About me

I started out as a software engineer, and have worked in a number of software / technical roles to date, including as CTO, VP, CEO.

Software Engineer @ NCB (money and stock brokers)

Software Engineer and Team Lead @ NZI (Insurance)

Trainer, Consultant and VP Professional Services @ IONA Technologies (Middleware)

Founder and CEO @ Rococo (embedded mobile, Bluetooth&Java) and Localsocial (Proximity Platform)

Co-Founder and CTO @ Dial2Do (voice assistant)

CTO @ Engage EHS (Health and Safety SAAS), acquired by EcoOnline

A common thread has been a deep interest in product, people and mission. I am attracted to places where I am convinced by the goal and the leadership. To help give you some “colour” about me, I stole Pat Finlay's format to describe myself.

Some strengths imho

• Product (planning, ideas, tradeoffs, management)
  Product Manager, product lead or contributing within a Product team. Also good in an innovation role where we're looking to generate practical new candidate features / product areas / whole products. Happen to love mobile stuff, connected stuff (IoT etc.) - so if that's in the mix it's a bonus.
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• Interaction (proposing, listening, suggesting, communicating)
  I'm good at connecting with software engineers, product managers, customers, sales, customer success, analysts, and so on. Comfortable wrangling ill defined information in to a shape to support decisions and action. Then taking action. I'm good at communicating - both listening, as well as conveying something. I've seen difficult situations and have been able to work a way through them.
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• Leading / Focusing / Delivering
  I can lead a team and manage people. Especially tech people/software engineers. I give a shit. I am also entirely happy to be left alone for periods of time to Get Something Done. To some extent these things can co-exist. I don’t need titles or grand Org Chart placement to be fulfilled.

Some attributes that I look for when working somewhere

• Strong Values and Culture
• Probably not too large (most of my career has been in places with 5 - 1,500 people)
• A mission I can get behind and believe in with a straight face and full commitment
• Many things unknown, and lots to be worked out