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Jenny Woo, Smart City Chief Systems Manager, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Hong Kong

Women in GovTech Special Report 2016.

HK - Jenny Woo
How do you use technology to improve citizens’ lives? Tell us about your role and organisation. I am working for the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG). The OGCIO provides leadership for the development of information and communications technology within and outside the Government, and is responsible for ICT policies and strategies. It ensures that the Government provides the public with information and services they need in an efficient and convenient manner, and supports government departments to make the best use of ICT to achieve their policy objectives. My current job is to assist in formulating a blueprint for developing Hong Kong as a smart city. This covers a wide range of aspects such as environment, transportation, ICT infrastructure and standards etc. It is a challenging job as I have to work beyond my own profession on ICT. Making use of innovation and technology to address urban challenges to improve quality of living is one of our objectives for smart city development, and we plan to deploy sensors and mobile technology. What has been the most exciting thing that you worked on in 2016? 2016 has been an exciting year for me. My department underwent a re-organisation to align work priorities with our newly established Innovation and Technology Bureau in the HKSARG. Also due to job rotations, I had the opportunity to be exposed to work of different natures. This year, I first worked on areas of digital inclusion, then I worked on industry development. Now, my focus is on smart city development. It has been a challenging year but the exposure is very rewarding. It was not one single thing but the entire work profile that contributed to the excitement. What tool or technique particularly interests you for 2017? I would like to look for innovative tools and techniques useful for my job. I am particularly interested in the development of sensor technology such as multi-purpose sensors and the future 5G network. If you were to share one piece of advice that you learned, what would it be? One of my previous fellow bosses shared his management practice. He advised me of Enneagram (9 inter-connected personality types); the 80/20 rule; 7 Habits; 6 Thinking Hats, 5 senses to understand and analyse situations; 4 limbs to exercise hands-on, hands-off and walk the talk; 3 essentials - confidence, trust and empathy; and 2 sides of the coin. All these will lead to one beautiful life. What excites you most about your job? The ICT industry covers a wide range of technologies, products and services. The most exciting and also much challenging thing in my job is the ever-advancing technology. I have to keep abreast of the latest technologies relevant to my job. By its nature, it is a life-long learning career. Since my current job on smart city development covers a wide range of aspects, I am also excited about having the chance to meet people from different business sectors. I like meeting people, making connections with them and learning from their experiences. And finally, if you could recommend us one place to eat, where would it be? In addition to being a shopping paradise, Hong Kong is also a food heaven with a world of exquisite, mouth-watering international dining options. I would suggest a small private kitchen called Ja Wa Hin (transcribed phonetically from its Cantonese name). It is located in North Point of the Hong Kong Island. It serves very special and delicious Chinese cuisine. Some of its famous dishes are the Alaska crab congee and its award winning glutinous rice dumplings.