Today, Paul O’ Nolan will join ILRI and ICRAF as Interim Head of Information and communications technology (ICT)  to lead the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)/International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) ICT shared service unit until the end of 2014.

Paul understands the CGIAR and its ICT environment well having worked for International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) in the Netherlands during the 1990’s and for International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines from 1999 to 2007. He was an active member of the CGIAR ICT Communities of Practice (CoP) leading the initiative to implement an integrated voice and data network (IVDN) that linked all CGIAR Centres when most organisations at these locations didn’t yet have internet access. Since then he has successfully completed his MBA from London’s Westminster University and worked as an ICT consultant. Some of his consultancies include a review of ICT at International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and also at Bioversity in 2012.

As well as leading the ICT shared service unit, Paul has been tasked with carrying out a review of the current status of ICT at ICRAF and ILRI and plan for the future management and structure of ICT going forward.

Ian Moore accepted the position of Head of the One Corporate System (OCS) Operations Support Unit (OSU) and took up the role from 1st July 2013. Ian agreed to continue as interim Head ICT for 50% of his time while the recruitment for a successor took place. An extensive search to fill the position began last July but despite receiving nearly 700 applications it was eventually decided not to fill the position at this time and to appoint an Interim Head ICT until the detailed plan for the future structure and management if ICT was completed.