Neil Killick
Head of Digital Product at Away /Digital Home/- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
Simon Spencer
Neil is a great facilitator and problem solver, always hunting down creative new ways to get to MVP
Afra Dianati
Neil is an extremely knowledgeable and passionate Agile Coach. I recently participated in his workshop
Simon Spencer
Neil is a great facilitator and problem solver, always hunting down creative new ways to get to MVP
Afra Dianati
Neil is an extremely knowledgeable and passionate Agile Coach. I recently participated in his workshop
Simon Spencer
Neil is a great facilitator and problem solver, always hunting down creative new ways to get to MVP
Afra Dianati
Neil is an extremely knowledgeable and passionate Agile Coach. I recently participated in his workshop
Simon Spencer
Neil is a great facilitator and problem solver, always hunting down creative new ways to get to MVP
Afra Dianati
Neil is an extremely knowledgeable and passionate Agile Coach. I recently participated in his workshop
Credentials
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Professional Agile Leadership — Evidence Based Management (PAL-EBM)
Scrum.orgJan, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO II — Advanced)
Scrum.orgJan, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK I)
Scrum.orgJan, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
Professional Scrum with User Experience (PSU I)
Scrum.orgJan, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
Scaled Professional Scrum (SPS)
Scrum.orgJan, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
Professional Agile Leadership (PAL I)
Scrum.orgDec, 2020- Nov, 2024 -
Apply team participation skills
TAFE NSWApr, 2015- Nov, 2024 -
Demonstrate inclusive communication skills
TAFE NSWApr, 2015- Nov, 2024 -
Listen and respond in a range of contexts
TAFE NSWApr, 2015- Nov, 2024 -
Mentor individuals or groups
TAFE NSWApr, 2015- Nov, 2024 -
Professional Scrum Master (PSM I)
Scrum.orgMar, 2014- Nov, 2024 -
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Scrum AllianceFeb, 2012- Nov, 2024 -
Certified Scrum Professional (CSP)
Scrum AllianceJan, 2012- Nov, 2024 -
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Scrum AllianceOct, 2010- Nov, 2024 -
Scrum Fundamentals Certified (SFC)
SCRUMstudy - Accreditation Body for Scrum and Agile;Download Free Scrum Body of Knowledge(340 pages)
Experience
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Away /Digital Home/
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Australia
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Design Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Head of Digital Product
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Dec 2021 - Present
I am building and leading the product function at this cutting-edge startup based in Australia and Vietnam. Our vision is that everyone can turn their dream home into their real home. I am building and leading the product function at this cutting-edge startup based in Australia and Vietnam. Our vision is that everyone can turn their dream home into their real home.
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Lean-agile product management and development ♦ Coaching ♦ Facilitation ♦ Process improvement
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Dec 2016 - Jan 2022
I help managers and leaders (including Executives) increase the value their teams generate from product and service delivery using authentic, contextual, goal-oriented, problem solving approaches. Everything I do is about improving results for my customers and their customers.I am equally comfortable contributing in both a hands-on and strategic way. One day I might be on the tools with a development team – the next day: facilitating product workshops, mentoring, coaching, managing, training or strategising with a team of product managers or senior leaders.Clients include: AGL, Anca, AusNet, AWAY Digital / Home, Carsales, Custom Fleet, Flatmates, Geomatic, Itty Bitty Apps, Medadvisor, Mercedes, MYOB, Mystes, Olikka, Parks VIctoria, PM-Partners, REA, Red Hat, SMS, System Partners, Telstra, Toyota, Vanguard, WISE Employment, World Vision, Xero
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MECCA Brands
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Australia
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Digital Product Manager
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Apr 2021 - Jul 2021
Summary:Managed the Connected Retail digital product offerings. Helped provide a seamless and delightful end-to-end digital to in-store experience for MECCA customers.Day-to-day:🔶 Prioritisation, slicing, UX design input and other refinement of capabilities being built for an upcoming market release of a new digital purchasing experience🔶 Mentoring, coaching and line management of product owners🔶 Built prioritisation tool to assist with sequencing decision, covering both economic/business value (viability and feasibility) and customer value (desirability)🔶 Built digital obeya and portfolio framework🔶 Helped establish product management guild
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Hypothesis
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Australia
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Information Technology & Services
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Senior Consultant (Product Development Specialist)
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Jan 2020 - Apr 2021
