Open Text president, CEO named to Computerworld Honours Chairmen`s Committee

Issued by Global Research Partners for Enterprise Content & Wireless
Johannesburg, 13 Apr 2006

Lava Systems Africa, an affinity partner of Canadian-based Open Text, and one of the companies within the Enterprise Content & Wireless (ECW) Group, today announced that Bob Carrigan, Chairman of the Computerworld Honours Programme Chairmen`s Committee and President of IDG Communications, has announced that John Shackleton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Open Text, has joined its prestigious Chairmen`s Committee.

Comprised of an elite group of top technology executives, the committee strives to recognise IT companies that have leveraged technology through the betterment of society.

"The Chairmen`s Committee possesses some of the most innovative leaders the IT industry has to offer," commented Carrigan. "John Shackleton, along with other members of the committee, will play a prominent role in helping to carry out the programme`s mission - to identify those companies and individuals who are using technology to positively impact society."

The Computerworld Honours Programme unites chairmen and CEOs of the world`s foremost information technology companies to recognise the most outstanding user achievements in technology each year. The process culminates with an awards ceremony, which will take place in Washington, DC, with a guest list that represents a who`s who in IT. The technology achievements honoured by this programme are preserved and protected in national archives, and in over 250 universities, museums and research institutions throughout the world.

As part of the Chairmen`s Committee, Shackleton will help to identify the organisations whose use of information technology has been especially noteworthy for the originality of its conception, the breadth of its vision and the significance of its benefit to society.

The Computerworld Honours Programme

Founded by International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, the Computerworld Honours Programme is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation. In its 18th year, Computerworld Honours is the longest running global programme to honour individuals and organisations that use information technology to benefit society.

Each year, the programme`s Chairmen`s Committee, a group of 100 chairmen/CEOs of global technology companies, nominates individuals and organisations around the world whose visionary application of information technology promotes positive social and economic progress. Nominations are evaluated by an independent board of CIO-level judges who select laureates, finalists and award winners, in 10 industry-related categories, to be honoured at a Laureate Medal Ceremony. This year`s ceremony and accompanying Gala Awards Programme will take place on 5 June 2006, at the Andrew W Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.

The technology achievements honoured by this programme are preserved and protected in national archives, and in over 250 universities, museums and research institutions throughout the world. Additional information about the programme and a global archive of past laureate case studies and oral histories can be found at the Computerworld Honours Web site at www.cwhonors.org.

For further information, please contact Ray Dalgarno, Lava Systems Africa: telephone 011 675-3704, fax 011 675-1021, e-mail rayd@lavasystems.co.za.

Enterprise Content and Wireless (ECW)

ECW is the merged entity of Lava Systems Africa and Real Global Business Solutions (RGBS).

Lava Systems Africa

The Lava Systems Africa (Pty) Ltd (LSA) team originated in the late 1990s with the objective of becoming a premier supplier of enterprise systems based around knowledge management, document management, records management, image management, collaboration and workflow solutions. The emerging demands that were identified included government process re-engineering, supply chain co-ordination, customer relationship management, e-government and B2B processing.

In support of these business aims, the technology platforms chosen had to enjoy a proven global track record and adhere to open Internet architecture standards and developments. Lava Systems Africa is a South African-based BEE company dedicated to the sales, marketing, support and consultancy founded upon the Livelink product suite from Open Text, a product that the staff have been involved with since 1998.

Lava Systems Africa`s user base embraces customers from both the private and public sector and includes organisations such as Bateman Projects Limited, Alexander Forbes, the Gauteng Provincial Government and the National Social Security Fund of Uganda. Additionally, Lava Systems Mobile was created earlier this year and KeyTools, a well-established mobile applications software developer with international links, was also acquired by LSA.

Real Global Business Solutions

RGBS Real Global Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd is a South African 100% black-owned company specialising in the sales, marketing and implementation of enterprise-wide information delivery solutions including both operational and analytical CRM and e-business solutions. The company`s major market focus is the government and public enterprises, as well as the middle-sized ERP markets. Its organisation markets packaged and customisable business solutions for vertical industry and departmental applications, as well as an integrated suite of software tools and consulting services. To this end, RGBS has entered into strategic partnership agreements with global, leading and reputable software vendors such as Microsoft and SAS.

RGBS customers include Department of Social Development, Eskom Distribution, First National Bank, Royal Swazi Sugar, SA Weather Services and SITA.

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