Chris Drage Email & Phone Number

Sydney, Nsw, Au

Sydney

Generation-e is the progressive leader in Cloud, Unified Communications, Collaboration, Networking and Audio Visual technology. Our pioneering approach has been setting the standard for the delivery of Modern Productivity for over 15 years.Generation-e partnerships include Microsoft Gold Partner and Telstra Enterprise Partner. These technologies allow us to deliver solutions that empower people to communicate and collaborate whether they are in the boardroom, the café or their kitchen. Our clients choose Generation-e because our deep expertise and experience empowers their people to achieve to their potential.Generation-e is one of the largest dedicated Microsoft Skype-for-Business and Microsoft Teams integrators in Australia and Asia Pacific with over 2.6 million Office 365 and over 250,000 Skype-for-Business seats deployed.

Sydney, Australia

Modality Systems is one of the largest dedicated Microsoft Lync Skype for Business professional services practices in the world. We leverage Microsoft technology to offer a complete end-to-end service wrap for business communications and collaboration, built around three core value pillars - Usage, Health and Future - designed to maximise utilisation, maintain a healthy and reliable environment and support the future goals of the organisation.I joined Modality UK in March 2016 delivering Skype for Business initiatives, programmes and projects across the UK and USA before transferring to the Sydney office in January 2018.

London

I initially joined Updata (since acquired by Capita IT) but later head-hunted by Cisilion, to successfully programme manage the implementation and rollout of over 6000 seats Microsoft Lync including Enterprise Voice telephony and PBX integration to a major public sector organisation. Since then, I have led numerous successful projects and programmes specialising in Unified Communications utilising both Microsoft Lync (Skype for Business) and Cisco (Call Manager and Contact Centre) technology, some with complex integration, into a variety of public and enterprise sector clients.

Reading

AlwaysON specialises in cloud-based solutions for Microsoft Lync unified communications, CaaS hosted telephony and managed IP network services. I was overall responsible for all technical service delivery functions.On joining, I defined and executed cloud strategy for Microsoft Lync 2013 Unified Communications leveraging Hyper-V virtual server environment and HP server technology. I instigated and implemented improvements to customer services function and delivered an extensive core MPLS network technology refresh.

Stoke Mandeville

TalkTalk Business is the B2B arm of TalkTalk providing a broad range of voice and data services. Of this, £22Mpa is provided by Managed IP network services and a further £7Mpa from VoIP Telephony and CaaS/Cloud Unified Communications.For these two product lines, I was directly responsible for all fulfilment and technical functions from customer service management, service delivery and support including Prince2 project management, liaison with 3rd party carriers including Openreach, BT Wholesale and TalkTalk Technology, Equipment configuration of Cisco, Draytek router and Mitel and other IP PBX, Testing and handover. 24x7 support, incident handling and fault management.Notable achievements include the creation of a Centre of Excellence providing engineering, consultancy, design, operational delivery and support for VoIP Telephony and Unified Communications and appointing a 3rd party outsource partner to provide field engineering installations and maintenance

London

Promoted to direct UK operations for managed networking, colocation, data centre and IaaS managed hosting. Responsible for all fulfilment and technical functions from order entry through to service delivery and support. Delivery comprises Prince2 project management, order entry, provisioning, liaison with 3rd party carriers, Cisco CPE router configuration, inventory updates, testing and handover. Assurance comprises 1st and 2nd line network incident and fault management, problem management. Data Centre and Hosting Operations. Customer Service Management. In addition to BAU, achievements include directing technical teams across EMEA to establish colocation and IaaS/Cloud managed hosting services in two new data centres (Milton Keynes and Slough) and their underlying support organisations and ITIL processes. Also, rearchitected and deployed an updated e-safety web-filtering solution for schools and education sector.

London

Founded and led the technical function of the newly formed B2B division targeting the public and corporate sector (as opposed to Sky Broadband consumer) with wide area network services. Line manager for the EMEA bespoke complex customer solution and UK backbone infrastructure teams. Founded and led the technical function to provide the public and corporate B2B sector with managed network and colocation data centre services. Line manager for the EMEA bespoke complex customer solution and UK backbone infrastructure teams. Matrix manager for coordination and escalation point for the entire UK technical community – Presales, Product Management, Customer Service Management, Service Delivery and Service Assurance.A major achievement during this period was the implementation of a $15M next generation backbone network providing stable and scalable network services in support of company growth and strategy.

London

Defined and executed EMEA Product and Technology Strategy. Directly responsible for Product Management, Consultancy, Solution Development, Marketing Communications, Pricing, Strategic Alliances, Pre- and Post-Sales Technical Support teams. Created a complete portfolio of strategic plans (one for each product line) defining the technical and commercial direction in support of data centre, networking and electrical product sales across EMEA.

London

Led the Network Technical Architecture and Solutions Consultancy Group providing IP network (including VoIP and WiFi) data-communications and security solutions. The group provided technology thought-leadership and consultancy and was involved at all stages from presales, proposals, architectural design and costing and through to the technical management, project management, delivery and acceptance of implementations. Directly responsible leading key assignments - acting as bid manager, project manager and technical consultant on numerous projects including Project Managing a £2M network technology refresh (migration from Frame Relay to MPLS) for a financial institution within the Aviva Group.

Woking

Organised and directed a multidisciplinary technical design team in developing an architecture and solution providing real-time broadcast and pay-per-view video, IP telephony, and ISP/ASP data services via ADSL to up to 3.2 million home and SME subscribers using TV set-top boxes, PCs and/or telephony devices. The team comprised over 40 specialists with members from Cisco, HP, Starvox, FutureTV and others representing all functional areas - video services, voice services, ISP/ASP services, messaging, IP and DSL network, OSS and integration, Billing, CRM, Security and service development.

Woking

Joined as a founder member of the management team of a new joint venture between Cisco and Capgemini targeting the Telco, Mobile, Service Providers and the Media sector. The OSS Centre of Excellence comprised consultants, pre and post-sales technical product specialists, software development and systems integration experts to provide Operational Support Systems (OSS) solutions for Telco and Service Providers. Functionality included Network Management, Service Management, Provisioning, Configuration and Performance.

London

Defined and drove technical initiatives in support of Viglen’s corporate strategy to diversify from PC Manufacturer to a provider of networking solutions and Microsoft Windows and Intel servers. Directly responsible for Project Management, R&D and Technical Support (48 staff) and major contributor into Product Strategy and Marketing.Particular focus in the Schools Education sector - Shaped the definition and developed ClassLink - a software suite providing a complete client-server solution including Internet connectivity, security print quota and email connectivity for schools.

Slough

Provided technical leadership of the LAN & IP Switching Products and Software development teams during a period of dynamic growth in the LAN switching market. Responsibilities encompassed hardware and software development, product management, project management and business planning. Matrix manager for escalation and co-ordination of technical support, sales account managers, marcomms and 3rd party suppliers.

Slough

Joined start-up in the field of Local Area Networking (LAN), to formulate strategy and drive through the delivery of Madge’s first Network Management products.

Mba

Bsc (Eng)

Education record

Education record