◄ Back to Blood Service in Brief October 2016

Shane Winzar, Technology Transformation Manager

What’s your team’s role?

The Technology Transformation Team is relatively new, created from some changes to our structure creating a broader focus on innovation, so it’s pretty varied at the moment. It includes helping manage suppliers through to discussing common issues with other Blood Services internationally and managing some key projects.

Some of the items the team is working on at the moment include reviewing Pathogen Inactivation Technology and how it might apply in an Australian setting, collaborating with four other international Blood Services, managing changes from our key suppliers to ensure they do not impact the components or our customers, and assessing new technology and innovations that may apply to improving the way we operate.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Some days can either start pretty early or finish quite late, trying to coordinate international meetings with Australia, Europe, US and Canada mean some meetings don’t start until 11pm. A normal day would then involve reviewing any communications we have had from suppliers and assessing if any actions need to be taken, progressing various pieces of project work, and collaborating across all areas of the Blood Service to really build some strong longer-term technology plans.

I also like to take time to review feedback we have had from both our customers and donors to see if there is anything we are working on that can help solve some of the issues that occur.

What do you see as the most important aspect of your role?

Really promoting a culture of continuous improvement and innovation with a focus on what improves outcomes for our customers, whether that be a scientist in a busy pathology laboratory, a voluntary donor, or a member of government that funds the nation’s blood supply.

How are you and your team working to better serve customers?

In everything we do we are really trying to ask ourselves “What does this mean for our customer?” This could be an internal or external customer – but innovation at its heart needs to provide value, if we can use technology and international comparison to improve the way we operate, that will ultimately lead to improvement in our service and efficiency to customers.

What do you love about your job?

The best part is being able to reach out to other organisations and link what they are doing to a potential improvement we can make, and being encouraged to come up with innovative ideas to problems!

What’s something unique or interesting about your team that people might not know?

Our Technology Transformation Team currently has five members based around Australia (Melbourne, Hobart and Brisbane) with over 85 years’ worth of combined Blood Service experience.