Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technology)

AWANG HAJI AZHAR BIN HAJI AHMAD
DEPUTY PERMANENT SECRETARY (TECHNOLOGY)

Born 21 April 1964, Haji Azhar Haji Ahmad started his early education at St Michael School in Seria, Brunei Darussalam. He then proceeded to Anthony Abell College and the 6th Form Centre before pursuing his studies to Brighton College of Technology, United Kingdom for his BTEC National Diploma in Computer Studies in 1984 to 1986.

Haji Azhar graduated from City University London, United Kingdom in 1993 with a B.Sc (Hons) in Business Computing Systems. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technology) at the Ministry of Defence which commenced July 2012, he was the Deputy Permanent Secretary (IT and e-Government) at the Prime Minister’s Office since September 2010. Prior to that, he was the Director of E-Government National Centre, a department under the Prime Minister’s Office. He is also a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in Brunei Darussalam since 2009.

Haji Azhar has joined the service of His Majesty’s Government since January 1987 and his first attachment was as Assistant Programmer at the Economic Planning Unit of the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

His work exposure includes at the Information Technology Division of the Ministry of Finance; Information Technology and State Stores of the Ministry of Finance; Brunei IT Secretariat, Assistant General Manager for BAG Networks Sdn Bhd and recent Senior Special Duties Officer, Prime Minister’s Office.

Having served in the Brunei Public Service for more than 20 years, he has been involved as MoF IT Centre Manager leading 3 program managers and 14 project managers in handling 16 IT projects for MoF; as Chief Technical Officer for MoF to ensure the proper and successful implementation of the MoF IS/IT projects which include the establishment of MoF Data Centre and its operation. He also oversaw the Treasury Accounting and Financial Information System (TAFIS) project to completion in 2005. In the PMO, he acted as the head for e-Government implementation Unit which responsible for the macro- monitoring of the e-Government initiatives before being promoted as the Director of the e-Government National Centre. He became the Overall Chief Information Officer when he was the Deputy Permanent Secretary (IT and e-Government) at the Prime Minister’s Office with the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the e-Government initiatives for the Brunei Government.

Throughout his career, he has been bestowed a number of awards namely ‘Pingat Indah Kerja Baik’ (PIKB) in 2001; ‘Pingat Setia Bakti’ (PSB) in 2006; and ‘Pingat Jasa Kebaktian’ (PJK) in 2011.

He resides in Kampong Pasai Sengkurong with his spouse and 2 children. He enjoys travelling, hiking, jogging and cycling.