Product, leadership and delivery consulting, including:7-Eleven digital transformation🔶 Worked with new McKinsey colleagues to coach and train coaches and product owners as part of the organisation wide business and digital transformation, including producing self-serve playbooksHigh performance team assessments🔶 Facilitated maturity assessments and provided recommendations to teams and leaders for improving product development performance in line with modern agile principles and practicesStory slicing training🔶 Provided public as well as in-house training courses for IOOF and Treatwell on this core product discovery and development techniqueDigital Transformation Agency (DTA)🔶 Was part of an expert panel formed by the DTA which conducted an agile and HCD health assessment for the Bureau of Meteorology🔶 Provided recommendations to BOM on how to improve digital product delivery to meet the criteria for the Digital Service Standard🔶 Provided recommendations to DTA on how to improve the assessment itselfANZ WOW Transformation🔶 Partnered with COOs and other senior leaders across the business to create on-the-ground operational improvements in line with the ANZ WOW transformation🔶 Iterated on existing ANZ WOW operating model to improve fitness for purpose and business results
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Locomote
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Australia
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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1 - 100 Employee
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Head of Engineering (Agile Development)
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Jul 2016 - Dec 2016
▶ Headed up an internationally distributed team of 30+ software engineers, business analysts, test engineers and product owners ▶ Headed up an internationally distributed team of 30+ software engineers, business analysts, test engineers and product owners
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MYOB
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Australia
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Software Development
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700 & Above Employee
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ITS Portfolio Manager / Lead Agile Coach
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Sep 2014 - Jul 2016
ITS Portfolio Manager▶ Led, coached and mentored a team of Scrum Masters, Product Owners and Business Analysts▶ Worked with other portfolio/program managers to lead the delivery, planning, execution, visibility and reporting of a $30m+ (annual) portfolio of programs and initiatives across a 340+ strong Engineering and Experience group▶ Led the Scrum Master, Product Owner and Business Analyst Communities of Practice▶ Led the continuous improvement of Program Delivery practices▶ Collaborated with Product/Program/Project/Development Managers, Business Management Team, Executives, Go-To-Market teams and other stakeholders to agree priorities across all business units, matching strategic goals and demand to team capacityLead Agile Coach▶ Formed and led an international team of Agile Coaches across Australia and New Zealand, supporting an Engineering & Experience team growing to 400+ people▶ Agile transformation and training▶ Coached Agile/Lean/Kanban principles and practices across the business▶ Led the Agile Coaches, Managers and Leaders Community of Practice▶ Led the continuous improvement of software/product development▶ Formed and led a framework for continuous improvement and decentralised decision making, giving everyone a voice in key decisions and how we get better as a business
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Redbubble
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Australia
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Technology, Information and Internet
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700 & Above Employee
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Product Manager (web) / Product Owner (Lean-Agile)
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Feb 2014 - Aug 2014
▶ Product Owner with a high performing lean/agile development team▶ Delivered a clear vision, goals and ideas for improving the website▶ Formed collaborative relationships with other teams in the company, increasing visibility and transparency▶ Introduced a clear framework for delivering value to customers, including portfolio visibility and lightweight canvases for creating and prioritising business cases▶ Quickly became an integral member of the interview panel for new product manager candidates▶ Conducted effective customer interviews which gave important insights about customer problems and opportunities to pursue▶ Coached, trained and mentored colleagues from Aus and the US in Agile and Lean thinking and techniques for increasing personal, team and organisational effectiveness▶ Helped people frame experiments in terms of solving customer problems rather than Redbubble problems, establishing success criteria and next steps▶ Introduced story mapping to colleagues for envisioning user requirements and prioritising needs of both Redbubble employees and our customers▶ Facilitated highly effective retrospectives, workshops and other meetings that produced clear improvement outcomes▶ Brought in expert speakers such as Alistair Cockburn and Craig Brown to broaden the team's knowledge and thinking▶ Raised awareness in the company of good training and conference opportunities▶ Made extensive improvements to the organisation and content of the company wiki, increasing visibility of initiatives and making information such as past customer research easier to find▶ Coordinated research activities across the company to avoid duplication of effort and ensure people can collaborate where appropriate▶ Devised, organised and ran a highly successful Agile meetup which propelled Redbubble's status as an employer of choice▶ Organised sponsorship and attendance at LAST conference which increased Redbubble's exposure and provided learning opportunities for attendees
