The chief information officer (CIO) for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is among the IT leaders included in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Joe Harley was awarded a CBE for his work with technology, which included a major project to consolidate servers and replace all laptop and desktop computers at the DWP.

The department estimates that this initiative will lead to savings of £1.5bn by the time it is completed in 2010.

“I am honoured and thrilled to have received this award from the Queen,” said Harley.

“I believe this is also recognition of the IT transformational work that we have been doing for DWP and across government, and regard it as a great acknowledgement for all in the IT profession.”

Other recipients of a CBE were Henry Tee, chairman of advisory body the Electronics Leadership Council, and Duncan Mitchell, senior vice president at Cisco Systems UK.

“I’m delighted to receive this honour,” said Mitchell.

“Technology is a significant business sector in the UK economy and I’m fortunate to work for a company such as Cisco, with the employees, partners and customers we have.

“The internet and surrounding technology is central to the way we work and live, play and learn. Countries such as the UK that understand this will continue to prosper.”

Leaders from the technology sector were also among those to be awarded the OBE.
Brian Harbord, head of intelligent transport systems development at the Department for Transport; Dr Paul Hollinshead, former director of science and technology at the Ministry of Defence; and Dr Catherine Minshull-Beech, chief executive of life science company Aitua, all received the award.