Andrew Johnston: Architecture and Consultancy Services

Key Competencies and Experience

An enterprise and solution architect with over 30 years’ experience, I have a passion for solving business problems through the creation of innovative solutions. Analytical thinking, extensive cross-domain knowledge and an ability to focus on both the big picture of a complex, connected portfolio and issue details provide insight into problems. Strong technical leadership, communication and influencing skills help drive the design and delivery of solutions which meet business needs, perform, and actively enable change.

Key Experience

The following are key points from my more than 30 years’ experience. Since 1994 I have worked as an independent consultant and MD of Questa Computing Ltd. servicing multiple clients, some concurrently.

TRW Inc / id Information Systems Ltd. (May 2014 – Present)

Programme architect for web-based portal/on-line diagnostics for automotive aftermarket. Amazon Web Services, Oracle WebCenter, Microsoft, Linux and open source technologies.

National Grid Plc. / IBM (1997 – 2014)

Wide-ranging support for this major UK and US energy transportation utility, including IT Strategy, solution architecture, enterprise integration, asset, document and mobile field force solutions, portfolio design authority, architect role development, data centre migration, major systems procurement. Wide variety of technologies, including VMWare virtualisation, multiple generations of Oracle toolset, Microsoft and various mobile client solutions.

British Energy Power and Energy Trading (February – June 2007)

Requirements, future architecture and project direction for the Retail Spine (wholesale energy sales to the UK’s biggest power consumers).

Marks and Spencer Plc (May 1999 – June 2002)

Development of the “Ticket Shop”, an agile muti-country, multi-lingual platform for shelf-edge ticketing. Microsoft technologies including VB, SQL/Server and ASP.NET.

Faith Footwear Ltd. (May 2000 – November 2001)

Strategy study, development of a data capture network for Business Intelligence.

Oracle UK / BSkyB (June 1998 – March 1999)

Reliability review for this first interactive digital television service platform, including development of modelling toolset. Development of testing processes, training delivery.

Livingston Rental (as an Associate of Sema Group) (March 1995 – January 1997)

Legacy porting to Unix/Oracle. Stock information replication. Remote monitoring.

National Power (July 1994 - March 1995)

Introduction of code control & automated test tools, development standards update.

Eurotunnel Plc. (1989 - 1994, Permanent, Development Support Manager)

Development/QA standards, IT procurement and contract negotiation/management, supplier and internal QA reviews, creation of integrated development environment.

Digitus Ltd. (1986 – 1989, Permanent, Managing Systems Engineer)

Development of shipping, treasury, property management and oil trading systems.

Racal-Decca Advanced Developments Ltd. (1982 – 1986, Permanent, Senior Engineer)

Study and development projects in satellite communications and navigation.

Eduction

1979 - 1982: Lancaster University. B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Class in Physics. 1972 - 1979: Chepstow School. 10 'O' Levels, 4 A Grades at 'A' Level.

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