Data#3 CEO, John Grant, has assumed the chairman's post for Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA). He replaces Peter Kazacos, who spent two years in the role.

Grant plans to continue on with AIIA's strategy to ensure it is executed. He said the association had three broad areas of focus around membership growth and value, recognition of the business, government and general community, and creating engagement with businesses and government around skills, contractual frameworks and environmental issues.

"My role is to continue the work that Kazacos did in the first stages of drafting and implementing that strategy," Grant said. "We will ensure the AIIA is positioned as the peak body for this industry and members have a beneficial and constructive relationship with the association and each other."

Grant claimed the IT industry represented between 4.9 per cent and 6 per cent of Australia's GDP, which was bigger than mining and resources and tourism.

"It is a big industry but it's a little undervalued because it doesn't get the sort of emotion that other industries carry, nor does it carry an influence at the ballot poll yet," he said.

Grant's reason for joining the board was tied to his belief the industry needed solid representation.

"This industry is relatively new and it's very fragmented. There are a lot of different agendas being run," he said. "There needs to be an association that plays the role of bringing those agendas together and presenting itself constructively to government and the broader industry."

Grant is starting the second term of his three years with the board. He has also been involved for many years in the local committee in Queensland.