Every Friday we profile a prominent figure from Australia’s IT, telecommunications or video gaming industries in the Friday Five.
Graham Williams is the managing director and proprietor of iVision, a unified computing specialist. It’s obvious he loves his work and his life — words like “passion”, “lucky” and “fulfilling” are threaded through his response to our Friday Five questions this week. If only we could all be so lucky!
What was your first job ever?
Believe it or not my first job ever is the one I’m in now. I started working for my Dad’s business at 17 — a video hire business that was later sold to Blockbuster. While working for my Dad, I saw an opportunity to create my own AV rental business. Obviously a lot has changed since then. Improved technology, different manufacturers — and I’m not installing racks and doing testing in my living room anymore, which is a good thing! Through it all, I feel very lucky to have had success in an industry that I love.
What do you most like about working in Australia’s technology industry?
The industry has evolved and grown but it is still small enough where you really get to know everyone — your customers, partners and even your competitors and get a sense of the passion that exists within the community. It hasn’t gotten so big where I feel removed from my customer base and don’t understand the value that the business has to provide them. It’s a great feeling that you are making a real difference for your customers and that you can see it every day.
What’s your hobby?
Snowboarding, which is incredibly fulfilling
What can Australia do better to help grow a great technology sector?
Support the NBN. iVision recently surveyed Australian businesses on the challenges they face when seeking to implement Unified Communications solutions. They cited lack of available bandwidth as a major limitation to systems that would streamline the interactions between customers, suppliers and staff. There’s no doubt that our current communications infrastructure is not up to the task and is putting constraints on business and industry.
Basically, the NBN will provide equal and inexpensive access to information. This will lessen barriers to entry for small business, create and develop entrepreneurship, and help develop Australia’s research and development in technology sectors.
What/who has been the biggest inspiration in your career?
My Dad would have to be my biggest inspiration in my career. He taught me how to predict and execute through technology cycles. He also taught me the importance of sticking to your principles.
Image credit: iVision