Jul 2020 – Jun 2023 · 2 yrs 11 mos

• Leading the global technology group at Aēsop spanning Architecture, Engineering, Delivery, Product, Security and Support this role unifies our technology practice into a single, customer oriented function.
• Responsible for building the technology capabilities of the organisation to match and amplify our strategic business priorities and deliver a unique, integrated customer experience where our customers want to interact with us.
• Key Outcomes:
• Led a multi-functional and geographically dispersed team to deliver the technology strategy and implementation of Aesop's market entry into China including retail, digital and marketplace channels and office capabilities. This was done completely remotely due to China travel restrictions.
• Brought together a cross-disciplinary team from the business to design, implement, roll out and support an integrated Click and Collect service in key markets globally within 3 months.
• Integrated Digital and IT technology functions into a cohesive unit with clear strategy, budgeting and initiative pipelines.

Jun 2019 – Jul 2020 · 1 yr 1 mo

• An interim role, covering the departure of the previous CDO to assist the transition of the merging of the Digital and ICT departments into a single function.
• Responsible for Global Digital channel and services and continued growth of the channel by >25% during CY2019 and >300% growth in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 and significant channel shifts by customers.
• Key outcomes:
• Led the growth of digital channel performance by over 25% like for like for CY19,
• Helped lead the team through high growth in head count and significantly increased revenue (doubled in 3 years).
• Assisted the merging of the Digital and Technology departments into one global function.
• Furthered global trading working group practices, driving actionable use of data to improve global trading performance across channels.
• Laid the foundation for capability scaling which was then tested during the 2020 Pandemic resulting in rapid reliance on Digital Channel sales.

Jan 2017 – May 2019 · 2 yrs 4 mos

• Established the Creative Technology and Data Science functions at Aēsop globally. Working alongside the Product, Marketing, ICT and Retail teams to bring an integrated, customer first approach to the way technology and data are employed at Aēsop.
• Grew the internal and external capability of the team to create and maintain a world-class branded ecommerce presence and bring to bear data from all parts of the business to identify customer-focussed opportunities for growth.
• Key outcomes:
• Helped lead the team through high growth in head count and significantly increased revenue (doubled in 3 years).
• Assisted the transition to an agile delivery model for technology across the business
• Lead the redevelopment of aesop.com to a new ecommerce platform.
• Designed and lead the creation of a federated customer data platform spanning all parts of the business globally
• Identified and established global trading working group practices, driving actionable use of data to improve global trading performance
• Established the Enterprise Architecture working group to transition to a services based business
• Identified and guided the response of the global business to address GDPR
• Helped guide the business to achieving PCI DSS compliance
• Technologies used: JavaScript, Python, NodeJS, Serverless, React, AWS (DynamoDB, Lambda, Kinesis, APIG), Terraform

May 2019 – Present · 6 yrs 11 mos · Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

• Co-founder, leading the technology and product development aspect of our business.
• Responsible for the engineering, platform and product development working with and growing an internal team as well as working with partners.

Apr 2014 – Jul 2017 · 3 yrs 3 mos · Melbourne, Australia / Hong Kong

• Responsible for designing digital products and services for LUXE City Guides and helping transform travel publishing. A blended role comprising product design, data science, UX and applied technology in order to create experiences for travellers and consumers of LUXE City Guides content through physical and digital channels.
• Key outcomes:
• Guided the product development and transition of the business from physical products to blended physical / digital products
• Built a technology group from scratch and partnered with key vendors to assist in delivery of digital services
• Worked closely with the CEO & board to interpret the overall business and investment strategy into products and technology strategy
• Led the design of a comprehensive content management strategy that allowed content to be written once and published to multiple targets for both B2C and B2B consumption.
• Assisted the board with technology and data science due diligence activities with respect to acquisitions.
• Technologies used: JavaScript, Python, AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda, APIG), Android & iOS develoment

Sep 2011 – May 2019 · 7 yrs 8 mos · Melbourne, Australia

• Creator of interaction and technology lab, Rocket Melbourne. Exploring the use of digital technologies and how they can be applied to create new types of experiences for people. Based around human interaction with technology, Rocket Melbourne consults on interaction and service design.
• A consultative role, working with clients on interaction problems, as well as research. The research component is focussed on exploring applications of primarily mobile, web and physical computing technologies and how they change our relationship with physical environments and interaction with spaces.
• Currently on pause while exploring LoyPal opportunity and building customer growth platforms.

Sep 2011 – Apr 2016 · 4 yrs 7 mos · Melbourne, Australia

• Led the Technology and Data Science divisions of JBA, reporting to the CEO. Built the high value practice area that led to the successful acquisition of JBA by the IVE Group in 2016.
• Responsible for the direction of technology and data sciences for clients across Retail, Telco, Finance and Lifestyle industries. Worked with executive client teams (typically CMO, CEO, CIO), advising on the application of data and technology to their businesses as well as working with my team to deliver project work.
• Designed data oriented products and services to apply our Data Science work and research for our clients in the areas of behavioural and predictive analytics for commerce.

May 2008 – Aug 2011 · 3 yrs 3 mos · Melbourne, Australia

• Leader of the technology division of the Citrus business reporting to the CEO.
• Responsible for the technology vision of the agency and architecting the technology strategy of our clients across sectors such as Retail, Professional Services and Property. My role worked closely with senior & executive level clients, consulting on technology and business strategy that effected significant changes in their businesses particularly with regards to Digital Retail and e-commerce.
• Responsible for representing the "technology" pillar of the Citrus brand publicly through media, writing and speaking engagements.

Apr 2003 – May 2008 · 5 yrs 1 mo · London, United Kingdom

• Working in a virtual agency with other experts in UX & Digital Design, Development and Media I provided technology strategy and development capability. Pioneered development of Infinity CMS, a ground breaking content management method that pushed the boundaries of document oriented data storage for web use.
• Consulted to clients across Music, Retail, Professional Services, Design and Government working across the EU and the US.

Jan 2001 – Jan 2003 · 2 yrs · London, United Kingdom

• Helped create the digital arm of Redhouse Lane Communications and led the Technology side of this business. Responsible for both IT of the existing agency and growing the new digital division from scratch.

Jan 1999 – Jan 2001 · 2 yrs · London, United Kingdom

• First full time employee, I grew and led the applied technology team that developed one of the most dynamic dotcoms in Europe. The technology team was responsible for developing a music fingerprinting system and pioneering techniques that have been subsequently used by many current music streaming services. Delivered numerous new capabilities on mobile during the earliest wave of the mobile internet and web to provide gig guides and music matching services to listeners.
• Responsible for growing a team in line with the business growth strategy and maintaining a customer focussed approach to the delivery of technology and services.

Jan 1996 – Jan 1999 · 3 yrs · Sydney & Melbourne, Australia; Singapore; London, UK

• Helped create concepts for clients with the creative team and then turn those ideas into campaigns and applications with my development team. Initially engaged as a contract web developer, I became full time and went on to lead the Australian development team before being transferred to London on exchange. This role worked across projects for clients such as Nintendo, Citibank and Mitsubishi for the Asia Pacific region.