Andrew Brown – Database Manager

Andrew Brown

Database Manager

Contacts:

Email: Andrew.Brown4@jcu.edu.au

Phone: 61 7 4781 4479

It is fair to say that my career thus far has been a work in progress, a colourful and electic mural with occasional splashes of brilliance and a steady supply of calm, considered project work.Over the past 20 years I have been fortunate enough to work across numerous industries and been afforded opportunities to utilise my interest in computing in the development of a range of software and database systems.My experience has included work in agriculture, mine planning, mineral exploration, geochemistry, psychology, online education, multimedia, map services, document management, conveyancing, family law and now climate change adaption.Whilst each sector is so very different and the environments so varied the common threads of data administration, software and systems development and digital media production have stitched together the colourful patchwork that is now my CV.

After finishing my final year at school in Melbourne Victoria I began work in the online systems industry – looking back more than 20 years it’s hard to believe it was the very beginnings before the internet became widely accessible.From there I worked for a number of large mining companies on a variety of different projects, developing my skills and generating scripts to process raw data and push them into a number of GIS packages.In 1996 my career took a sharp left turn and I moved out of the mining sector and into education with a role at Monash University in Gippsland.In the 5 years I spent at Monash I worked across a range of locations with projects in the department of Psychology and the Faculty of Science developing online learning modules.This was a venturing into a new area combining academia and computing and I was fortunate enough to work with some fantastic academics to prepare and present papers including an invitation to present at EuroTAAC in The Netherlands.Whilst working at Monash University I doubled up work and play and completed by Bachelor of Computing with a major in Systems developing, graduating in 2000.

In 2001 I had the opportunity to relocate my family from the cold of Victoria to the warm sun of the Sunshine Coast – Queensland.I took up a 2 year role as a Multimedia Trainer and completed a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.For the next 2 years I battled the need to move and spent some time between contract roles.I shifted back into the comfortable and well worn area of GIS where I contracted to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines on several projects.There I was part of a team working on a web based system to select areas of topographic data and metadata, and pushing it directly from the central database into one of three GIS packages.The system also allowed data to be modified and submitted back into the central database.In 2003 I had the opportunity to take up a role with a major Australian mining company to work in document management and training.Working as part of a carefully selected team we were responsible for implementing a pilot project at one of their main Queensland mine sites.This role was demanding and stretched my capacity to live out of a suitcase so in 2004 I relocated the family to tropical Townsville in search of the quiet life and a family friendly work environment.With three children and an expanding amount of extracurricular sporting and social activities I enjoyed almost four years as lead programmer and developer for a legal software company.My primary area of responsibility was maintaining and developing new service systems to store online and automate legal precedents and documents.

It’s fair to say that life was muddling along quite well, until the in-swinger that is my current role bowled itself straight between the stumps and caught me legside. In my new role as Data Manager based at the Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change I have found the ultimate combination of work/life balance and the opportunity to work in new and expanding areas. With a love of the great outdoors and an extensive knowledge of computing I am able to implement systems that will greatly improve the centralisation and accessibility of data for others working within the field.My goal is to develop a system that will ensure that research data is collected, stored and is able to be retrieved at the click of a button – well maybe a few buttons.My other goals are to continue with my junior indoor cricket coaching and enjoy the lifestyle and climate that North Queensland has to offer.The jury is out on where the future will head professionally speaking but one thing is for certain – having just built an eco-friendly home on the banks of a river, moving on is definitely off the cards…

Yes I am looking for a new opportunity. My main areas of interest are in training, application development and data management. Really looking to get my hands dirty with GIS and open to a FIFO type role but I am wanting to stay in Townsville.

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This article has been brought to you by Spatial Jobs Online to profile Andrew Brown. He is actively seeking a role in the Spatial Industry based in or around Townsville. Please take the time to connect with him for your spatial project requirements.

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Regards

Dean Howell

Entrepreneur – Business & Personal Development – Leadership – Connecting GeoSpatial Professionals – GIS Expert – Recruitment – Fire Fighter – Pilot