Argh! Where to start? How about a Q&A….

What do you do for Work?

For a full-time job, I’m Guardian Manager at Incospec & Associates Australia. Our core business is Coating Inspections/Surveys and I’m in charge of the software that all the data goes into. It’s technical and generally exciting stuff.

Part-time I still work at smoov, a business that used to be called PuffaFish Creations). Currently smoov does lots of design and layout. We also create bespoke software for clients (check out EzyEst for an example).

My computing skills started in a data centre for a large UK bank in the late eighties – massive mainframes and ultra security. Many of those computers were less powerful than the phone in my pocket! It was here that I learnt about team-work and quality.

Since then I’ve done so many jobs (mainly while travelling), everything from selling water door-to-door to repairing TVs & Videos.

Before emigrating, I was a Senior Lecturer in Computing at Southampton Solent University where I taught programming (Java), design (Object Oriented) and Artificial Intelligence.

What’s your Education?

I actually left school with few qualifications. After working and travelling for a few years I returned to education at Southampton Institute where I managed to get a 1st class degree in Computer Studies.

After my first degree I started my PhD in Artificial Intelligence, which I completed in 2003.

I am also a Member of (MBCS), and Chartered Engineer (CITP) in the British Computer Society (BCS), as well as a Member of (MACS) the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Can you program computers?

I currently spent much of my daily programming in Microsoft Access (that’s what Incospec’s Guardian software is written in) and using XML to streamline processes. However, I do lots of web development (HTML, CSS & PHP) and I like to keep up with new technologies and tools.

In the past I have written and released software using Java, C++, PHP, Prolog and numerous databases.

I’m currently looking at writing some mobile computing software for Apple’s iPhone. I’m also exploring SQL Server and the .NET framework – specifically C# and VB.NET (as part of a new group of work projects).

What about your spare time?

Well I don’t get too much of that, but when I do I love travelling, swimming, surfin’, tennis, cycling, music, reading and hanging out with mates (i.e., drinking and partying).

Anything else?

Probably not much you’d find interesting. I play guitar really, really poorly and that’s the one thing I’d like to do if I had more time.