Shey, 28, wins Socitm's Graham Williamson Challenge (travel award) 2007
19 Oct 2007 10:12 AM
The Society of IT Management (Socitm) has awarded this year’s Graham Williamson Challenge – a learning through travel award – to Shey Cobley, an online communications officer at Oxford City Council.
Shey was presented with her Award by Socitm President Rose Crozier at the Society’s annual conference, held in Belfast 14-16 October. She was chosen from a significant number of applicants for the prize, which was set up in memory of the former Head of IT at Argyll and Bute Council, Graham Williamson, who died in an accident in 2000. Graham was passionate about his work and particularly devoted to mentoring people starting out in IT.
As the fourth recipient of the travel and accommodation grant that goes with the award, Shey is planning to travel to India where she is hoping to forge links with the local and national e-government offices. She is particularly interested in visiting projects in the north of India which have been established in order to address the digital divide.
Shey joined Oxford City Council a year ago and has focused her time on the development of the council’s website to improve service delivery, and reach excluded members of the community. She is currently studying for her PhD at Oxford Brookes University, where she is also lectures on e-government. Her PhD thesis explores the development of e-government in twenty-eight countries.
Speaking about the Award, Shey said: ‘I am really excited about going to a country that is so rapidly expanding in the IT industry. It is going to be a real opportunity to see how another country approaches online service delivery.’
Peter Sloman, Chief Executive at Oxford City Council, said: “on-line communication is at the heart of our vision for transforming the services that we deliver to the people of our city. In the relatively short time that she has been with us, Shey has made a massive contribution to driving this agenda forward.
“The great value of a learning through travel award is that everybody involved benefits from it. Shey and the colleagues in the north of India that she visits will learn from each other. Oxford City Council and the people of Oxford will, in due course, benefit from the fresh ideas and further improvements that Shey will bring to her job when she returns. We are all really proud of her.“
Rose Crozier, President of Socitm added: ‘I’m sure Shey will get an enormous amount from her trip, certainly if the experience of previous winners is anything to go by. I know Graham Williamson would have admired Shey’s initiative and enthusiasm and have been keen to support it, so we are delighted that this has been made possible through the Award set up in his name.
Socitm will be using its international contacts to help Shey in identifying central and local government bodies to support her visit. She will be mentored throughout her involvement in the scheme by a senior member of Socitm.
Following her return to the UK, Shey will be invited to make a series of presentations to Socitm audiences about her travels and what she has learned. Last year’s GWC winner, Claire Forbes of Hampshire County Council, gave delegates at the Socitm Annual conference an enthusiastic account of her experiences in California and will be speaking at forthcoming Socitm regional meetings about her trip.
Notes for editors:
You can view a photo of Shey receiving her prize from Socitm President Rose Crozier on the Socitm website at
http://www.socitm.gov.uk/socitm/Professional+development/Graham+Williamson+Challenge/default.htm Copies of the photo can be obtained from
peter.coates@socitm.gov.uk in the Socitm Press Office.
The GWC was created in 2004 to enable a person starting out in ICT to undertake a short work placement in a local authority abroad, in order to broaden their understanding and knowledge of ICT in a wider public sector context. The award provides a budget of up to £5000 to cover travel, accommodation, and associated costs, with the expectation that the successful candidate is granted one month's paid leave of absence from work to fulfill the placement. Host authorities are identified through the links Socitm has with similar professional associations all over the world.
Further information:
Shey Cobley Tel: 01865 252616
Oxford City Council
SCOBLEY@oxford.gov.uk Vicky Sargent or Peter Coates Tel: 0121 214 1531
Socitm Press Office
vicky.sargent@socitm.gov.uk peter.coates@socitm.gov.uk