Every Friday we profile a prominent figure from Australia’s IT, telecommunications or video gaming industries in the Friday Five.
Sqware Peg‘s Australian country manager Adrian Jones might focus on cloud computing these days, but he didn’t always. A few decades ago he was all about green screens. Let’s hope you never have to deal with one of those terminal babies every again, Adrian! In the meantime, Jones is this week’s guest on the Friday Five.
What was your first job ever?
My first job was as a procurement officer for ICL in the late 1980’s. We did have one of the largest “lights out” warehouses in Europe, but yes – it was all operated through classic green screens. The funny thing was they had a museum on site that had the first electric typewriters and punch card computers – we were WAY ahead!
What do you most like about working in Australia’s technology industry?
I believe Australians are early adopters, and this combined with a market size that lends itself to trialling new technologies, applications and platforms is very rewarding when a project or idea is “taken global’.
What’s your hobby?
Right now? Learning how to coach kids cricket. It’s not as easy as it looks (especially at 8.30am on a Saturday morning), but it is very rewarding! As a family we enjoy all sorts of sports, especially anything that involves the ocean! I have recently renovated an old wooden Mirror dinghy and love taking the family out for a spin. We have two boys, aged seven and four and they are quickly getting the hang of it all.
What is just as fascinating is watching their adoption of technology and the innate way that they use products and applications they come across. Where is the camera on our home phone, Dad? How come I cannot drag and drop Foxtel? Granny and Grandpa are not much good at drawing on webcam are they?
What can Australia do better to help grow a great technology sector?
First, I would say continue to focus on improving broadband access to enable the cloud and applications of that technology to accelerate its already massive adoption curve. Secondly, provide schools with the facilities required to teach our kids how to utilise and learn new ways to use this technology. Finally, support our small Australian businesses in the IT sector!
What/who has been the biggest inspiration in your career?
My parents were both dentists and instilled customer service, hard work and a sense of professionalism – standards that I continue to hold myself to.
Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with many great managers and business leaders, from sales managers that helped me to improve my sales effectiveness, to general managers and CEOs that have literally transformed businesses I have been part of. These include Peter Bonfield and David Palk at ICL Fujitsu in the UK, Peter Maloney and Christine Christian at Dun & Bradstreet here in Australia and the CEO of Sqware Peg, Shawn Stilwell.
Image credit: Sqware Peg