James Freer Email & Phone Number

Perth, WA, AU

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

• Optimized IT operations for a multinational engineering company with a significant presence across most continents.
• Championed the enhancement of internal, perimeter, and cloud security measures, successfully bolstering the organization's defenses while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
• Designed and started the implementation of a SDWAN solutions, which will significantly improve the network connectivity and site performance while achieving significant cost savings.
• Evaluated and updated security postures, proactively mitigating potential vulnerabilities, with a particular focus on Essential 8 compliance.
• Served as the primary escalation point for networking and systems tickets.
• Exhibited proactive problem-solving skills in identifying and resolving critical security issues.

South Australia, Australia

• Directed the IT Department through a transformative phase of rapid growth, overseeing a substantial program budget and an annual IT budget exceeding $1 million.
• Developed comprehensive strategic plans, implemented robust backup solutions, and deployed endpoint security systems.
• Scoped and managed critical projects, assuming a leadership role as the chair of the IT committee and delivering presentations to the Board and senior leadership.
• Cultivated strong relationships with stakeholders, both internal and external, fostering collaboration and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Introduced staff benefit schemes and software purchasing schemes, contributing to the organization's recognition as the #7 "Best Places to Work" in 2021.
• Negotiated organizational contracts and settlements with external providers.

South Australia, Australia

• Managed IT departments for two local schools, overseeing a team of staff and supporting 80 teachers and 450 students.
• Developed and executed strategic plans focused on cloud adoption and migration, resulting in streamlined operations and improved efficiency.
• Managed Active Directory, O365, server migrations and upgrades, and IT support and training.

Tasmania, Australia

• Upgraded IT infrastructure and implemented automated processes to improve factory operations and reduce waste.
• Exhibited strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to troubleshooting, ensuring minimal downtime and maximizing productivity.

Bachelor'S Degree, Applied Mathematics And Physics

Activities and Societies: Toastmaster, Rockclimbing and Squash Academic Merit Award in the School of Science and Technology

High School

Activities and Societies: Debate team, Hockey, Chess, Rock climbing