OVERVIEW

Considerable IT/IS experience in engineering, supervision, and line management, also project management in analysis, design, development and implementation of strategies and information systems.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Planning Manager

Gas Call Services Ltd……………Oct 2005 to date

A contracting company to the Scottish Executive also several Local Authorities to install central heating into designated premises, also sub contracted to provide a similar service to a Westminster initiative.

Responsibilities

To re-establish and manage the planning function at Head Office and other company offices in Scotland and N England.

Set up planning tools (MS Project, Excel and Access) as required

To re-defined the roles and responsibilities for members of the planning dept (3 at H.O and 7 at other offices)

Project Manager

Computer Science Company Ltd……….Jan 2005 to Oct 2005

Awarded the contract under the national NHSpfIT programme for the N W and W Midland cluster, to deliver the Care Record Service, for Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care and Mental Health Trusts also GP systems.

Responsibilities

To provide management of the SAN Backup and Storage function of the programme, and re-focus the technical leads from project management activities onto providing engineering support to their respective teams

Manage the SAN, Backup and Storage activities and the relevant engineering teams at both data centres (production and DR).

Create and manage the project plan to monitor the schedule also engineering and resource activities.

Member of the DR project team to create, implement and test processes to ensure Service continuity (24 x 7) pre during and post disaster recovery, based on a patient medical record recovery within 2 hours.

Set up regular and ad hoc review meetings with user groups to maintain ongoing communications with other programme activities/elements, to ensure timely provision of identified SAN, Backup and Storage requirements.

Manage and resolve all risk and issues related to programme activities for which I was accountable.

Established 3 and 6 monthly user requirement forecasting processes to ensure adequate SAN Backup and Storage supply capacity was available to meet programme needs.

Liaise with stakeholders (Strategic Health Authority, Primary Care Trust and Community Care) on pre and post systems implementation support, also technical backup and issues management.

Instigated work request processes throughout the programme to ensure all relevant information was provided to assign a priority, impact assessment and reduce time spent obtaining required information.

Manage a capital budget of £12.7M, also consultancy budgets of £0.7M and £0.335M, reporting on spend also to specify and authorise future expenditure.

Off work through surgery for bowel problem………..Nov 2003 to Nov 2004

Various activities…………..Oct 2002 to Nov 2003 (no contract work forthcoming)

1 Klassika Networks Ltd - ICT strategy consultant to medium and small companies, wholesale/retail outlets, then develop and implement agreed solutions (PRINCE 2). Networks with W2003, Novell 5, NT and XP server and desktop, also Print and Backup servers. Comms: PBX, ISDN. Create and manage databases (MS Access). Business: Office, Excel, Sage and Tetra. Set up disaster recovery processes/procedures (with SLA and 3 ^rd party support contracts).

2 Donald Morrison - Commissioned to design and build static and radio controlled model boats i.e. Merchant ship, warships, lifeboats and yachts, etc.

Project Manager

Greater Glasgow Health Board.............May 2002 to Aug 2002

Siemens Network Systems Ltd (SNSL) appointed to create the project (PRINCE 2) to manage the transfer of the GGHB comms network (voice & data) from FeatureNet to Meridian, including the paging system

Responsibilities

Managed the implementation for North Glasgow Trust, comprising three large hospitals and several specialist units, also Primary Care Trust comprising a large hospital, several Health Centres, GP surgeries and pharmacy outlets.

Manage the project team of service delivery supplier (C&W), switch supplier (Kingston Comms), 3 ^rd party cabling, network (LAN/WAN), hardware and software suppliers and GGHB staff, including integration of existing data (IP) networks (primarily 3 com with Nortel and Black Box elements).

Reviewed disaster recovery element of the project (network failure caused major loss of service to GGHB) and amended the plan to ensure service continuity. Developed and obtained agreement on amended SLA to reflect user requirements. Set up and manage issues and risk registers, prioritise by assessed impact and report progress and closure as appropriate

Present reports to the project board and undertake project status presentations to senior management. Review submitted invoices, and authorise for payment.

Manage and resolve post implementation site and operational issues, obtain user sign off and carry out handover procedures to the service delivery supplier and GGHB operations.

