The University’s Chief Information Officer, Dr Mary Davies, announced her intention to retire yesterday in a message to all IT staff. Dr Davies has served as CIO since August 2014. In her message, she reflected on the works she and her team have undertaken since she joined the University, and her satisfaction with their success.

“I am very proud of the work we have done in shaping the IT team to respond to the changing needs of the University. I believe that the structure we have created will serve you and the University well, and I am very pleased that I will be able to launch that structure before my departure,” she said. “Although I am very sad to be leaving, I know that the best is yet to come for this team.”

Senior leaders across the University also paid tribute to Mary’s leadership and contributions over her time here. Chief Operating Officer Tim Beresford called her an “exceptional leader and a valued member” of his team.

“I have admired her immense commitment to the University and its people, and the great dedication and effort she has shown to our mission as an organisation, and to IT as a division,” he said. “The change processes Mary undertook were, simply, enormous; she led the IT team throughout with professionalism, compassion and a deep sense of purpose. I have great respect for the manner in which she worked, and the success she has achieved.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton added his own personal note of thanks in a message to the members of the University’s Executive Group: “Mary has been an outstanding leader for the IT Department, and for a number of other projects across the University. Her ability to navigate complexity and make the seemingly impenetrable accessible to the layperson has been invaluable, and I am very grateful for her service to our community.”

Dr Davies will officially launch the new IT Department structure at a celebration on 29 March at 12:30pm, before her retirement on 31 March 2017.