Chris is originally from the UK but has lived in and worked in St. John’s since 1992. His early training was in electrical and electronic engineering at colleges similar to CNA, initially in the coal mining district of South Wales and later in Hertfordshire, England. He subsequently gained an M.Sc. in Communication Systems, an MBA, and an MER (Master’s in Employment Relations). He has spent almost his entire career in industry, in research and development, managing diverse product development projects across a range of different industries, including commercial aviation, aerospace, defense, oil and gas, textile fiber manufacturing, and marine radar. Most recently this experience has included managing both local and international research teams engaged in applied research on the monitoring and real-time prediction of ocean surface conditions, and the transitioning of that research into viable commercial products. Partly as a result of leading an international team, and partly because of a passion for learning, Chris can now speak and write passably in German.
Chris’s background encompasses a significant focus on software development and information systems, and he has a keen interest in finding ways to use technology effectively. He spent several years in the role of Quality Assurance Manager and was responsible for ensuring that corporate quality management systems complied with the ISO 9001 and AS9100 quality standards, much of which was achieved through initiatives that automated various business processes. His project management experience includes both waterfall and agile methods, though he has a strong preference for the flexibility of agile project management methods wherever that makes sense. He enjoys teaching and mentoring in the workplace, but has also taught multiple courses in the Faculty of Business at Memorial University of Newfoundland at the undergraduate and graduate levels.