Project Manager

National Savings Bank, Glasgow.............May 2001 to Oct 2001

Siemens Business Systems (SBS) were contracted by the Government to operate and manage National Savings Bank (NS), trading as SBS-NS

Manage the transfer of back office operations for NSB Investment Account (1.2M) and Ordinary Account (850,000) to on line systems, also develop, test and integrate the business continuity element with existing disaster recovery contingency to maintain current SLA

Environment: ORACLE 7 on VMS and UNIX platforms, legacy and networked enterprise systems (Informix) on NT4, W2000 with 3 Com network. PRINCE 2 and SSADM methodologies with MS Project

Responsibilities

Create and manage the plan ensuring design, development, data migration, training, security, implementation, transition regression/disaster recovery, operations and cut over activities are properly resourced and financed.

Manage a team comprising internal (design, operations, QA, etc) and outsourced service delivery groups i.e. systems development/integration, user training and network implementation etc. Defined all procedures, team member responsibilities, and work schedules, etc.

With the programme office and service delivery evaluate, agree and manage the processes and procedures o ensure compliance with business requirements and deliverables.

Create and manage the issues and risk registers, assign weighting values and prioritise by assessed impact then manage through to completion, report on current activity and clearance as appropriate.

Create highlight (including budget details) reports to the programme office, also project board reports. Set up and run formal and informal presentations, attend programme review meetings.

Project Manager

Thus plc, Network Build Group, Glasgow..........October 1999 to April 2001

Other Licensed Operator creating a fibre based UK wide SDH/DWDM (TCP/IP based) network.

Environment: Project management by PRINCE 2 with MS Project. Environment is Netware 5 server, with Windows 2000 on the desktop

Responsibilities

Concurrently managed up to 7 network development and business expansion complete life cycle projects i.e. bid management, feasibility study, SOR, PID, development, implementation, user training/support and transfer to operations. Budgets from £230K to greater than £2.5M.

Manage project teams comprising Design, Estates, Civils, Building Services, Project Engineering, Network Build, Integration groups, and service delivery suppliers, manage all activities and prioritise as necessary.

Developed company standard procedures managing all network development projects cut over into operations and outsourced support groups. Set up the project review team and managed post-review actions to project closure, and carried out lessons learned exercises.

Managed all project related business, financial, technical and engineering activities. Create and managed the issues and risk registers, etc. Created weekly highlight reports (plus budget data) to programme office. Set up presentations to the project board.

Set up group standards for risk and issue registers. Managed project registers, carried out impact assessment and assigned priorities accordingly. With the programme office revised change management procedures to improve liaison with projects, operations and service delivery groups.

Appointed to represent the Network Build group at monthly review meetings between Thus and 3 ^rd party suppliers to identify/agree and resolve management, technical or commercial issues.

Project Manager

Systems and Processes, BT Customer Services plc, Leeds.....March 1999 to September 1999

Responsible for the development and implementation of new exchange equipment, also managing the updates to existing Directory Services or implementing new facilities, throughout the BT network.

Environment: Project methodologies were PRINCE 2 with MS Project. The ORACLE 6 information systems developed with SSADM. Desktop was NT4 running MS Office

Responsibilities

Liaison with management, design teams, switch service departments, user groups and service delivery suppliers etc, as the Directory access switch project manager for the UK wide Number Change and switch replacement projects for the 192 and 153 services, with responsibility for the engineering, technical, operational and financial matters.

Create procedures and processes covering Business Continuity, Contingency and transition planning for UK wide 153 and 999 services, as part of the BT Y2K Disaster Recovery programme. Established procedures to ensure test results, conformance certificates submitted to the programme office and external auditors.

Preparing written weekly project reports with appropriate distributions, also prepare and present project overviews to senior (regional) management. Set up project review team and managed post review actions.

Senior Systems Support Analyst & Risk/Issues Manager

Transco plc, Newcastle..........November 1997 to February 1999

Operations and management of the U.K. gas pipeline network. This is my second contract with this organisation, see March 1995 to June 1996, returned for a major network migration project

Environment: ORACLE 6 on IBM and ICL M/F running both legacy and enterprise I.S. Project managed using PRINCE 2 with MS Project and Access. NT 4 and NOVELL 4 server/desktop with 3Com networks at all sites.

