History
Curriculum Vitae
Education:
Durham Chorister School, Durham (1979-1981)
Springfield Comprehensive School, Jarrow (1982-1987)
Wearside College, Sunderland (1988-1991)
Sunderland University (1991-1994)
Qualifications:
Subject Level Grade
Bachelor of Engineering
in Digital Systems Engineering (Hons.) Degree 2-2
Engineering BTEC ONC Merit
Engineering BTEC HNC Pass
General Engineering GEA
Mechanical Engineering SEA1
Electrical Engineering SEA2
Electronic Engineering SEA3
Software Engineering SEA7
Electronics GCE B
Physics GCE B
Computer Studies GCE B
Chemistry GCE C
English Language GCE C
Mathematics CSE 1
English Oral CSE 2
Human Biology CSE 2
Geography CSE 2
English Literature CSE 3
Hobbies and Interests:
These include swimming where I’ve obtained a bronze medallion life saving award, weight training, running, cinema, country walks, cycling, outward bound activities and I am a fully qualified SCUBA diver. I also keep abreast of new technological developments.
Employment History:
University of Durham 1998-Todate
IT Consultant ITS Department.
Brief list of duties include maintaining and installing the application software, on the University’s 1000+ Windows NT 4 network, this is a fully locked down system with a common desktop on all workstations with over 400 applications. Mechanisms are in place to copy workstation specific files i.e. dll’s and ini files, for an application, the bulk of which is stored on one of the 20 application servers dedicated to a location. I maintain the CD-Rom server which is delivered via a Citrix, Terminal server using Ultranet software there are over 60 titles available. The training aspect involves designing and delivering training courses for both staff and students in the use of applications in particular Microsoft Office from introductory to advanced levels. Also to provide user support and assist in general and wide ranging help desk queries.
CIA Training 1995-1998
My position was Computer Training Manager/ Hardware Technician, which involved me designing and presenting training courses for various operating systems, such as Windows 3.11, 95/98, NT 4.0 and applications including the full Microsoft Office Professional Suite (4.x, 95, 97) & Lotus Smart Suite. This was on a one to one, or group basis for various companies around the country (including McDonalds, Philips, South Durham Health Authority, Storey Sons and Parker, Balfour Beatty). After courses have been delivered I provided help desk services via the telephone to previous delegates. Beneath me were a number of training officers who I supervised and monitored to provide an effective I.T. training department.
I was also in charge of maintaining and upgrading all of the company’s computer hardware. I fully installed CIA’s network solution via 3.11, 95/98 and NT and their Internet/E-mail access.
I also provided IT consultantcy to various companies, specialising in operating systems, Access and Excel. This could either be developing/upgrading a Database Application, producing statistical reports within Excel via pivot tables and charts or creating specific macros within an application.
Commercial Sabbatical 1995
At the beginning of this year I made a conscious decision to take time out of industry to broaden my experience and personal development this included travelling around the East Coast of Australia and Indonesia.
NISSAN UK 1988-1995
I joined Nissan as a trainee maintenance technician in Trim and Chassis, whilst doing so they sent me to Wearside college to study for Engineering BTEC’s. The duties carried out in maintenance involved repairing the machines/robots that build the cars this involved PLC programming and fault finding and also electronic, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic skills.
Since I attained high grades at college Nissan sponsored me to do a full time Digital Electronics Degree at Sunderland University this involved studying microelectronics, microprocessor programming, software engineering, assembly language, Turbo Pascal and C++ programming and digital electronic techniques. My final year project was to build a video image grabbing system for the IBM PC which involved designing a digital circuit and writing a C++ program to facilitate the operation of this device, I obtained a first for this project.
For the duration of the degree I was assigned to the purchasing department. This involved contract negotiations, cost reduction, localisation of suppliers, buying, cost tables and general purchasing responsibilities concentrating on PC support.
Nissan had intended for me to go into the computer department, but no vacancy was available. My career ambitions have always been to work in the computer field and since this was not possible I saw no future at Nissan in purchasing
MARI 1987-1988
Upon leaving school I was employed by MARI as a first year YTS trainee in computer engineering. This involved intensive training modules in the following areas.
Software skills, introduction to UNIX, shell scripts, Pascal, Turbo Pascal, MS-DOS and telecoms.
Business skills, office procedures, the use of various business software packages, reception and administration duties.
Hardware skills, basic engineering, electronic circuits, intensive logic and digital electronics.
I achieved a distinction in all three modules. Work placement by MARI was with Advanced Electronics where I repaired and tested home computers.