Leading ecosystem development at Vana, a pioneering layer-one blockchain designed for the trustless and secure exchange of user-owned data. Vana is building critical infrastructure to enable data to be aggregated and contributed to AI applications in a permissionless, decentralized manner, fundamentally changing how data powers AI advancement while ensuring user ownership and control.Role Focus:Building and nurturing a vibrant ecosystem of DataDAOs, developers, and strategic partners ahead of our upcoming mainnet launchDeveloping strategies to drive adoption of user-owned data infrastructure and Data-Fi (Data Financialization) initiativesLeading community engagement and education around Vana's core mission of democratizing access to the AI economyWorking with innovative projects across various sectors including health, social media, and finance to implement user-owned data solutionsKey Areas:Ecosystem Development: Working with our growing network of DataDAOs and partners to build use cases that demonstrate the power of user-owned dataTechnology Integration: Supporting partners in leveraging Vana's core primitives: - Trustless Validation through secure data ingress - Granular Permissioning using patented technology - Data Provenance on our purpose-built blockchainCommunity Building: Creating an engaged community of developers, data providers, and AI innovators who share our vision for decentralised AIExcited to be part of a team that's fundamentally reshaping how data powers AI advancement, backed by top Web3 investors including Paradigm, Polychain, and Coinbase Ventures. If you're interested in building the future of user-owned data and AI, let's connect!

Leading Web3 advisory focused on the Ethereum and Solana ecosystems, leveraging over a decade of experience across startups, enterprise, and emerging technologies. Having contributed to raising $100M+ across ventures and worked with hundreds of founders, we bring deep expertise to Web3 projects, DAOs, and organizations navigating blockchain innovation.Our advisory combines deep ecosystem knowledge (Ethereum, Solana) with strategic insight: Web3 Strategy: Tokenomics design, cross-chain governance frameworks, and ecosystem development Innovation & Validation: Concept ideation, market validation, and opportunity assessment Technical Architecture: Protocol design across EVM and Solana, smart contract strategy Go-to-Market: Community building, token launches, and multi-chain growth strategies Capital Formation: Fundraising strategy, investor relations, and financial modelingDrawing from experience across management consulting, C-level roles, and successful exits, we help projects bridge from Web2 to Web3, from concept to market success.Currently advising protocols and DAOs across DeFi, NFTs, data ownership, and AI integration in the Ethereum and Solana ecosystems.

Free monthly meetup, I've been a member since 2018, taking over the organising of the meetup in 2021.https://www.meetup.com/gold-coast-blockchain/

We partner with the Queensland State Government to deliver free tools to the heavy trucking industry for fatigue management and rest area discovery. (http://www.restspace.com.au)

Working with Safesite an award-winning safety management solution proven to reduce incidents by up to 57%; making high-risk industries safer for workers through leveraging innovative technologies. Growing Safesite from a mobile app to a robust safety management solution delivering safety improvement and insurance savings to an international customer base. Joined the team as part of the US flip up (US Seed) and helped the company scaleup through Series A & B. As we added an insurance company Foresight, selling Workers Compensation in US Markets. Foresight has a different model than traditional insurance companies. We’re prioritizing safety and technology, which improves safety and enables us to lower premiums faster

(Acquired 2022) Working with Aurtra to bring IoT solutions to the power distribution industry, improving transformer fleet visibility, insights, and management. Darren joined the team early, before any significant capital raises, and went through several funding rounds before the acquisition. He was responsible for creating the initial strategy, software roadmaps, architectures, designs, and building the initial software. Additionally, Darren helped grow the tech team, before transitioning from a tactical role to a strategic advisor.

On a part time basis, I mentoring companies in the iLab accelerator program. I'm a Lean Advocate and Startup Techie. Giving practical, executable advice based on whats currently working for us.

I support the entrepreneurs in becoming better entrepreneurs, learning the ins and outs of startup life. During the Germinate programs I'm advising program teams on customer discovery, strategic planning, commercial agreements, proposals, market research, marketing and sales, growth hacking, business models, tech, go-to-market strategies, partnerships, investor relations, capital raising, etc. I create and deliver the Germinate curriculum and hold the teams to account. If you really want to know what I do just ask a startup.

On a part time basis, I mentoring companies in the iLab accelerator program. I'm a Lean Advocate and Startup Techie. I'm also a co-founder in startup Mindstar; giving practical, executable advice based on whats currently working for us.

Working with Monarc from idea ( and previous incarnations) to funded company, accelerator, etc as we bring much need an online booking to the disjointed aircraft charter industry.

Working with Oseyeris as we blend hardware and software to provide universal access utility devices.

Cerebro is an IT Consultancy based in Brisbane that consults with companies on startups, innovation, enterprise and software architecture. We help companies execute. (No longer active)

We are working to bring innovative products to navigate separation and divorce space. Improving outcomes and reduce asset destruction by using a blend of AI, tech, and experts to bring couples to improved mutually agreed legally binding parting.

Dispatchery empowers businesses to innovate with location ­based tools in order to dispatch and manage their products or services. (Now closed)

Worked with SKWOD as they delivered a mobile app platform that allows fitness influencers to sell their content directly to their customers. Supported the founder on numerous things, including the RCL Accelerator and the eventual wrap up. (No longer Active)

Weekly Tech Podcast covering Tech News, Interviews, Australia Tech Conferences and the burgeoning Start Up scene. Over 150 eps with an international audience. (No longer active, as hosts became too busy doing startups).