Responsibilities

Created project plans for use by service delivery staff to carry out local office ICT implementations as part of the Transco UK wide ICT upgrade (NT4/Novell 4.11) project, covering existing IS environment with remote access from UK sites also mobile (vehicle based) repair/maintenance teams to Newcastle data centre (7,000 users).

Manage and resolve all risks and issues over the project life cycle, with relevant input assess the impact and prioritise each risk, liaise, discuss and negotiate with appropriate groups to resolve risks/issues then closure. Design and build (Access) databases, create/present reports and integrate into the project reporting structure. Liaise with outsourced service delivery suppliers (SEMA, ICL and Psion) also Transco Service Delivery to resolve relevant risks and issues

Created generic disaster recovery and transition management plans to cover all UK sites, set up and carried out exercises to test their effectiveness. With change control, data centre technical, support and operations to ensure existing end user systems (p.c., server and mainframe based) were compliant, and integrated with no loss of service

Building network and backup servers, installation of new p/c's for the network upgrade to NT, also creation of new user accounts, printer queue's, and the transfer of shared areas, also to resolve day to day network faults and user problems for Novell and NT users, and LAN communication problems (internal/external) covering ISDN links, hubs, routers. LAN switches, fibre links, etc

Project Manager

A Share Ltd, Sunderland.....March 1997 to October 1997

A retail company selling furniture with branches in the N.E and Midlands of England

Environment: SCO UNIX (v5) with Uniface 6, NT4 network server/desktop, with MS Office. Comms was ISDN 30 with 3COM bridge/router and Acctom hubs with CAT 5.PRINCE and SSADM methodologies

Responsibilities

To complete the implementation of new MIS covering Head Office, warehouse and branch operations for sales, purchasing, credit checking, financial management, stock control and deliveries, etc.

Providing user support to Head Office, warehouse and retail outlets for IS/IT matters, i.e. ledger, stock control, sales and account payables, etc, also implemented an ISDN based SDX voice system with direct dial in, voice mail, short code dialling, etc. Support and management of a small technical support team on operational and management tasks e.g. budgets, performance appraisals, etc

Created a transition/contingency plan to cover the possible loss of IT facilities from N E or Midlands locations to ensure service continuity for users at both geographical locations.

Negotiations with their hardware and applications supplier to re-establish the business relationship, discuss and agree changes to current SLA's, to cover extended operations, centralising services on UNIX platform, new desktop environment, etc

Computer Services Manager

Programme Development Authority, London..........July 1996 to February 1997

A Benefits Agency/Post Office Counters Ltd joint venture project to implement smart card technology into the benefits payments system, thus replacing payment books.

Environment: Network was NOVELL 3 running MS OFFICE and Lotus Smartsuite to cover BA and POCL "standard" applications, dual e-mail (x400 and MS Mail).Kilostream, 3COM routers/hubs, ICL team servers, IBM 520 (with RAID-5), PS2/85 servers, Lantronic print servers with IPX/SPX, Ethernet and UTPcabling.

Responsibilities

Manage and support the 170 user network, design and implement dual e-mail systems including Internet access, manage an IT services team of 3 (permanent staff), also a department budget of £195,000

New systems development and project implementation e.g. centralised library, project/resource monitoring system, change control, etc, with SSADM v4, Prince V2, Oracle v7, Access v7, Excel v5 with project monitoring using MS Project v5. Set up server back up using ArcServe (v5) and anti virus procedures Dr Solomon's ( v7)

Establishing (with BA/POCL technicians) the comms links (3Com ) with principal BA and POCL sites, allocating user security and access to relevant sites

Installation and beta testing of a new "smart card" benefit payments system, comprising "standard" counters, including a "kiosk" facility for public use of payment enquiries, using menus and touch screen technology.

Senior Systems Support Analyst

British Gas TRANSCO plc, Newcastle..........March 1995 to June 1996

An independent company, with responsibility for operations and management of the U.K. gas pipeline network.

