Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
I am passionate about simplicity and elegance, in a world full of over complicated systems, the best solutions always stand out for their simplicity and elegance. The very best ideas are the hardest to grasp as they seem so blindingly obvious. The famous quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery sums up my attitude to software design and implementation: "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
For our existing customer I designed, developed and delivered the New Zealand SmartGate replacement system, nicknamed SmartGate+ by our customer. I created IDEMIA's flagship Exception Management Solution (EMS), taking it from my whiteboard through to delivery. The EMS was instrumental in IDEMIA winning the contract for providing the border processing solution for THE premier airport in the world: Changi in Singapore.
After years of working in pre-sales or R&D teams, I came back to Australia and anchored the companies software development team as its lead engineer. I was the lead engineer in developing and delivering the very first biometric border solution in the world: Australia's SmartGate. Its still going now which is a testament on its longevity! New Zealand's SmartGate was delivered next, a bespoke development on the generic core product. Other systems delivered during this time included the NSW RTA (now RMS) system for biometrically identifying fraud in its drivers license issuing system.
Thales' international mobility program allowed me to experience one of my dreams: working and living in a different culture. The year I spent in the UK broadened and enhanced my skills in relating to colleagues and customers by exposing me to very different work and life practices. My responsibilities included: - team leading the flight plan manager component for the Watchkeeper UAV - participating in pre-sales activities for the Department of Trade and Industry - development and maintenance for the British tactical radar system
After starting at Thales as a Senior Software Engineer in the military communications team I quickly became the focus of their pre-sales technical team. My responsibilities included: - the rapid prototyping of ideas into demonstrable products - presenting Thales' products to potential customers - exhibiting in trade shows, such as Land Warfare Conference, Avalon Air Show & Pacific. - development and maintenance of Thales' communication layer software - representing Thales' in military communications inter-operability exercises
While still studying at ANU I was headhunted by Compucat, starting full time employment in June 2000 and completing my IT degree part time. At Compucat I quickly rose from new starter to leading the development and maintenance of a vehicle tracking system, X-fleet, used by the taxi industry, cash carrying armoured cars and buses. This position required technical leadership and the ability to mentor new graduate starters. Another of my key responsibilities was participation in demonstration events and trade shows, due to my ability to speak comfortably and easily with any audience.