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Enterprise Agile Coach and Scrum Master
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Jan 2013 - Feb 2014
▶ Provided Agile, Scrum and Lean Consultancy, Coaching, Training, Project/Iteration/Product Management and Business Analysis services to organisations across the world who are looking to become more effective at delivering the right software in the right way ▶ Having seen a lot of bloated, complicated and unused software during my 18+ years in the industry, my mission is to help organisations become better at delivering great software while creating more humane, happy workplaces▶ Companies I have helped include: Envato, MYOB, Redbubble, Aconex, SEEK, Big Mobile, AIA Australia, Sensis, ResearchMaster, Anca and Mystes (Finland)
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SEEK
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Australia
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Technology, Information and Internet
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700 & Above Employee
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Agile Project Manager
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Feb 2013 - Aug 2013
▶ Delivered $1m+ fraud project, improving SEEK's fraud detection and prevention capability▶ Coached effective Agile/Lean software development, testing and delivery practices at both team and management level▶ Introduced portfolio Kanban for evolutionary improvements in process and time to market▶ Introduced higher visibility of workflow and impediments across product streams▶ Promoted continuous improvement culture including Lean Coffee, project manager retrospectives and lunchtime brown bag talks
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Big Ads
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Australia
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Advertising Services
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200 - 300 Employee
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Agile Coach / Scrum Master
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Oct 2012 - Feb 2013
▶ Coached Agile/Scrum/Kanban development team and product owner practices such as visualising and prioritising work, effective daily standup meetings, user stories, acceptance criteria, story splitting, team charters, definition of done, limiting work in progress, etc. ▶ Facilitated fortnightly demos of working software, retrospectives and planning meetings▶ Improved quality, effectiveness and efficiency of software delivery across a geographically distributed business using Agile, Lean, Kanban and TOC values, principles and practices▶ UX design including interactive wireframe prototypes▶ Helped people become the best that they can with personal coaching and career development plans
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AIA Insurance
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United States
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Insurance
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700 & Above Employee
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Agile Coach / Scrum Master / Lead Business Analyst
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Dec 2011 - Sep 2012
▶ Successfully led the company's first Agile team in the capacity of Scrum Master, while delivering a $2m+ critical workflow transformation project to happy stakeholders within budget▶ Led an implementation team of business analysts, developers, testers and a change manager▶ Worked closely on a daily basis with the implementation team, product owners, managers and other stakeholders to ensure the right product was being built in the right way and within budget/time constraints▶ Introduced a continuous delivery model, allowing deployment of software features into a live production environment several times a week▶ Coached the business in their Agile transition▶ Limited WIP and measured metrics such as throughput, cycle times and velocity to assist the team with introspection/improvement and the product owners with release planning (predicted scope delivery, predicted delivery dates, etc.)▶ Speaker and co-organiser of an Agile interest group to spread and share knowledge about Agile▶ Facilitator of "Quick Start" project inceptions and usability/user feedback sessions▶ Facilitator of regular Planning Poker estimation sessions, Sprint Planning, Sprint Retrospective, Product Backlog grooming and Sprint Review meetings▶ Guided the team in Scrum/Agile/Kanban/Lean principles to help them continuously improve and deliver effectively▶ Promoted team/organisational collaboration by setting up Wikis and blogs for the project and the company's Agile Interest Group▶ Encouraged team members and Project Manager to attend Scrum training
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REVO PTY. LTD.