Environment: ORACLE 6 based information systems running on ICL and IBM mainframes. Changing from on-line (dumb terminal) access to PC networks using Novell 3, ICL team servers and 3COM bridges, routers and hubs for LAN and WAN connectivity

Responsibilities

Implementation and user support of a 600 user Novell (3.12) LAN, as part of a 12,000 user corporate WAN, also 1st line user support, including mainframe connectivity using EXTRA, SAA (v2) and HOSTPRINT for

IBM and ICL mainframe access.

Resolve day to day network management problems, ensuring user access IBM and ICL based mainframe information systems. Build and install servers, p c's and printers to the LAN via TCPIP, TES/KERMIT, etc, also to build and install DEC MicroVAX II for ALL-in-1 servers

Provided support to the emergency bureau project team implementing Call Scan, Work Management and Job Input system (Oracle v6 based) for the Emergency Burea as contingency for disaster recovery operations, and

resolve LAN/WAN communication problems (internal/external) covering ISDN links, 3COM hubs, routers, switches including all fibre links, resolving cabling (cat 5), AT&T and IBM termination frame issues.

Project manage the implementation of specialist applications e.g. Employers Handbook, Case Law Index, etc.

Create and manage user desktop (v2.24) and e-mail (ALL-in-1) accounts using KEA (v4). Setting up stand-alone networks (NOVELL, NT and Windows for workgroups) as required, running Lotus Smartsuite, MS Office and MS Project, etc.

Developed user procedures e.g. transferring documents/spreadsheets" to/from desktop and e-mail accounts, also document and folder transfers between e-mail accounts, etc

Territorial Implementation Manager

Department of Social Security, Newcastle..........January 1993 to March 1995

Employed by ITSA (executive agency responsible for I.T. matters in the DSS) to provide project management expertise within a major IT/I S implementation programme

Environment: The information systems were ORACLE 6 on SCO UNIX 4 & 5 platforms with on-line user access, also several projects to install NOVELL 3 pc networks, the project methodology used was PRINCE

Responsibilities

To develop and implement integrated (systems,data and voice) IT/IS infrastructure projects at DSS offices in N England and Scotland, ensuring completion to defined time, cost and quality standards. Establish and manage teams comprising office management, ITSA, BA and contractor staff as required, arrange regular project review meetings, and rectify issues and risks throughout the project life cycle

Responsibilities included presentations, arranging pre tender meetings/site inspections, etc, evaluating submitted tenders (with DSS contracts and finance) and awarding the contract. Arranging pre start meetings with office management, the contratcor and any sub contractors involved e.g. office refurbishment thus co-ordinating all activities into a single project to minimise disruption to office operations. Contractors were BT, GPT, IBM, ICL and Siemens Nixdorff

Worked with ITSA development staff during the pilot phase on several new I S projects, and appointed as 1st line support during implementation at other DSS sites throughout N England and Scotland

Design new computer rooms or extend existing, with power, air conditioning and security, etc, also the installation of ISDN30, Megastream and hardware i.e. servers, terminals, p.c.'s, printers, etc. Managed the implementation of new voice systems e.g. iSDX, Call Scan and LinkLine, etc for general use also for a Call Centre operation, set up as an Employers HelpLine operation by the Benefits Agency.

Other employment

88-92 DMC (systems) Ltd, Consultant - 86-88 Burroughs Ltd, Manager M I S - Burroughs Ltd - 84-86 Marconi Ltd, Project Leader - 81-84 Ferranti Ltd, Test Engineering Manager - 79-81 Burroughs Ltd Supervisor - 69-79 Y-ARD Ltd, Design Engineer - 64-69 Marconi Marine Ltd, Radio/Electronics officer

Environment and Experience

15 years General computing skills

10 years + Project Management, team leadership and communication skills

8 years Management Information Systems, also Systems design, development and implementation

7 years LAN/WAN design, development, implementation, and structured cabling.

5 years SSADM (v3/v4) systems and PRINCE (v1.v2) project methodologies

4 years NOVELL NetWare 4.11 and 5

4 years NT 4 server/workstation and Windows 95/97

7 years WINDOWS (3, 97, 2000 and XP)

5 years MS Office

2 years Lotus SmartSuite

3 years MS Project and PMW (Project Manager Workbench)

Education (precis)

5 Highers. 1st class certificate Communications, Electronics and H N D Electrical and Electronic Engineering