Kevin Foad Email & Phone Number

London, Ontario, Ca

Manager to the CARFAX AFI team, conducting R&D in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to leverage data and help customers around the world shop, buy, service and sell vehicles.

Waterloo, On, Ca

Foundational services engineering manager responsible for a dozen software systems and services underpinning Manulife Retail Banking - such as batch, banking services, integration points, databases, PCI/PII protection, service compliance and API's.▪ Managed 9 developers, across 2 multi-functional scrum teams (SAFe) - incorporating 2 offshore and 4 offshore contingency workers - alongside BA's & PO's provided by the business.▪ Member of management team spanning 3 ART's (Agile Release Trains) covering On-boarding, Service and Platform streams involved in planning, roadmapping and strategic/technical direction.▪ PENTEST response, Snyk compliance, manage intake requests (for self-reported or stakeholder/internal customer requests), asset sustainment work and access control/audits.▪ Forge relationships, adhoc team training, coaching and mentoring.

Kitchener, Ontario, Ca

Program / Project / Initiative management of Autonomy software for Neo 2 scrubbing robot using pragmatic agile scrum, hybrid processes, artefacts & techniques.2020-22 Autonomy Program Portfolio - managed sales-expanding features from R&D through prototype, field proving & preparation for Go-To-Market/Operation:▪ Adopt machine learning (semantic segmentation) to detect low obstacles (pallets, fork tines, debris) opening sales to previously unsuitable environments.▪ Mission & guidance planning features to increase value proposition of a single operator running robots at large customer sites (e.g. airports, DC's)▪ 30% reduction in human intervention by R&D and replacement of navigation with a robust SLAM algorithm for highly variable environments, realising an opportunity for the system to suggest improvements to support staff based on progressive robot observation.▪ Managed corporate customer onboarding compliance features (e.g. migration of web apps to Azure from AWS) 2022-23: Shifted focus towards system & infrastructure to support next-gen product line:▪ Facilitated on-time delivery of a highly technical, collaborative program to merge & rearchitect divergent customer solutions into a single extensible, configurable codebase. Workshopped agreement across software, firmware, mechatronics & architecture teams to package outcomes & risk into clearly defined steps with acceptance criteria, identifying & breaking dependencies. ▪ Managed next-gen design & implement of new core softwareThroughout:▪ Continuous Improvement to scale organizational project & engineering process.▪ Reduced exposure & met compliance, decreasing sales closure times, by formulating & leading initiatives to adopt better Cybersecurity & PENTESTing practice and communication. Contributed to ISO27001, lead SOC2 audit.▪ Contributed to data governance initiatives (e.g. GDPR).▪ Managed $1.5m NRC-IRAP proposal, delivery & KPI reporting to unlock funds.▪ Mentored junior project manager.

Ventilators for Canadians (V4C) was a team of philanthropists and entrepreneurs finding solutions to help Canadians through the unprecedented COVID-19 health emergency. Founded by Jim Estill (Danby), Rick Jamieson (ABS Friction), Scott Shawyer (JMP Solutions) and Paul L’Heureux (Crystal Fountains).The purpose-built facility aimed, and achieved, building 10,000+ Baylis V4C-560 compact, portable ventillators for children and adults, a brand new product based on the recently open-sourced Medtronic PB560.▪ Team goal: Assist Baylis/Danby finalise processes and procedures for Start of Production.▪ Establish baseline production at pace - Contributed improvements, feedback, flow improvements - specifically for QA/Test of finsihed units.▪ Coach/train new recruits in all test stations (electrical safety/compliance, configuration, calibration and final testing & packaging).▪ Medical Device manufacture quality/productivity standards including ISO 14971 (Risk Management), ISO 13485 (Medical Devices), QMS, 5S, Kanban.▪ Semi-cleanroom environment, with COVID-19 safe working practices.

Ca

Relocating my family 5632 kilometers took a few months out of my working life. With careful planning, courage and hard work we're settled. I'm centred, re-energized & excited to find my first role in Canada!(+COVID-19 happened.)