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Sports
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1 - 100 Employee
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Global Product Manager / Senior Business Analyst / Scrum Master / Iteration Manager
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Oct 2010 - Oct 2011
▶ Delivered products as Product Owner, Scrum Master, Senior Business Analyst and Iteration Manager▶ Was promoted to Global Product Manager for the product I was working on after only 4 months as a Senior BA, coordinating country heads/stakeholders from the UK, India, Japan, the US and Australia▶ Assumed Product Owner role and immediately improved a struggling delivery process, delivering v1 of the product from scratch in < 2 months▶ Exceeded global stakeholder expectations with speed/quality of product delivery, as well as flexibility/immediate marketability of the product▶ Owned Product Backlog and regularly groomed/ordered/prioritised it, evaluating feedback from users, team members and multiple stakeholders, to ensure highest value items were scheduled for development in each Sprint▶ Set up initiatives such as "Extreme Feedback" where employees were encouraged to test/give feedback on the company's products▶ Fought against a graphic design-driven, mini-waterfall approach and encouraged constant participation from devs/testers/designers in articulating product ideas in workshops▶ Encouraged UX-driven products with emergent software design principles/evolving UI▶ Encouraged CEO, founding owners and senior management to trust in the Agile process and restructure to form small, product focused teams working directly with product owners▶ Initially operated as Scrum Master, protecting the team from a complicated stakeholder situation, encouraging self-organisation/accountability and regularly assisting with removing impediments▶ Facilitated regular Sprint Planning, Sprint Reviews/showcases and Retrospectives, encouraging active participation from all team members▶ Set up a product wiki and encouraged visibility/collaboration around product roadmaps/release progress, ideas, wireframes, product concepts, etc.▶ Provided Agile coaching/mentoring to developers, testers and senior managers▶ Interviewed candidates for various BA and test positions
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Esri Australia
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Australia
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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200 - 300 Employee
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Senior Consultant / Scrum Master
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Aug 2009 - Oct 2010
▶ Led other consultants as Scrum Master to successfully deliver multiple projects▶ Technical leadership and mentoring▶ Java/Flex/JavaScript design and development▶ Technical and non-technical documentation▶ Stakeholder liaison▶ Business Analysis and Pre-sales▶ Bid management for tender process▶ Interviewed potential consultants▶ Project estimation and budgeting▶ Rated as a "High Performer" in annual review▶ Delivered successful mapping and location referencing system to VicRoads▶ Delivered successful web mapping services application to Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)▶ Delivered custom web mapping tool to Department of Human Services (DHS)▶ Introduced Scrum framework and Rally Agile project management tool to organisation
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
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United States
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Agile/Scrum J2EE Developer
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Feb 2009 - Aug 2009
▶ Web design and development within Scrum team▶ Liaised with Business Analysts to ensure requirements were met▶ Provided technical advice and mentoring▶ Delivered high quality modules for Australian government website ▶ Web design and development within Scrum team▶ Liaised with Business Analysts to ensure requirements were met▶ Provided technical advice and mentoring▶ Delivered high quality modules for Australian government website
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Intelematics
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Australia
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior J2EE Developer/Technical Lead
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Jul 2006 - Jan 2009
▶ Web design and development▶ Liaised with customers and other stakeholders to ensure requirements were met and development progress was on schedule▶ Provided technical advice and mentoring▶ Technical and non-technical documentation▶ Interviewed potential developers▶ Delivered truck delivery tracking system to Transurban for use in Coles supermarkets and distribution centres▶ Delivered travel planner web application incorporating live traffic information to RACV (http://maps.racv.com.au/profile.do)▶ Delivered travel planner web application for backpackers and caravanners to Jayco▶ Delivered web application for vehicle location, tracking and remote unlocking
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Senior J2EE Developer
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Mar 2004 - Jul 2006
▶ Liaised with customers and other stakeholders to ensure requirements were met and development progress was on schedule▶ Provided technical advice▶ Mentored junior staff▶ Technical and non-technical documentation▶ Delivered an online marketing, printing and ordering application for franchises which is still being used by clients such as Mortgage Choice, Healthy Habits and Noodlebox▶ Delivered an online ordering component for the website of a sister printing and design company▶ Studied Agile methodologies (XP) and began to incorporate them into the development process
