CIO50 2023 #5 Ruth Russell, Te Tumu Paeroa

Name: Ruth Russell
Title: Kaihautū Hangarau Whakaaturanga (Chief Information Officer)
Company: Te Tumu Paeroa (Office of the Māori Trustee)
Commenced role: January 2021
Reporting line: Māori Trustee (CEO)
Member of the executive team: No
Technology function: 13 – all direct reports

In her role as Kaihautū Hangarau Whakaaturanga (CIO), Ruth Russell has spearheaded transformative initiatives at Te Tumu Paeroa, the Office of the Māori Trustee. Charged with administering Māori freehold land and assets on behalf of beneficial owners, Te Tumu Paeroa’ purpose is to protect and enhance whenua Māori.

Currently, the Māori Trustee administers as trustee or agent approximately 1,800 Māori Land Trusts and other Māori entities. Te Tumu Paeroa provides professional trustee services to support the Māori Trustee, Dr Charlotte Severne, to fulfil her trustee duties and responsibilities.

Ruth Russell’s tenure at Te Tumu Paeroa has been marked by a commitment to imbuing IT practices with te reo me ngā tikanga Māori, aligning tech advancements with a te ao Māori approach.

Māori data sovereignty framework

At the forefront of Russell’s leadership is the development and delivery of a three-year IT strategy, Te Rautaki mō te Hangarau Whakaaturanga, and the establishment of a Māori data sovereignty framework.

Data sovereignty refers to the understanding that data is subject to the laws of the nation within which it is stored. Māori data sovereignty recognises that Māori data should be subject to Māori governance. Māori data sovereignty supports tribal sovereignty and the realisation of Māori and iwi aspirations.

“Te Tumu Paeroa is a kaitiaki (guardian) for data that pertains to whakapapa and whenua Māori, and this data is critical to our vision to protect and enhance this whenua,” says Russell. “In Te Ao Māori, a person’s mauri (life essence) is associated with the data about them. This information is tapu (sacred) and contains the tapu of the person it is about. In addition, the data we store represents tūrangawaewae (places of belonging), and owners’ connection to their tūpuna (ancestors), whānau ([family), and mokopuna (grandchildren). Māori data is therefore taonga (a treasure) and should be treated with mana (respect) and manaakitanga (care).”

The Māori data sovereignty framework, the result of Russell’s extensive collaboration with the organisation’s Pou Tikanga (cultural advisor) and a cross-organisational rōpū, is a significant achievement. This framework is not merely a theoretical construct but a set of principles, position papers, and enablers woven seamlessly into the fabric of Te Tumu Paeroa’s policies, processes, and procedures. Russell and her team have driven practical changes, ensuring Māori data sovereignty is not an isolated concept but an integral part of daily operations.

Under Russell’s guidance, Te Tumu Paeroa has delivered the following:

• Procurement, system selection, and implementation processes now incorporate Māori data sovereignty, focusing on benefits to Māori and Whenua Māori, information retention, and embedding controls into business processes.
• Classification and treatment of information have evolved to acknowledge its tapu (sacredness) and cultural significance.
• Cloud monitoring, region locking, and file sharing guidance ensure visibility and control over data location and purpose.
• Decision-making processes about data involve a broader group representing Māori, whenua Māori, and tikanga interests.
• Māori data sovereignty is embedded in information management practices, respecting the tapu, mana, and mauri of both physical and digital data.
• A blessing of the data centre and server racks underscores the cultural significance attached to the information stored within.

“This mahi means we are treating our data and systems in a Māori way, in a way that benefits Māori and whenua Māori, and enables us to achieve our vision,” says Russell.

The organisation’s leader, Māori Trustee Dr Charlotte Severne, has credited Russell for the transformative work undertaken by her and the team.

“From the start of her time working for the Office of the Māori Trustee, Ruth has led the way we make decisions about information, data and systems,” says Dr Severne.  “We now have better insight into what information is being stored where, why, and the real benefits these services bring to the organisation, and Māori. She inherited an IT Roadmap designed for my organisation to have a resilient future. Ruth made the strategy and its implementation better and more relevant in the context of our purpose.”

The framework also extends its influence beyond Te Tumu Paeroa, as Russell actively shares her experiences, insights, and the Māori data sovereignty story with various organisations. Her collaborative approach has garnered recognition from external stakeholders who acknowledge the framework as a leading example in the implementation of Māori data sovereignty.

“In a digital age where technology and tools often overshadow values, Ruth’s strategy is refreshingly different,” says Dan Te Whenua Walker, Global Chair of Indigenous at Microsoft. “It prioritises values over technology, emphasising cultural importance and ensuring that data sovereignty is treated with the respect and depth it deserves. This framework is groundbreaking in its approach and serves as a benchmark for others to follow.”

Focus on uplifting capability

In shaping Te Tumu Paeroa’s IT practices, Russell has instilled a sense of ownership and empowerment within her team. The IT competency framework, based on SFIA, and the two-year training roadmap have provided clear development pathways, aligning individual growth with organisational goals.

Moreover, her commitment to inclusivity is evident in her collaboration with external parties to create an IT internship experience grounded in Te Ao Māori, thereby reshaping the technology sector’s pathways for Māori.