"Victor is an experienced executive with strong leadership and international experience.

 

His strategic vision enables him to plan for success and navigate controversy professionally. He can mobilize people around change agendas with confidence and a bit of fun.

 

He was one of the original 5 Eyes Defence CIOs that started a forum to seek out international best practices and interoperability in support of the Warfighters.

 

He makes those around him better."

"Victor Vae’au always provides a lowdown on critical issues facing business technology leaders. He asks the basic, critical questions, and from there forms a strategy, a course of action. This critical and astute thinking is borne from his raft of experience in leadership roles across government and the private sector (finance and retail, among others), and with his volunteer work in the Pasifika community.

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Amidst this busy schedule, he provides CIO New Zealand with regular feedback as a member of our editorial advisory board, on critical issues we need to tackle. He is also a member of the judging panel for the CIO100, our annual report on New Zealand’s innovative ICT leaders."

"I worked as a peer of Victors for the period I was Deputy Chief of Navy. During this period our roles have varied from customer and provider where Victor was providing CIS advice and capability to the Navy.

 

To peers as we sat on the Defence Force Capability Steering Group; responsible for the oversight of capability projects and their introduction into service, equalling significant expenditure of government funding. To confidant, who I knew I can approach seeking advice without fear disparagement. In all the relationships I have found Victor to be a deep thinking person who provides very honest and well though out advice.

 

Victor is one of the senior civilians serving in the New Zealand Defence Force and he is the one I hold in the highest regard."

"I worked with Vic at NZDF, he is an outlier. His thinking and approaches are not the norm, medium or average.

 

He is willing and able to break the patterns in organizations, he treats "you can't do that because" as an opportunity to make an improvement!

 

As a client Victor was a great sponsor of the changes and initiatives that we were engaged to deliver. His door was always open and he valued having his thinking challenged."

"I've worked with Victor as a client now in three different roles - and in all cases he strongly advocates for the best interests of the organisation, is strong in articulating his vision which is well thought through, supportive of his people and open to an honest discussion on the challenges and best way to resolve them.

 

At RBNZ Victor was a strong advocate for performance improvement and a clear and engaged sponsor."