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Industry Pages
This page lists my skills, project involement and work history. You can also see my teaching experience (in Australia and the UK) as well as my management, leadership and volenteer experience. My PhD research relates to process improvement (specifically in the research environment) and may of interest to some looking at this page. Job offers are welcome, I aim to complete by June 2007.
Positions
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA Board of Directors, Student Observer) (2004-2006)
Higher Education Academy, Research and Teaching Forum (2004-present)
Director of SARWare - (Search and Rescue Software Company)
Member of the SARBayes Group (Software Engineer)
Workshop Chair The First International Workshop on Improving Research Productivity in Computing.
Skills
Search Optimisation EngineerAs CEO of Israel and Zionism on the Web I've worked to maintain their ranking for the key words Zionism, British Academic Boycott of Israel, Academic Boycott, Zionism web etc. Zionism On The Web have advised various Jewish organisations including the British Board of Deputies, and the Jewish Agency in Israel on internet related policy. We have also advised the Israeli Ministory of Foreign Affairs, The World Jewish Congress and the World Union of Jewish Students.
Systems Analysis
I've completed a Major Stream in Systems Analysis through the school of Information Management and Systems, Monash University. This course covered Systems Analysis, Structured, OO and database design, ERP systems, Project Management, IT Management and Information System Security
Computer Science
I've course completed a Bachelor of Computer Science and an Honours degree in Computer Science through the school of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Monash University. This course covered computing theory, programming in various languages, Artificial Intelligence, software engineering, and Technical Communication & Presentation
Programming
GW-Basic, BBC Basic, Visual Basic, C, C++, SQL, Perl, Java, and JavaScript. I also have some experience of prolog, lisp, python and others.
Databases
Mostly MS-Access, some VB systems with access data structure, some custom C/C++ systems, some limited Oracle.
Multimedia
3 years worth of audio visual work including video editing, live feed multi camera video production, sound engineering, lighting, and creation and presentation of visual media for large scale productions. I've also been involved in radio and web based multi media.
Management
IT management, Project Management, Quality Control Manager, Organisational Management.
University Projects of Note
SAR AGMThis project was a resource allocation program for land based search and rescue. I played the part of Quality Control manager for our team of three. The software was demonstrated to Victoria Police's search and rescue unit. The software may later be released under a lesser GPL.
MI5-E
This project was a design project. I played the role of project manager. It is of significance mainly due to the management issues that were successfully handled. The group of 5 (later 4) working on the project consisted on people with varying abilities and skills, as well as a general dislike of management. At project completion every one was happy that we couldn't have completed the project any better, and if it had to be repeated would do it the same way again.
SCAMM Technologies
This project was a design and implementation project. The team consisted of 5 people, and the project involved design an application and then coding it in a new language (Java). We set large goals at design time, and followed through implementing all of out requirements. The project involved approx 192 man hours a week for one semester.
Security
This project was a complete security review of a large companies IT division. The review covered every thing from physical security and procedures through to system configuration.
CaMML and SORAL
These two projects were completed under contract (a summer Vacation Scholarship) to Monash University. Please see work history below.
Work History (IT related only)
Company: Lancaster University (Graduate College)
Answering to: Contract job, signed off by the Graduate College PrincipleRole: Database Design, Interface design, Construction, Support
Originally constructed in 2003 to automate a manual system of building management, this tool dramatically improved efficiency and allowed the same number of staff to cope with 250% growth in the number of rooms and students they had to manage. The system was designed to specifications gathered from the users (college porters) followed by an extensive interface redesign over a number of months to improve user efficiency and reduce the learning curve for users with little or no IT skills. The system is still in use and been continually running for 3.5 years with only minimal changes (resulting from a changing environment). The system manages a central mail collection point (including creating and clearing lists for registered post and packages) along with the standard items such as rooms key management, forwarding addresses and movement of residents between rooms.
While this system has was built to Lancaster University requirements, it may be adapted and licensed by other parties and enquires via e-mail are welcome.
Company: Cummins Engine Company
Answering to: The Quality Assurance ManagerRole: Analysis, Design and Constrution
A database system in VB for monitoring and assisting with the calibration of machinery. The system was completed under a very tight schedule and released on time to over 60 workshops around Australia.
Company: Monash Unicom
Answering to: Head Librarian, John Medley LibraryRole: Analysis, Design, Construction, Maintence
A Microsoft Access database for the collection of statistics relating to CDs, LPs and other media requested in the library. This system went through about 4 annual revisions as requirements and facilities changed
Company: Oblo Jewellery P/L
Answering to: Managing DirectorRole: Analysis, Design, Conversion, Construction, Maintence, IT Provisioning, Documentation and Training
This involved the upgrading of a system from mostly manual with a single IBM 286 machine running Lotus and DB2 programs to an integrated end to end business solution including conversion to access of the old system's components, automation of many manual tasks, creation of a network to run the system on and continual review and updating of the system. The final system will handle import / export documentation, stock control, costings, lable generation, production automation, customer relations management, promotional advertising generation and other functions. The system has been under development since 1996 and is still expanding to meet the business needs.
Company: First Cash P/L
Answering to: DirectorRole: Analysis, Design, Construction, Version Conversion
This involved the creation of a system for managing the core business of a new company set up to administer personal loans. The system has to be designed to meet both business needs and legal requirements. The system handled all paper work relating to the loans including the creation of loans, generation of statements, repayment processing, and repayment schedules. Part way through development the system was converted from Access 97 to Access 2000.
Company: M Oboler & Son (South Africa)
Answering to: IT ManagerRole: Design, Construction, Documentation
This work involved the creation of a new customs documentation program to replace a cobal system prior to Y2K. The system integrated with the old cobal pricing system (with the use of data conversion software created in C) and then used an Access front end with more C code as back end for the generation of both lists and composite photos of items. The old system (brought in when computer were new) set the standard that the customs office then required by law. The new system has proved as popular with both company staff (due to a reduction in effort and the removal of a photographic phase that used to take days) and with customs staff (who now have one document rather then cross linking documents and photographs).
Company: CSSE, Monash University
Answering to: Project Manager, CaMML ProjectRole: Analysis, Design
This was a summervac possition that involved the design in OO terms of an existing peice of software in the field of AI. The Analysis was conducted by reviewing Journal articles on the existing system and consulting with the Project Manager and users of the system.
Company: CSSE, Monash University
Answering to: Project Manager, SARBayesRole: Design, restructuring and documentation of SORAL
This was a summervac position that involved reworking previous code to improve maintainability and adaptability for the future. The resulting design was highly successful and the code underwent FTR become being documented and released. SORAL is a library for optimal allocation of resources for missing person search and rescue. It grew out of the AGM project mentioned above. In addition to these roles I have also held a number of teaching roles.