Gary Thomas Email & Phone Number

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Promoted to Practice Architect to develop, grow, and maintain technical service offerings for the practice and individual clients. Role also performed client-facing activities to foster client growth and innocation, and testing delivery.Achievements:• Managed testing for 'Project NAPA'. Implemented Oracle Fusion to replace Planit’s legacy systems, with role evolving from test support to program test management for ST, SIT, E2E, UAT and PVT phases, with oversight and governance across vendor and SME testing, including testing risk and issue management, and comprehensive test progress reporting.• Created a Testing Process Maturity Assessment (TPA) model. This included metrics for evaluating client testing process maturity, which was then applied to assess a potential new Energy client where testing processes and governance, and alignment with client PMO quality processes were reviewed. Delivered and presented a comprehensive Test Discovery report, recommendations and proposed roadmap to key client stakeholders.• Standardised testing assets for reuse across client projects. Audited quality of key project deliverables across selected high-value accounts, reviewing test strategies, master test plans, detailed test plans and test reports to validate best practice processes were followed, and produced new document templates for future use in testing delivery. • Provided leadership and mentoring. Developed Microsoft D365 and CRM primers to provide Planit employees with a basic understanding of these suites which were published on the Planit intranet for consultants to use.• Strengthened stakeholder relations. Built and nurtured strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Account Directors and Managers, Global and Regional Practice Directors and senior client executives.

Sydney, Australia

Promoted to Head of Quality Engineering, overseeing 173 functional test resources and associated people management functions. Tasked with developing and maintaining the strategic service offering of the functional testing practice for existing and new clients. Focused on keeping Planit at the forefront of methods, techniques, trends, and technology to ensure optimal outcomes. Also focused on client-facing activities. Responsible for team support, welfare, performance management, recruitment, and placement.Achievements:• Streamlined project delivery. Assisted clients with testing governance and delivery for The Northcott Society's Salesforce NPSP CRM implementation (ST, SIT, E2E, UAT and OAT, Oct 2022 - Jun 2023); Test Process Optimisation (TPO) engagement for News Corp (Apr 2021); and drafting Industry Test Strategy and Transition to Live Plan for SWIFT ISO 20022 message transformation for Australian Payments Network (May - Jul 2021).• Improved testing. Co-developed a Training and Certification framework for 'hybrid testers' proficient in manual, automation and lifecycle testing, supported senior staff in test delivery for client engagements, and promoted reusable assets for a broad range of Quality Engineering projects.• Optimised quality engineering. Collaborated with Planit’s Global Practice Director for Quality Engineering, Capability Leads to develop repeatable processes, integrate 'shift-left' and 'shift-right' practices, and ensure solution alignment across Performance, Automation, and Quality Engineering teams throughout the SDLC.• Provided leadership and mentoring. Supported 'People Partners' in mentoring/coaching staff and collaborated with the Sydney Operations Manager and Account Directors to allocate suitable resources for projects to ensure Planit remained at the forefront of methods, techniques, trends, and technology to optimise outcomes.

Sydney, Australia

In my role as Principal Consultant, I managed multiple client-facing responsibilities, from testing discovery and solution development to project stabilization, governance, and stakeholder engagement. Key achievements include:For a Microsoft D365 implementation:* Conducted a Testing Discovery and presented findings to stakeholders* Revised functional testing estimates, incorporating additional interfaces* Rewrote the D365 ERP Program Test Strategy, expanding its scope and securing stakeholder approval* Developed a Master Test Plan based on the revised strategy and stakeholder input, obtaining client signoff* Facilitated workshops to develop the UAT Test Strategy* Collaborated with the Release Management team to synchronize testing and release schedules* Maintained daily communication with the client Test Lead to ensure alignment* Led onsite test delivery for functional and non-functional requirements during Phase 1 of the ERP program* Managed testing risks, issues, and mitigation actions* Directed a team of 28 onshore and offshore testers, overseeing the testing scope and schedule* Led defect triage, ensuring adherence to the test schedule with client and vendor stakeholders.For a Financial Services client’s insurance demerger program:* Reviewed and enhanced test program communications, including metrics capture and reporting* Rewrote the key testing governance status report to provide a business-centric perspective* Improved testing quality and governance, presenting the governance report at weekly senior stakeholder forums* Led the Test Governance team to enhance metrics capture, improve dashboards, and incorporate details into Certification WSRs* Supported test coordinators in resolving testing progress and issues.

Sydney, Australia

The New Payments Platform (NPP) is new national infrastructure for payments that commenced rolling out to the Australian public in February 2018. It provides the Australian financial services and payments industry the ability to offer smarter, faster and simpler payments to businesses and consumers, including PayID. Joined the program on secondment to KPMG who were responsible for program delivery to Go-Live stage, then transitioned back to NPPA. Maintained a dual reporting line structure throughout the programme. Achievements:• Supported testing to go-live. Assisted the KPMG team during functional and non-functional Industry testing for ST, SIT, E2E, (referred to as 'Solo' and 'Buddy' testing) S&V, UAT and OAT phases by performing Participant risk assessments for quality gate assessments and approval to proceed. Led test suite management and defect management teams through all Industry testing up to go-live, serving as the focal point for Participants with NPPA. • Created Testing Certification processes and artefacts. Developed the testing transition approach from KPMG to NPPA, and created the NPP Participant certification strategy to support certification and re-certification testing beyond go-live. Also created the certification testing suite for NPPA, detailing the functional and non-functional requirements, functional, non-functional, and operational acceptance test scenarios and test cases for Certification and Assurance, with full requirement traceability in the program testing tool (HPQC). • Created the testing strategy to support BAU. Developed the testing release strategy and plan for BAU, and managed testing vendor engagement with SWIFT, NPPA’s main vendor.

Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Usa, Ireland, Korea, Japan

Project Summary:Test Capability Lead / Test Director, NZ Customs Service, JBMS Program: Wellington, AucklandTest Transformation Lead, IBM Japan Test Transformation Program: TokyoTest Director, MetLife Project FOR: Tokyo, Dublin, New York, SydneySenior Test Consultant, Maybank TCoE Establishment: Kuala Lumpur, SingaporeSenior Test Manager, Qantas Airways COMPROF Project: SydneySenior Test Consultant, ANZ National Bank, NZ Simplification Program: WellingtonSenior Test Manager, NZ Customs Service JBMS Program: WellingtonSenior Test Consultant, NBN Co, OSS/BSS Review: SydneySenior Test Consultant, Vodafone Picasso Project: BangaloreTest Director, Westpac SOE/ESB Program: SydneyTest Manager, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, SfP Program: CanberraSenior Test Consultant, IBM Korea, Full Life Cycle Testing education: SeoulSenior Test Consultant, ANZ National Bank, Common Systems Program: WellingtonTest Manager, Department of Human Services, SO Portal Project: CanberraTest Manager, Telstra Transformation Program, TR1 Legacy: MelbourneTest Consultant / Test Architect, Telstra Transformation Program: MelbourneTest Manager, Fiserv Solutions, VIPRO Project: SydneyKey Attributes:• Extensive experience across multiple industries and organisations with a strong business and technology background allows for design of testing solutions taking into consideration project and clients’ needs• Professional mastery related to application of testing principles – initiating, planning, preparing, executing, controlling, reporting and closure of testing projects• Strong leadership of people and building high performance teams. Coach, mentor and guide individuals to achieve their best• Assured system implementation and project delivery. ‘Hands on’ and experienced in all aspects of project delivery including risk management, project management and maintaining stakeholder engagement throughout• A flexible, pragmatic and client focused approach taken throughout.