On the other side of the coin, the council has also been actively working to establish accreditation and standards for the profession that will be the equivalent of a CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant).

The Queensland University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology and the University of South Australia are involved in the initiative while the Australian Institute of Company Directors is also introducing courses as early as November.

The initiative will culminate in an awards dinner on November 8 where the Asia Pacific's top 20 CIOs will be awarded the title of CPIO (Certified Practicing Information Officer).

Another program that has attracted a lot of interest is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/CIO discussion panel where both parties get to tell it like it is and identify ways to work more effectively together.

The growing influence of IT executives in the boardroom means IT is no longer an adjunct to the rest of the business but a core part of corporate strategy.