Angus Taylor, assistant minister for digital transformation, has launched a rebadged digital agency, with expanded powers to deliver on digital transformation and be more transparent.

The Australian government has formally established a new Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) to guide, oversee and drive the administration’s high-profile digital and ICT agendas. This follows approval by the Governor General of the agency’s establishment and remit.

Angus Taylor, assistant minister for digital transformation, said this agency will integrate digital delivery across government, while offering greater transparency involving ICT and digital projects, as well as transparency around procurement.

Earlier, minister Taylor was a keynote speaker at the FST Government Australia conference where he unveiled the Commonwealth’s future digital strategy. This national conference, held 22nd September in Canberra, showcased the federal government’s digital reforms agenda.

The latest ministerial announcement sees the DTA taking on an expanded role, including a change of guard involving senior management. This agency will offer strategic and policy leadership to deliver shared information and communications technology platforms, as well as digital services. The agency’s brief also incorporates ‘whole-of-government’ ICT procurement policy, and agency-wide coordination.

Nerida O’Loughlin, interim CEO of the DTA, said the shape of the agency will continue to change in coming weeks as officials finalise the scope of expanded functions.

O’Loughlin was formerly deputy secretary at the Department of Communications and the Arts. She has a strong background in technology policy, regulation and programs across the Commonwealth and state government sectors. She started in her new role on 24 October.

On the operational front, Peter Alexander has joined the DTO as chief operating officer. He was formerly CIO at The Treasury.

Over the past five years, Peter successfully led The Treasury’s engagement on the contestability and digital transformation agenda. Before Treasury, he was the assistant secretary, online services branch, at the Australian Government Information Management Office, Department of Finance and Deregulation for four years.