What does your job entail?
I am responsible for the entire IT service at Scottish Water, the development of
the corporate IT strategy and, of course, both the operational and development
activities that underpin it. As a business we serve the whole of Scotland so our
IT infrastructure has to operate from the border right up to the Shetland
Islands.
What was your first job?
I started out in civil engineering with Strathclyde Regional Council’s roads
department. I worked on geo-technical investigations prior to designing and
building major roads and bridges. The job involved a lot of land surveying,
which was great fun when the weather was fine.
What do you think has been the most over-hyped technology?
Service-orientated architecture still has to deliver on its claims. I have
always been a passionate advocate of easy integration and information flows
across the enterprise but I don’t think we have arrived there yet.
How did you get into the IT profession?
I found that IT-related activities were being included more and more in
my everyday working life. I think I was being asked to do that because I was the
youngster in the team. I then decided to formalise that with qualifications.
Which technology has had the biggest impact on your working
life?
I would be lost without my BlackBerry. Mobile technology is becoming
increasingly indispensable to Scottish Water. We have a large mobile field force
and are continuing to explore the potential that this offers for increasing both
effectiveness and customer service.
What would you choose as your desert island technology?
My BlackBerry. How else could you track the football results?
