I am presently Head of Intranet Systems and Web Delivery for the BBC responsible for the management and delivery of internal information systems and ensuring universal access by all staff around the world.

My forays in academia involved working at the University of Washington (Seattle) where I worked in mainframe and network operations servicing the data centres for the university’s academic and hospital systems. At the Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland) I developed the university’s web presence and worked on their internet policies. At RTC Dun Laoghaire (Ireland) I was Head of Digital Media and developed the technical strategy for the college’s network.

While at POINT Information systems, I was responsible for IT world-wide which included setting corporate IT policy, developing and delivering the company’s global VPN, and establishing the company’s internet connectivity. I was also led the development of the company’s web-based products.

I am an active member of the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) participating in two of its working groups. I am also a recent member of the Internet Society and an Associate Member of the British Computer Society. I sit on the Editorial Board at Ziff Davis UK for the publication IT Week which helps decide the direction the publication should be taking to meet the needs of IT professionals. In 1997, I was one of three founding members of the Intranet Group (a professional European association of companies which share best practice on internet technologies and their use). The group has changed substantially over the last three years and been rebranded NetGroup to encompass all internet technologies; I currently sit on the advisory board for NetGroup.

Aside from the technology, I have a wide variety of other interests. I am an accomplished photographer and graphic designer having worked for a variety of clients as well as lecturing at the Dublin Institute of Technology’s College of Marketing and Design and RTC Dun Laoghaire’s College of Design. I previously worked in Alaska as a commercial fisherman, spent two years working as a travel researcher/writer for HarperCollins in London, and worked as a volunteer assistant biologist at the Seattle Aquarium.

I have lived and worked extensively in North America and Europe and travelled (both for business and pleasure) throughout North Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia. These experiences have given me a high level of awareness of the importance of local and regional cultural issues; something an organisation such as ICANN needs to be particularly aware of when setting an international policies.

I feel that this combination of work and personal experience provides me with a unique perspective of the issues and concerns of business, pubic sector and user interests which enables me to have a more balanced approach to systems then some of my contemporaries. I have an enthusiasm for the medium and technology and feel capable of balancing the needs of individuals as well organisations.