Greater Sydney Area
I am a passionate and committed executive with 25-year experience in General Management and Technology. I have a strong understanding of strategic planning, transformation execution (including M&A and outsourcing), global operations and corporate governance. Leveraging my management consulting experience, I bring a structured approach to strategy formulation and problem solving. I thrive in complex environments where innovation and design are integral parts of the business model and technology drives growth. My ability to operate in a fluid environment, to lead cross-functional and globally dispersed team and confidence to challenge the status quo are qualities that have helped me run highly profitable businesses and deliver substantial organic growth achievements. + Led the technology strategy and solution delivery for Downer (ASX:DOW) in support of $5B State government rollingstock contracts. Implemented a world-class Asset Management solution built in merely 10 months after project inception which resulted in 40% Opex reduction. + Organically grew Cardno’s International Development Assistance Business over 3 years - Fee revenue by 26%, EBITDA 140% and Contracted Backlog by 50% to AUD202m becoming the Australian Governments largest Development Assistance contractor. + Initiated and secured the Cardno (ASX200) board’s approval for a greenfield low-cost engineering services delivery centre in the Philippines and subsequently led the creation and operation of the centre that grew to employ over 200 staff. + As Telecom NZ Account Exec / CIO, achieved 126.6% of financial targets for both Revenue and Operating Profit. + Managed the successful solution development, bid and delivery of cutting-edge Payroll & HR BPO (which received the 2007 Australian HR Industry award for the “Best use of Technology”) for Australia’s largest private employer Coles Myer – AUD90m contract. Personally and professionally, I enjoy working in a culturally diverse environment. I value companies that invest in long-term sustainable solutions, as well as those actively engaged in employee/community support programs. I hold a dual Australian-French citizenship. JFF – [email protected]
After working 35 years for the corporate world, it is time for me to start a new chapter. The plan is for my beautiful partner and I to live a nomadic life for 10 years. We are getting rid of all our material possessions and are now down to a few boxes and 2 suitcases. When we have seen enough of the world, we'll buy a little place in South Europe (France, Spain, Italy or Greece) and get a dog. Dogs tend to live 15 to 20 years, so we'll all go peacefully together...
In 2016, Downer secured contracts totaling $5B with the NSW and Victorian State Governments for the design, manufacturing, commissioning and through-live-support of new rolling stock fleets (respectively known as Sydney Growth Trains and High Capacity Metro Trains). To support the delivery of largest transport system and associated infrastructure budget in the Victorian State’s history and dealing with an unprecedented level of concurrency, JFF presented a radically different procurement and delivery model which led to a 40% OPEX reduction. The world-class Asset Management solution built in merely 10 months after project inception is now used as a federator to Downer’s Rail service offering. The Downer Group is now positioned to commercialise this solution as “vertical product” targeting owner/operators of mass-transportation assets. Additionally, JFF oversees the technology stream of all Downer Major Projects (TCV > $1B) and Bids.
The whole-of-government Corporate and Shared Services Reform Program (CSSRP) mandates for Transport to develop common and commoditised business services capabilities across the Cluster. As Program Director, JFF led the IT infrastructure stream to enable the deployment of the new ERP platform and ensured the migrations of the entire Transport application portfolio from the 21 legacy data centers to the two new NSW Government Data Centers. His mandate also included contract negotiation with key suppliers. For probity reasons, details regarding these activities and associated budgets must remain confidential.
In 2011 JFF was appointed VP of the Emerging Market division of Cardno (ASX 200 company). With more than 1,000 staff in over 65 countries, Cardno's Emerging Markets manages over US$800 million of International Development Assistance contracts to help build stronger communities and to improve living standards in developing and developed countries. The division operates from nine corporate offices worldwide in Brisbane, Brussels, Jakarta, Manila, Melbourne, Nairobi, Oxford, Port Moresby, and Washington DC as well as numerous project locations. It serves a range of clients including the World Bank, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Commission, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Australian Government (Australian Aid - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and various UN agencies as well as partner governments, private clients and communities. Key achievements: o Within three years of his tenure with Cardno, JFF increase the division’s profit by 50% while growing the business backlog, expanding its market share with existing clients and driving the business diversification in terms of donors (such as UK DFID), services and geographies. o In addition to this significant organic growth, JFF drove an aggressive Merger & Acquisition program with companies in Europe and North America. A transaction in the UK resulted in doubling the size of the division’s operations in Europe. o Leveraging his outsourcing experience gained from his time with the IT and Telco industries, JFF planned, designed and successfully established a Cardno subsidiary in the Philippines which provides an effective delivery model and key market differentiator to all divisions of the Group. In less than 12 months, this entity reported more than AU$53M of booked business.