Commodores to Cloud ...
A Practical Mind in a Digital Age
⚙️ My Journey in Applied Computing
My career in applied computing began in the late 1970s, bent over a clunky Commodore desktop—the model long forgotten, but the moment formative. A determined careers officer nudged me toward a college open day, where someone asked why I was interested in computers. I gave the only answer I had: a school friend, Gus, once showed me that if you followed a manual precisely, the machine responded exactly as promised. That kind of precision captivated me—even if, at the time, the usefulness wasn’t yet clear.
What was clear was my instinct to create. I wanted to build things—things that mattered. Systems that did something. Tools that helped people. Ideas that had staying power.
Fortunately, Professor Webb saw something in me and offered a place on his course. That simple act of recognition gave me direction—and launched a career rooted in the intersection of technology and real-world utility.
Since then, my work has remained grounded in one principle: technology should serve a purpose. Whether extracting meaningful insights from data, integrating complex systems across organisations, or shaping early telecom standards, my focus has always been practical. Real problems. Real people. Real impact.
In truth, I believe we’re still solving the same essential challenges as ever—only with different tools. We’ve exchanged ledgers for cloud platforms and handwriting for code, but the intent remains:
- To chronicle
- To compose
- To communicate
In that sense, we’re not far removed from the Renaissance—just operating through a different set of tools; or perhaps we are just in another iteration of Renaissance.
I often think of Gordon Urquhart from Local Hero (1983): the accountant, publican, and postmaster who quietly holds his village together. Fictional, yes—but also a fitting symbol of the mindset I value most: interdisciplinary, quietly transformative, and fundamentally human. It’s that way of thinking that shapes and powers my mindset.
My approach is grounded in four interconnected domains: structured Data, effective Governance, scalable Cloud architecture, and applied AI/ML for insight and automation.
This site is part skills showcase, part troubleshooting manual. Basically, if my brain had a user guide, this would be the first draft.
🔧 How I Work
I combine delivery focus with architectural depth—bridging the gap between technical implementation and business value.
Whether the brief is clear or evolving, I bring structure to complexity, aligning stakeholders, developers, and analysts around shared goals. My approach is grounded in Agile principles, shaped by decades of hands-on experience across EAI integrations, ERP migrations, data platforms, and analytics programmes.
🧭 Start with Clarity
- I establish a shared understanding of scope, objectives, and constraints—whether through a backlog, WBS, or data blueprint.
- I facilitate early alignment sessions to surface unknowns and define success metrics that matter to both business and IT.
🔄 Deliver in Iterations
- I lead Agile delivery using Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid frameworks—tailored to team capability and stakeholder rhythm.
- I drive sprint planning, retrospectives, and reviews that actually improve team velocity and stakeholder confidence.
📊 Model What Matters
- I apply a “data-first” mindset—identifying core entities, relationships, and time-based dimensions that shape reporting and automation.
- I work with developers and analysts to design pragmatic, traceable models (star schemas, conformed dimensions, SCD2) that support real business questions.
🔌 Connect Systems and Teams
- I act as a translator between business SMEs, functional consultants, and technical delivery teams—bridging SAP, Workday, Oracle, Snowflake, and Databricks.
- I ensure data flows aren’t just technically integrated, but semantically aligned and auditable.
🚦 Manage Risk Proactively
- I maintain live RAID logs, track dependencies, and surface blockers early.
- I create delivery governance structures that scale—from squad-level standups to steering group reporting.
🧠 Build Understanding
- I document as I go—blueprints, mapping sheets, glossary terms, or lineage diagrams. No black boxes.
- I mentor team members, demystify architecture for business users, and leave behind capability—not just code.
If your project needs clarity, momentum, or a data-led delivery partner, I can help.
Data: the grail we can actually find, even if not obvious.
No dragons, no legends — just raw power hiding in plain sight.
Project management and Minimum Viable Products.
Innovation without limits. Budgets without chaos. MVPs without excuses.
Cloud: like a DC, just no weird humming noise.
We took the server room, put it on another floor and called it innovation
.
AI/ML: Raw data into gold — or at least a dashboard.
Blending Nostradamus and neural net spotting more trends than a Venetian gossip
Contact me
Reach out today to discuss your needs and find out how I may be of assistance and help contribute to your business thriving.
About me
I am based near Wallingford in the United Kingdom. Dedicated to delivering innovative IT solutions and exceptional service, helping businesses optimize their infrastructure and achieve their strategic goals.