Helping GameFace post-acquisition integration and re-purpose of tech that I had previously worked on. Working on the acquisition (supporting the transfer), migration, integration, and strategy going foward.

Worked with starts at sixty through a scale-up of their tech infrastructure supporting their continued user growth, worked with Rebecca on closing the strategic investment round with Seven West Media, and hiring a full-time tech team.

Helped Puntaa through the RCL Accelerator program, funding round and then securing a Full-Time CTO.

Cofounded a peer to peer private video conferencing solution for Mental Health and Coaching platform ( Consumers and Corporates). Bootstrapped build through iLab accelerator, raising seeds round, grants securing healthy capital reserves before moving on. Exited the business on Feb 2016

Moved from an execution role to a strategic Tech Advisor role for theLocker, was instrumental in tech transfer deal (no longer active).

TheLocker is a venture-backed startup based in Boston that is poised for rapid growth. Our vision is to be the number one sports-focused social commerce platform that allows athletes to share, collect, and buy sports gear.Bringing the product to Market (MVP) and continue to push the product evolution through Lean principles.

TheLocker is a venture-backed startup based in Boston that is poised for rapid growth. Our vision is to be the number one sports-focused social commerce platform that allows athletes to share, collect, and buy sports gear.Bringing the product to Market (MVP) and continue to push the product evolution through Lean principles.

Integral is an IT Consultancy that focuses on Oracle Technologies. Roles: Solution Architect, Integration Architect, Integration Consultant

Intelligent Pathways is an Integration Specialist Consultancy that focuses on Service Oriented Architecture. Working as a Consultant Darren has worked within the agile project styles on site around Australia and in Brisbane

Integral is an IT Consultancy that focuses on Oracle Technologies. Roles: Solution Architect, Integration Architect, Integration ConsultantGriffith University, Student Experience Improvement Program: - System integration with the new Student Enrollment System with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions. Trained Griffith staff, SOA initiation phase, defining SOA Roadmap, SOA Security Model, Architectural Standards, Documentation Templates, SDLC etc and planning future phases with resource planning tied to the roadmap (SOA Readiness). SOA Team Lead, Integration Analyst and Solution Architect for the Operation Data Store and Student Enrolment System. (Oracle Data Integrator & Oracle SOA Suite 11g).

During his time with IP Darren has worked as a Senior Developer, Team Leader (Responsible for Delivery), Trainer, Solutions Architect and Principal Consultant on mid to large scale integration and/or SOA project for clients such as Dept of Justice QLD (Integrated Justice Departments projects, Future Courts), StateFleet (NSW Fleet management), QFleet (QLD Fleet management), QUT, Monash University, Virgin Australia, Brisbane Airport Corp (BAC). Darren has also worked on several products including Car Pooling, Fringe Benefit Tax, System Integration Tools, Workflow etc. We grew from 6 people to over 50 with offices in multiple States.Intelligent Pathways is an Integration Specialist Consultancy that focuses on Service Oriented Architecture. Working as a Consultant Darren has worked within the agile project styles on site around Australia and in Brisbane. The integration projects range from medium to large projects using Java 5 & 6, Spring (including Spring WS & Spring Integration), Hibernate, Oracle SOA Suite (10.1.3.1 - 11g R2) and ODI (Oracle Data Integrator).

Darren worked as a Technical Consultant/ Developer in the Minor Projects Team of the Brisbane City Council (BCC) iDivision (IT department). As part of that team he designed, developed and maintained small to medium sized applications in the J2EE sphere. The applications ranged from simple C.R.U.D. work to more complicated systems, including the lord mayor budget systems, car pool booking system and integration with G.I.S. systems.

Darren worked as a Developer in the Agreement, Claims & Finance Streams on a multi million DEFRA project developed on a proprietary J2EE framework. He has designed and developed processes which interfaced with Staffware, doing so within a project team of over two hundred. Developing more than five hundred screens with concurrent use of over one thousand users and very tight deadlines, he also has provided technical support in other areas and releases of the system ensuring delivery within timescales.- Developed Code, Designs and Stream Integration Reviews to Project Standards- Integrated different release code (merge) - Received Genesis Recognition Award & Received SI Delivery Award- Liaised with Analysts & Technical Architects to provide solutions that best fit the current framework, including JMS, Staffware API, and integration into a .NET front end.

Darren has spent over three months on a customer facing role as a Consultant on the Airtricity Project (Market Opening / Deregulation). The java based project extended existing product IS Customer; Billing Software 8.1 (using the oracle database).This product was already in use and required additional functionality for the de-regulation of the Electricity Market in the Republic of Ireland.During this project he spent time working in Norway with Developers and Designers and in Dublin on Customer sites. He was instrumental during User Acceptance. He liaised with the customer as well as management teams in UK & Norway at all levels including Project Managers and also the UK Account Director; including managing Customers during Customer Visit of Norwegian Site. Darren undertook requirement definition meetings (on customer site), design / code / test reviews (in Norway) and supporting the customer through the development lifecycle.

The Rail Settlement Plan - Enhanced Fares project. This was run by the RSP agency for the UK TOCs (Train Operation Companies). This project produced the fare modeling and compliance desktop application.