Richard Steel CIO50 2009

A key figure in local government IT, as well as having charge of overall IT strategy at Newham, Richard Steel is an important player in many different governmental working groups.

Steel has just finished a year as president of public sector IT managers association Socitm, where he oversaw an overhaul of the organisation that improved its efficiency.

He is passionate about the importance of robust IT infrastructure and while at the helm of Socitm continued its support for the continued rollout of Government Connect, a secure network linking central government and every local authority in England and Wales.

Twice featured in the CIO50, Steel is also helping his council meet the challenge of regenerating the London borough in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Steel has been with Newham since 1989 and as CIO oversees an IT infrastructure that supports services from housing to taxation. He believes that one of the keys to success in public sector IT is being able to clearly explain how technology can benefit public services.

Originally hailing from the City - Steel spent some time working as an assistant director of Morgan Grenfell (now Deutsche Bank).