Eszter Gérecz Kertész

As an evening student at the Faculty of Natural Sciences (TTK) of ELTE, he began working with computer science in 1964 at the Computer Laboratory of the Central Statistical Office (KSH), programming the URAL-2 electronic computer in machine code. During the reorganization in 1966, he programmed the solution of mathematical programming and transportation problems in machine code on the MINSZK-2 machine and in the Algol60 programming language on the Gier machine at the mathematical programming department of the Computer and Administration Management Company (SZÜV).

During the reorganizations between 1968 and 1988, he performed system design, database design and modeling tasks at the Information Processing Laboratory (Infelor), the Computer Application Research Institute (Számki), and then the Computer Application Company (Számalk) as a senior research associate, head of department, and then head of the computing center. During this period, he achieved the implementation of database-based state administration systems in connection with the design of state administration systems. His research results enabled him to work as a Norwegian state scholarship holder between 1979 and 1981, and then as a researcher and guest lecturer at the Institute of Informatics of the University of Oslo at the invitation of the university.

Between 1988 and 1990, he headed the Computer Center of the State Administration Computer Service (ÁSZSZ), where his duties included computer support for banking applications in addition to state administration tasks.

Between 1990 and 1996, he was the head of the IT department at the Central Statistical Office. The modernization of the IT equipment of the office and the regional directorates was carried out under his professional guidance within the framework of the successful PHARE program. This development made it possible to renew and modernize the development of the statistical information system. Between 1996 and 1997, he held the position of IT director at the Ministry of Culture and Public Education.

From 1998 to 2011, he was the Head of the IT Department of the Office of the Parliament (OGYH), where he was responsible for the development, modernization, operation and user support of the Parliamentary Information System (PAIR), which provides IT support for lawmaking.

After retirement, he worked as an IT consultant in international (UN and EU) parliamentary projects; he has been working as an IT consultant ever since.

Awards: Recognition of the Secretary of State for Public Administration (1996); János Neumann Award (NJSZT, 2004); Chief Informatics Officer of the Year – special lifetime achievement award (2004); Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (2008); Lifetime Achievement Award (NJSZT, 2019).