Chris Drage

Technical Project / Programme Manager - Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business at Generation-e
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Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Location
Greater Sydney Area, AU

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5.0

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Mark Madden

I worked very effectively with Chris in his role as Operations Director at Easynet UK. Obviously he has a strong technology background but Chris is also incredibly customer-focused with a great ability (and willingness) to develop innovative customer solutions - albeit tempered with the Operational reality having to support those innovations through the whole customer lifecycle going forward! Overall Chris is great technologist to work with - knowledgeable, pragmatic and customer focused.

Adrian Thirkill

Chris is very hard working Senior Manager with a comprehensive technical understanding of the UK telecoms market. Chris manages to cover the pillars of customer, people and process with equal enthusiasm and takes a solid long term view on building relationships within his area of responsibilities. Chris brings a lot to any task or opportunity that he takes on with the right combination and experience, energy and focus

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Credentials

  • ITIL v3
    -
  • Prince2 Practitioner
    -

Experience

  • Generation-e
    • Australia
    • IT Services and IT Consulting
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Technical Project / Programme Manager - Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business
      • May 2019 - Present

      Generation-e is the progressive leader in Cloud, Unified Communications, Collaboration, Networking and Audio Visual technology. Our pioneering approach has been setting the standard for the delivery of Modern Productivity for over 15 years. Generation-e partnerships include Microsoft Gold Partner and Telstra Enterprise Partner. These technologies allow us to deliver solutions that empower people to communicate and collaborate whether they are in the boardroom, the café or their kitchen. Our clients choose Generation-e because our deep expertise and experience empowers their people to achieve to their potential. Generation-e is one of the largest dedicated Microsoft Skype-for-Business and Microsoft Teams integrators in Australia and Asia Pacific with over 2.6 million Office 365 and over 250,000 Skype-for-Business seats deployed. Show less

  • Modality Systems
    • United Kingdom
    • Software Development
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Technical Project and Engagement Manager - Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business
      • Mar 2016 - Apr 2019

      Modality Systems is one of the largest dedicated Microsoft Lync Skype for Business professional services practices in the world. We leverage Microsoft technology to offer a complete end-to-end service wrap for business communications and collaboration, built around three core value pillars - Usage, Health and Future - designed to maximise utilisation, maintain a healthy and reliable environment and support the future goals of the organisation. I joined Modality UK in March 2016 delivering Skype for Business initiatives, programmes and projects across the UK and USA before transferring to the Sydney office in January 2018. Show less

  • Cisilion
    • United Kingdom
    • IT Services and IT Consulting
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Technical Project / Programme Manager - Unified Communications
      • Mar 2014 - Mar 2016

      I initially joined Updata (since acquired by Capita IT) but later head-hunted by Cisilion, to successfully programme manage the implementation and rollout of over 6000 seats Microsoft Lync including Enterprise Voice telephony and PBX integration to a major public sector organisation. Since then, I have led numerous successful projects and programmes specialising in Unified Communications utilising both Microsoft Lync (Skype for Business) and Cisco (Call Manager and Contact Centre) technology, some with complex integration, into a variety of public and enterprise sector clients. Show less

  • AlwaysON Group
    • United Kingdom
    • Telecommunications
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Technical Service Delivery and Projects Director
      • Apr 2012 - Feb 2014

      AlwaysON specialises in cloud-based solutions for Microsoft Lync unified communications, CaaS hosted telephony and managed IP network services. I was overall responsible for all technical service delivery functions. On joining, I defined and executed cloud strategy for Microsoft Lync 2013 Unified Communications leveraging Hyper-V virtual server environment and HP server technology. I instigated and implemented improvements to customer services function and delivered an extensive core MPLS network technology refresh. Show less

  • TalkTalk Business
    • United Kingdom
    • Telecommunications
    • 400 - 500 Employee
    • Technical Head for Voice and Data Managed Services
      • Apr 2011 - Apr 2012

      TalkTalk Business is the B2B arm of TalkTalk providing a broad range of voice and data services. Of this, £22Mpa is provided by Managed IP network services and a further £7Mpa from VoIP Telephony and CaaS/Cloud Unified Communications. For these two product lines, I was directly responsible for all fulfilment and technical functions from customer service management, service delivery and support including Prince2 project management, liaison with 3rd party carriers including Openreach, BT Wholesale and TalkTalk Technology, Equipment configuration of Cisco, Draytek router and Mitel and other IP PBX, Testing and handover. 24x7 support, incident handling and fault management. Notable achievements include the creation of a Centre of Excellence providing engineering, consultancy, design, operational delivery and support for VoIP Telephony and Unified Communications and appointing a 3rd party outsource partner to provide field engineering installations and maintenance Show less

  • Easynet Group
    • United Kingdom
    • Telecommunications
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Head of Service Delivery
      • Jul 2007 - Apr 2011