Newport, Wales, Gb

Head of Profession leader across Software Development, QA Test, Operations & Support. Collectively responsible for capability, consistency, community & careers of ~100 technical staff through organisation-wide digitalisation change agenda of internal & public users, rationalisation of technical real-estate & cloud migration.▪ Define, recruit, build & lead team of 4 HoP's to manage changing needs of department & staff.▪ Develop several teams in leadership, coaching culture, collaboration & dialogue.▪ Coached ~20 staff (graduate to director).Created team objectives & ethos:▪ Capability: Skills matrix, individual & team training plans, support blended-teams with suppliers, change management & coordinated bespoke ‘Managing Technical People’ training.▪ Consistency: Identify & embed consistent tools & processes. Maintain & document professional standards.▪ Careers: Define roles, career pathways & innovate progression process. Early adopt DDaT (Digital, Data & Tech) framework to increase engagement, opportunity & ownership of career development. Long-term skills planning.▪ Community: Build self-sustaining communities of practice, increasing awareness & outreach. e.g. establish guilds, lightning talks, lunch & learns, Raspberry Pi Club. Strategic initiatives:▪ Proposed & managed migration from Jira/trello to Azure DevOps CI/CD with automation for C#.NET, java & mainframe devs, test, support & product managers. Organized upskilling.▪ Collaborated with cross-functional teams, service managers, project managers, architects & finance, to deliver national & international compliance, Brexit, & improvement roadmap.▪ Built Graduate, Apprenticeship & Year-in-Industry schemes, establish relationships with colleges & universities.▪ STEM / Gov Science & Engineering outreach▪ Technical recruitment, job fairs, procure flexible staffing supplier▪ Governance: GDPR, TMMI, ITIL, Risk, ISO27001 etc.▪ Volunteer coordinator of TED talks & annual conference▪ Security Clearance

Cardiff, Wales, Gb

Certified Product Owner and Solutions Analyst as part of a team of six Business Analysts & Technical Analysts, considered the ‘thought leaders’ of the company. My unique role of Solutions Analyst combined both Business & Technical Analyst, due to my strong background as a developer.I worked with clients at all stages of the SDLC from business and technical feasibility, early ideation, discovery, proof of concept - and ‘planning small bets’ - through to development, usability testing, training, public release and support.My main area of responsibility was enterprise-level Sitecore and digital transformation projects.Lead 18 months Royal College of Nursing (RCN) £1m+ digital transformation based around their website, delivering organisation-wide features: content management, systems integration, membership benefits, local chapters, communities and nurses CPD.Client functions:● Planning and running collaborative, shared understanding discovery workshops – e.g. product vision, user story mapping, user profiles, acceptance criteria and prioritisation.● Provide ‘servant leadership’ to multidisciplinary scrum teams, build shared understanding (StoryTime) and lead collaborative sessions to find solutions, estimate effort, identify resources and plan work.● Work with embedded QA to define a ladder of readiness, definition of done and documentation standards.● Reporting and governance, as required by the business and client.Business functions:● Process improvement / best practice.● Standardising technology-agnostic tools and processes.● Liaising with principals, development manager and operations to rollout new, robust methods.● Continuous improvement of lean scrum process across teams.● Researching and championing collaborative discovery, analysis and delivery techniques.● Presales, qualifying prospects, proposal writing, pitching, technical and client workshops.● Training, assisting, leading, mentoring/coaching internal staff and clients.

