Immigration system project director quits

Stewart Watson, project director of the Immigration Global Management System (IGMS) is returning to semi-retirement

Poor health and a daily two hour commute has taken its toll on Stewart Watson, project director of the Immigration Global Management System (IGMS), and he is calling it quits.

Watson has worked on the Department of Labour’s (DOL) $90 milion initiative for the past two years. He was initially brought on board to manage the separate procurement project, which saw Datacom win the principal contract.

“I never intended to be on this project for this length in the first place,” says Watson.

“But when you start a journey and it’s not finished sometimes it’s a bit hard to walk away.”

DOL has started the process of replacing Watson, which it says could be with a fixed or contract worker.

According to the DOL the IGMS project is currently “slightly under budget”. IGMS will conclude its first stage in mid-July, and with five other stages before project completion in 2015, it is likely whoever fills Watson’s shoes will be dealing with a blown budget.

“Keeping the project under budget will be a key motivator for anyone who replaces me,” says Watson.

“This is not a project for someone to grit their teeth on and learn.”

Watson meanwhile will return to semi-retirement. The former CIO of the Ministry of Social Development says he will go back to doing DIY projects around his Wairarapa property.