IT Leader Profile: Sarah Bryant

What does your job entail?
I'm responsible for IT, telecoms, human resources and emergency planning at the council. I am currently overseeing a £45m programme that aims to
modernise the way we work.

How did you get into the IT profession?
From a very young age I was interested in technology, and was in the first ever computer class at my school. Early in my career, I helped a council to set up its first computer system, even though I was being paid to do legal work. After that, I soon became a systems manager and then an IT manager. What drives me is a desire to find solutions to problems for both the business and its customers.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in IT?
For 10 years I owned a horse, so I would be living by the beach somewhere and running a stable.

Have often do you check your BlackBerry?
IT is an addiction for me. I have had a BlackBerry for two years and you would have to surgically remove it from my hand if I had an accident.

Who do you most admire in the IT industry?
Bill Gates because of what he has achieved. In a relatively short amount of time, he has enabled people to talk to each other all over the world.

Which recent news item has had the biggest impact on your organisation?
The recent spate of high-profile data breaches have led to the introduction of much tighter data security at Barking and Dagenham. We are always concerned about how vulnerable people’s data is and take a lot of care to keep it secure.