The upcoming 35th edition of the Digital Transformation Summit will feature a keynote address by Dr. Denisha Jairam-Owthar, Group Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) in South Africa.
Dr. Jairam-Owthar, with a distinguished career in IT leadership and digital transformation, has been instrumental in shaping South Africa’s digital infrastructure, particularly in the healthcare sector.
Championing AI and Digital Connectivity in Healthcare
Dr. Jairam-Owthar has played a pivotal role in advocating for South Africa’s first National Artificial Intelligence strategy.
She has emphasized the importance of CIOs staying informed about the rapidly evolving IT landscape and the need for robust digital infrastructure to support the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI). Her work has highlighted the necessity of collaboration and network accessibility to ensure equitable healthcare delivery.
She has also been involved in initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare connectivity, leveraging technology to bridge disparities in access to medical services. She has advocated for a single digital network to streamline healthcare infrastructure, drawing from successful models like the Tenet platform used by South African universities.
A Trailblazing Career in IT Leadership
Dr. Jairam-Owthar’s journey in IT leadership began with a PhD in IT, which she completed at the age of 33, making her the youngest to achieve this milestone at the time.
At Stellenbosch University, as Chief Director of ICT, she led efforts to modernize educational processes and bolster cybersecurity. During her tenure as CIO at City of Johannesburg Metro Services, she oversaw a transformative shift in IT operations, elevating the department from a support function to a strategic asset.
At the Development Bank of Southern Africa, she contributed to the digital transformation of the institution, improving decision-making processes related to infrastructure development.
Thought Leadership and Industry Influence
A respected thought leader and public speaker, Dr. Jairam-Owthar has addressed multiple forums on the integration of technology in the public sector.
She has spoken at the Public Sector ICT Forum on the role of technology in healthcare and is scheduled to speak at the 2025 ITWeb AI Summit, where she will discuss the impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on businesses, including considerations around ethics, data privacy, and system integration.
Why You Should Attend
The 35th Digital Transformation Summit will offer attendees a valuable opportunity to learn from Dr. Jairam-Owthar’s extensive experience and insights into AI, digital transformation, and IT strategy.
Her contribution at the event will be particularly beneficial for IT professionals, healthcare leaders, and policymakers looking to understand how digital transformation can drive innovation and efficiency.