Southern Cross Travel Insurance’s Alexandra Smart has been named CIO of the Year at the 2025 New Zealand CIO Awards.
Smart, Southern Cross Travel Insurance’s (SCTI) chief technology officer, was honoured with the title at the gala awards event at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.
The awards were held as part of the New Zealand CIO Summit, produced by IDC and Brightstar.
The judging panel praised Smart for her leadership in a comprehensive transformation of SCTI’s core systems.
They described her as an “inspiring leader” whose vision and execution have driven measurable growth.
“Alexandra has also set the company on course for an ambitious five-year strategy, with technology at the heart of its success,” said the CIO Awards judging panel.
The prestigious event also recognised exceptional leadership, transformative projects, and impactful contributions across New Zealand’s technology sector.
The other finalists for the CIO of the Year 2025 were Hamish Archer, chief digital officer; Sean O’Donoghue, chief information officer at WEL Networks; and Stephen Kurzeja, chief technology officer at BestStart Educare.
Meanwhile, Stasha Rmandic, head of analytics and insights at Whakarongorau Aotearoa, was honoured with the title of Emerging ICT Leader of the Year.
Her dynamic leadership of a high-performing team that delivers critical strategic insights in a 24/7 virtual care environment helped Rmandic clinch the title.
The judges recognised her as a “values-driven leader passionate about health equity and using data to create meaningful change”.
Meanwhile the Transformation Through Digital and IT award was given to AA Insurance for its successful digital and IT transformation that shifted the entire organisation forward.
“The team’s passion and ability to modernise a complex, legacy business, highlighting that this was not merely an upgrade, but a truly transformative project,” said the CIO Awards judging panel.
Auckland Transport Auckland Transport received the award in the Customer Value category for its HOP Open Loop project. This allowed commuters to pay for public transport using contactless bank cards and digital wallets.
Best ICT Team Culture and Inclusion went to the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare ICT team for its “Culture of Care,” which fosters empathy, inclusion, and collaboration.
For Elle Archer’s significant contribution and lasting contribution to the technology and business in New Zealand, she received the Outstanding Contribution award.
Full list of winners and finalists at the 2025 New Zealand CIO Awards
CIO of the Year (sponsored by Datacom)
Winner: Alexandra Smart, Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Finalists: Hamish Archer, WEL Networks
Finalists: Sean O’Donoghue, BestStart Educare
Finalists: Stephen Kurzeja, 2degrees
Emerging ICT Leader of the Year (sponsored by ManageEngine)
Winner: Stasha Rmandic, Whakarongorau Aotearoa
Finalists: Fiona Millar, Christchurch International Airport
Finalists: Henry Chen, Principal Analyst and Data Scientist, Yes Energy
Business Transformation through Digital and IT (sponsored by Adobe)
Winner: AA Insurance
Finalists: 2degrees
Finalists: Foodstuffs South Island
Finalists: Fujitsu
Excellence in Customer Value (sponsored by Fujitsu)
Winner: Auckland Transport
Finalists: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Finalists: Lightwire
Innovation Leadership through an Emerging Technology
Winner: Hamilton City Council
Finalist: Whakarongorau Aotearoa
Best ICT Team Culture and Inclusion (sponsored by Juniper Networks)
Winner: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Finalists: Fletcher Building
Finalists: 2degrees
Community Tech Champions (sponsored by NZME)
Winner: Digital Future Aotearoa
Finalists: Talent RISE
Finalists: Women in Data Science New Zealand
Outstanding Contribution to Technology and Business in New Zealand (Sponsored by Sharp)
Recipient: Elle Archer
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Source: News