In April 2001, iPlatinum began with a simple idea: to help councils get better value from their investment in information technology.
What started as a boutique consultancy operating from a serviced office in Crows Nest has since evolved into one of the ANZ local government sector’s long-standing specialist technology providers – supporting councils across Australia and New Zealand for 25 years.
The business was founded following conversations between Colin Hoschke and Trevor Wilson, both of whom had previously led major local government enterprise solution providers. Together, they saw a gap in the market: councils were investing heavily in technology, but often still struggling to access information, integrate systems and fully realise the value of those investments.
Soon after, a highly experienced team joined the business, including Mike Preedy, Terry Mohan, Scott McKeown and Steve Congdon – all bringing strong expertise across local government systems, applications and project delivery.
From the beginning, the focus was practical and industry-specific.
The first customer was Wollongong City Council, where iPlatinum was engaged to support a major systems replacement project. That work quickly expanded into a growing library of specialist services including project management, tender support, data migration, report writing and strategic advisory.
As the company worked more closely with councils, a broader pattern started to emerge.
Many local governments were dealing with the same underlying challenges:
- historical data locked away in ageing systems
- increasing governance and compliance obligations
- fragmented information environments
- growing pressure to respond to requests quickly and accurately
Those challenges directly shaped the evolution of the business.
When councils needed a way to retain historical data without maintaining expensive legacy systems, iArchive was developed.
When organisations struggled to quickly locate information across multiple repositories, applications and records systems, iSearch was created – later evolving into iFerret.
Importantly, these products were built in response to real operational problems councils were facing every day. That practical, customer-led approach continues to define iPlatinum today.
“The technology has changed enormously over 25 years, but the core challenges for councils are often still the same — making information accessible, usable and valuable.”
– Mike Preedy, Director, iPlatinum
Over the years, the business evolved from a specialist consultancy into a software company, formally completing that transition in 2023. Along the way, the team expanded from a small serviced office into larger Sydney-based offices in North Sydney and later Surry Hills, while continuing to grow its customer base across Australia and New Zealand.
The company’s longevity has also been shaped by something increasingly rare in the technology industry: long-term relationships.
Several early customers remain customers today. Three of the first six employees are still part of the business more than two decades later.
That continuity reflects a philosophy that has remained consistent since day one – combine deep industry understanding with practical technology outcomes and genuine customer service.
As local government environments continue to evolve, so too does iPlatinum.
Recent developments including AI capabilities and the new Information Request Management module reflect the same mindset that shaped the business 25 years ago: solving real problems in ways that are practical, reliable and valuable for councils.
While technology has changed significantly since 2001, the core objective remains much the same: helping councils access, manage and use information more effectively.
Twenty-five years on, iPlatinum remains proud to support the local government sector across Australia and New Zealand – and grateful to the customers, staff and partners who have been part of the journey.
