital officer. He replaces Brett Giles, who has been in the role since August 2016.

“Victoria Police is a large and complex front-line service delivery organisation,” Hodgkinson tells CIO Australia. He says that digital technologies are at the centre of modern policing, so there will be a lot for him to focus on. “The role is to be an effective member of the police command by shaping the organisation’s digital systems and technology management for the better. This includes working with the in-house team to develop productive and sustainable ways of delivering and supporting modern digital solutions.”

What Hodgkinson accomplished at Victoria DHHS

At the DHHS, Hodgkinson championed agile methodologies — which were recognised across the Victoria public sector. He managed about 450 staff and 110 contractors with an operating budget of about $100 million, and annual project spend of as much as $160 million.

During his time at Victoria DHHS, Hodgkinson implemented a new ICT strategy and governance and planning processes that grew the annual ICT project portfolio from about $30 million in 2014/15 to $160 million in 2021/2022.

His teams delivered an annual portfolio of more than 100 projects totalling $80 million to $100 million year-on-year with no project failures and minimal budget/actual variance, he says. “A lot of changes along the way were caused by restructuring, but I’ve been lucky to have led the business technology and information management branch for the whole of the time, which has been a real privilege,” he says.