Ever since I bought my first Apple II and played around with the 6502 instruction set I have been interested in computers and software. Obviously, having experience with the Apple II is a good measure of how long I’ve been working with computers. Yes, a long time; over 20 years to be more precise.
My career travels through the IT space have landed me in several industries using many technologies to deliver business solutions for clients and employers. Using both Unix and Windows platforms I have architected, designed, developed, deployed, and managed IT solutions for industries such as local government, investment banking, and most recently, healthcare. I have employed a myriad of languages, tools, utilities, and processes. Want me to list them all? Perhaps not. Suffice it to say that if I’ve been delivering IT solutions for 20 years the chances are pretty good I’ve come across the likes of COBOL and VMS. Name a software development language and I’ve probably used it. I’ve employed both Java and .NET, I’ve had both the misfortune of dealing with the Waterfall methodology and the pleasure of working on and leading Agile projects, and I’ve assumed various IT roles, including Director of Engineering, Technical Architect, Team Lead, Senior Developer, etc.
In early 2004 I returned to Vancouver from London, England, after a 10 year stint. I worked as a Technical Architect and Team Leader for investment banks in the City of London, delivering IT solutions for the middle office and back office areas. During my foray into investment banking IT, the banks became enamoured with Java and Solaris and so I became involved with architecture and leadership using those technologies. C++ and Windows were also involved in the mix, and so were many other technologies and tools. The application space encompassed, among other things, asset backed securities, interest rate derivatives, collateral management, and trade confirmation document management for OTC (over the counter) and credit derivatives.
Currently, I’m a Senior Consultant within the Microsoft Practice for a Vancouver based consultancy.
What will be the purpose of this blog? Primarily, all things related to information technology. However, my interests in a number of other areas will, I am sure, impart a focus outside of IT (e.g. many aspects of science and technology, economics, etc).