Blackwood, South Wales, Gb

Product Manager (in final 3 years) & Senior software developer in BLaDE (Battlespace Laboratory and Digital Environments) in Defence R&D department.Developing, maintaining and working with military clients to deliver a cutting edge constructive modelling & simulation capability of military and civilian units at varying levels of magnitude and behavioural detail. Data ‘injected' into military kit to enhance training exercises, military college classrooms and coalition force collaboration projects at scale (hundreds of staff and physical vehicles).Delivered EXCON (Exercise Control) support to pre-deployment training in Suffield, Alberta, Canada.Responsibilities:• Senior C++ Developer (multi-threaded, multi-core network distributed processing) plus 3 years as Product Manager – XP, scrum and DSDM• Global company-wide award-winning team of 4-10 developers• Ideation and development from ‘throw-away prototype' to mature capability (TRL8+)• Customer requirements gathering, briefings and demos - travelling UK, Europe & Canada• Briefed and demonstrated R&D outputs and product capability to ministers, international defence chiefs, senior military personnel, partners and vendors with clarity and enthusiasm• Consulted on new business opportunities, bids and business strategy• Selection, engagement, evaluation and procurement of tools and vendors• Defined, lead various internal R&D projects (~£30k each)• Scoped, tailored, delivered and supervised customised software and support services for experimentation, acceptance testing and training exercises for the military. (£200k-500k/pa)• Developed and delivered training to internal staff and external users and system operators• Line managed, mentored, coached, appraised staff

Research & Development Lead Engineer deployed to Dutch office to develop innovativevideo gaming technology for fixed odds and skill games to play for 'pocket money prizes' in the HoReCa (Hotel Restaurant Cafe) market.Responsibilities:▪ R&D of multigame, multiplayer gaming machines - implemented core cash-handling gamingmodels and animated player interfaces.▪ Identified, defined and contributed to R&D platforms, concepts, prototypes and products.▪ Prepared accelerated simulations and documentation for gaming law compliance testing.▪ Ported legacy products to new platforms.▪ Mentored and lead graduate software engineers.▪ Liaison with QA and Test.

Co-creator of the original GoldenBall casino/amusement game, having both key technical implementation and creative input. Product development from concept, physical build, trial/proof and sale of concept to prospective manufacturers resulting in rights sale.▪ Developed Goldenball, a new-concept in 3D multiplayer AWP (Amusement With Prizes) gaming, ideation to market.▪ R&D and specified hardware, integrated systems, development and support strategy.▪ Developed reusable OpenGL 3D graphics engine and integrated game controller platform.▪ Designed and created artwork and 3D models.▪ Directed and recorded voice talent.

Gamestream was an experimental startup which sadly folded. Impressed with my approach and skills, the business owner retained me to wind down the business for a month and to start the Goldenball product concept (see above).Responsibilities:▪ R&D to specify and develop a low-cost mini-PC-based gaming platform.▪ Maintained legacy embedded gaming products.

Joined 12-month graduate development programme with Coinmaster (later Capital Gaming) and Cardiff University, made permanent on completion. The scheme aimed to develop graduate business skills and to transfer knowledge and research gained in academia and apply it in the workplace. R&D and ground-up development of Coinmaster's Embedded Gaming Platform, based on industry's first integrated PC systems (Heber Firefly).Responsibilities:▪ R&D of multiplayer 3D graphics engine and casino gaming platform (large money prizes) for use in Winning Post horse racing video game (exported around UK, Europe and Las Vegas) & combined video/physical roulette games in small agile team.▪ UML architectural design and C++ implementation using design patterns.▪ Built dynamic commentator soundtrack from directed voiceover work by Channel 4 Racing's Mike Cattermole.▪ Lectured at Cardiff University on ‘Data Modelling’ and ‘3D Graphics Technology.’

New York, Us

Student Volunteer at ACM SIGGRAPH 2000 Conference in New Orleans, LA, USA. Two weeks of varied tasks to aid in the smooth running of an international computer graphics conference.▪ Presenter assistance/hospitality▪ Event Ushering/Guide▪ Shop Assistant

Cardiff, Wales, Gb

Liaising with academic staff to prepare course notes and department handbooks. Conducted statistical analysis and make projections to help intake planning by Education Support Staff.

Cincinnati, Oh, Us

Summer placement with the GE90 Support Cell at GE Aircraft Engine Services, as clerical support to engineers maintaining GE90 turbofan aircraft engines (for Boeing 777 aircraft). Novel contribution to improve tracing FAA paperwork through factory departments through 12-month maintenance cycle.

Bsc 1St Class With Honours, Computer Science

Phd (Incomplete) Research, Computer Graphics (Nonphotorealistic Rendering & Machine Vision)

'A' Levels (Post-Grade 12 Equivalent)

'A' Levels (Post-Grade 12 Equivalent)

Education record