James Freer Email & Phone Number

Perth, Wa, Au

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.• Designed and oversaw automation projects, driving operational efficiency and streamlining processes.• Collaborated with cross-functional teams, successfully steering the completion of time-sensitive IT projects within challenging budget constraints.• Designed and produced RFPs to replace all IT infrastructure, ensuring scalability, resilience, and alignment with business growth objectives.• I have reviewed the phone system and proposed a solution that could reduce current costs by half.

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.• Reduced organizational costs by over $200K annually through cloud-based solutions and strategic partnerships.• Implemented significant projects such as the migration to O365 and enterprise multi-site SDWAN solution.• Acquired expertise in all deployed solutions, reducing ongoing costs by managing solutions internally.

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