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DWS
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Australia
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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300 - 400 Employee
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Consultant
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Jan 2004 - Mar 2004
▶ Provided IT consultancy to various clients including Carlton United Brewery and The Salvation Army ▶ Provided IT consultancy to various clients including Carlton United Brewery and The Salvation Army
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John Lewis & Partners
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Developer
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May 2003 - Nov 2003
▶ Developed internet and intranet applications ▶ Developed internet and intranet applications
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
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United States
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Java Developer/Vice Team Lead
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Nov 2001 - May 2003
▶ Mentoring▶ Design, development and testing▶ Worked on high-profile Government project, a claims application for the Department of Social Services (DSS)▶ Delivered framework modules, change requests and defect fixes▶ Fast-tracked to vice team lead despite being a relatively inexperienced Java contractor ▶ Mentoring▶ Design, development and testing▶ Worked on high-profile Government project, a claims application for the Department of Social Services (DSS)▶ Delivered framework modules, change requests and defect fixes▶ Fast-tracked to vice team lead despite being a relatively inexperienced Java contractor
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Sky
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United Kingdom
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Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Java Developer
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Jul 2000 - Jan 2001
▶ Java development to enhance live sports feeds on skysports.com website ▶ Java development to enhance live sports feeds on skysports.com website
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Innovation Group North America
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United States
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Insurance
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200 - 300 Employee
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Lead Java Consultant
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Dec 1998 - Jul 2000
▶ Responsible for a team of 6-7 staff▶ Mentored and shared technical expertise▶ Ensured that the skill and experience of each team member was deployed appropriately▶ Project planning to ensure deadlines were met and on budget▶ Had teleconferences with teams in London and the US to report on project progress and discuss the way forward▶ Prepared documentation for internal staff and clients with varying levels of Java/Web expertise▶ Talked with Huon's Asia-Pacific clients about their thoughts on migrating from the current Huon mainframe application to a graphical system▶ Set up and led the Australian Java development team to continue enhancements to the Huon Solution and introduce the new Web version to the Asia-Pacific clients▶ Ran many successful lunchtime Java training seminars, spreading the word of Graphical User Interfaces in a traditionally mainframe-centric company▶ Successfully cross-trained procedural mainframe programmers in object-oriented Java
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Consultant
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Jan 1997 - Dec 1998
▶ Mainframe development▶ Java/HTML design and development▶ Documentation▶ Trainee team leadership▶ Excelled in mainframe development with IBM and was given an early move to the New Technology team to assist in innovation for the company on a large project with Huon▶ Impressed the Huon team and was offered a job with them▶ Demonstrated a keenness for Team Leadership and so with the help of my Team Lead I was groomed into a future Team Leading role by learning what was involved and being given more responsibility▶ After less than a year with Huon I was asked to move to Australia to set up and lead the Java Development team for the Asia/Pacific region
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IBM
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United States
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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700 & Above Employee
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Trainee Software Consultant/Developer
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Aug 1995 - Jan 1997
▶ Trained in CICS/COBOL/DB2 development▶ Developed mainframe based insurance software ▶ Trained in CICS/COBOL/DB2 development▶ Developed mainframe based insurance software
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H+A
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South Africa
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Advertising Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Office Manager
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Jul 1994 - Jul 1995
▶ Various duties such as preparation of timesheets, reports, documentation, etc. ▶ Various duties such as preparation of timesheets, reports, documentation, etc.
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Education
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1991 - 1994
University of Kent
BA (Honours), Accounting with Computing -
1985 - 1991
Wilson's
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