Name: Simon Jennings

Title: Head of IS and purchasing strategy

Company: Oxfam

The only name on the CIO50 list representing a charity, Simon Jennings has almost three decades of IT management experience, including the eight years he has been with humanitarian aid charity Oxfam.

Jennings has brought private sector and for-profit best practice in IT strategy and operations to Oxfam, where there is strong accountability that funds from donors and benefactors are being used to maximum effect.

The range of Oxfam's operations is huge and has doubled in the last five years, spanning more than 70 countries, 7,000 employees and many thousands of volunteers, supporters and partner organisations.

Jennings has a degree in mathematics, philosophy and history of science and has spent several years living and working in France, Germany and the US. His previous management roles include spells with Data General, ICL and Reed Business Publishing.

Jennings gives presentations to schools and other local community groups about technology and Oxfam's work, and he also participates in a number of IT industry forums and the Combined Charities IT directors' group.