      Promoted to direct UK operations for managed networking, colocation, data centre and IaaS managed hosting. Responsible for all fulfilment and technical functions from order entry through to service delivery and support. Delivery comprises Prince2 project management, order entry, provisioning, liaison with 3rd party carriers, Cisco CPE router configuration, inventory updates, testing and handover. Assurance comprises 1st and 2nd line network incident and fault management, problem management. Data Centre and Hosting Operations. Customer Service Management. In addition to BAU, achievements include directing technical teams across EMEA to establish colocation and IaaS/Cloud managed hosting services in two new data centres (Milton Keynes and Slough) and their underlying support organisations and ITIL processes. Also, rearchitected and deployed an updated e-safety web-filtering solution for schools and education sector. Show less

    • Head of EMEA Customer Solutions
      • Jun 2006 - Jul 2007

      Founded and led the technical function of the newly formed B2B division targeting the public and corporate sector (as opposed to Sky Broadband consumer) with wide area network services. Line manager for the EMEA bespoke complex customer solution and UK backbone infrastructure teams. Founded and led the technical function to provide the public and corporate B2B sector with managed network and colocation data centre services. Line manager for the EMEA bespoke complex customer solution and UK backbone infrastructure teams. Matrix manager for coordination and escalation point for the entire UK technical community – Presales, Product Management, Customer Service Management, Service Delivery and Service Assurance.A major achievement during this period was the implementation of a $15M next generation backbone network providing stable and scalable network services in support of company growth and strategy. Show less

  • Panduit
    • United States
    • Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Head of Technology, Support and Product Management
      • Jan 2005 - Jun 2006

      Defined and executed EMEA Product and Technology Strategy. Directly responsible for Product Management, Consultancy, Solution Development, Marketing Communications, Pricing, Strategic Alliances, Pre- and Post-Sales Technical Support teams. Created a complete portfolio of strategic plans (one for each product line) defining the technical and commercial direction in support of data centre, networking and electrical product sales across EMEA. Defined and executed EMEA Product and Technology Strategy. Directly responsible for Product Management, Consultancy, Solution Development, Marketing Communications, Pricing, Strategic Alliances, Pre- and Post-Sales Technical Support teams. Created a complete portfolio of strategic plans (one for each product line) defining the technical and commercial direction in support of data centre, networking and electrical product sales across EMEA.

  • Capgemini
    • France
    • IT Services and IT Consulting
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Head of IP Networking Technical Architects and Consultancy
      • Jan 2002 - Nov 2004

      Led the Network Technical Architecture and Solutions Consultancy Group providing IP network (including VoIP and WiFi) data-communications and security solutions. The group provided technology thought-leadership and consultancy and was involved at all stages from presales, proposals, architectural design and costing and through to the technical management, project management, delivery and acceptance of implementations. Directly responsible leading key assignments - acting as bid manager, project manager and technical consultant on numerous projects including Project Managing a £2M network technology refresh (migration from Frame Relay to MPLS) for a financial institution within the Aviva Group. Show less

    • Lead Technical Architect for Triple-play IP Services
      • Apr 2001 - Dec 2001

      Organised and directed a multidisciplinary technical design team in developing an architecture and solution providing real-time broadcast and pay-per-view video, IP telephony, and ISP/ASP data services via ADSL to up to 3.2 million home and SME subscribers using TV set-top boxes, PCs and/or telephony devices. The team comprised over 40 specialists with members from Cisco, HP, Starvox, FutureTV and others representing all functional areas - video services, voice services, ISP/ASP services, messaging, IP and DSL network, OSS and integration, Billing, CRM, Security and service development. Show less

    • Head of Centre of Excellence for Telco IP Services OSS
      • Jan 2000 - Mar 2001

      Joined as a founder member of the management team of a new joint venture between Cisco and Capgemini targeting the Telco, Mobile, Service Providers and the Media sector. The OSS Centre of Excellence comprised consultants, pre and post-sales technical product specialists, software development and systems integration experts to provide Operational Support Systems (OSS) solutions for Telco and Service Providers. Functionality included Network Management, Service Management, Provisioning, Configuration and Performance. Show less

  • Viglen
    • London
    • Head of Technical Support and Development
      • Dec 1997 - Dec 1999

      Defined and drove technical initiatives in support of Viglen’s corporate strategy to diversify from PC Manufacturer to a provider of networking solutions and Microsoft Windows and Intel servers. Directly responsible for Project Management, R&D and Technical Support (48 staff) and major contributor into Product Strategy and Marketing. Particular focus in the Schools Education sector - Shaped the definition and developed ClassLink - a software suite providing a complete client-server solution including Internet connectivity, security print quota and email connectivity for schools. Show less

  • Madge Networks
    • Computer Networking
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Head of LAN & IP Switching Products and Software Development
      • Jun 1992 - Nov 1997

      Provided technical leadership of the LAN & IP Switching Products and Software development teams during a period of dynamic growth in the LAN switching market. Responsibilities encompassed hardware and software development, product management, project management and business planning. Matrix manager for escalation and co-ordination of technical support, sales account managers, marcomms and 3rd party suppliers.

    • Product Manager - Network Management
      • Mar 1991 - Jun 1992

      Joined start-up in the field of Local Area Networking (LAN), to formulate strategy and drive through the delivery of Madge’s first Network Management products.

Education

  • Henley Management College
    MBA
  • Imperial College
    BSc (Eng)
  • ITIL v3 Foundation Accreditation
  • Prince2 Practitioner

Community

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