Mark Fairhurst is a Senior Infrastructure Specialist at Ripe Thinking Limited. He possess expertise in disaster recovery, infrastructure, it management, system administration, itil and 10 more skills. Colleagues describe him as "I have had the pleasure of working with Mark at Likewize who is highly skilled and dedicated.  He consistently demonstrated exceptional technical expertise and problem-solving abilities and was instrumental in migrating the Likewize data centre to AWS.   He possesses a strong understanding of cloud computing, virtualization, network security and is proficient in specific tools and software (e.g., Linux, Windows Server, scripting languages).  Moreover, he has a keen eye for detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work. Beyond his technical skills, Mark is a great team player who collaborates effectively with colleagues across the globe. He is a quick learner, always eager to acquire new knowledge and skills with a positive attitude and strong work ethic.  I highly recommend Mark as he is a valuable asset to any organization.", "Having has the privilege to work with Mark for many years, saw the experience gained over time was always expanded to understand how to apply in different situations. For example: server / service failures, complete server room power outages - where startup sequences were critical. Over time Marks experienced was expanded by the acceptance of cloud technologies AWS and Azure, where he quickly picked up the concepts and was looking to leverage the cloud environment to manage : BCP / DR / Backup / Monitoring and importantly auto-scaling. Always asked Why for the right reasons regarding process and solution implementation all for the right reasons to ensure we had a good foundation in place for any server / service or system. Marks work ethic is to get the job done, as such was an excellent leader of his team, show how things can be done with conventional tooling and then with level of lateral thinking applied. Ability to support his team to ensure growth of knowledge/ documentation and experience first class every time, encouragement to follow the same values. Any company having Mark as part of the team would instantly see why he is such a value add to the infrastructure / service delivery department.", and "I had the privilege of working alongside Mark for two years, during which he served as Senior Systems Engineer. Throughout this time, Mark consistently demonstrated a rare combination of deep technical expertise, exceptional problem-solving skills, and strong leadership in managing complex IT infrastructures. What would typically take others hours to troubleshoot and resolve, Mark was able to accomplish in mere minutes—often in just 10 to 15 minutes. It was truly remarkable to witness his efficiency and precision in action. In his role as Senior Systems Engineer, Mark was instrumental in managing and optimizing our IT environment, from on-premises servers and storage to cloud-based systems. His profound understanding of system architecture, virtualization, and disaster recovery played a key role in improving operational efficiency and ensuring business continuity, even under challenging circumstances. His ability to diagnose and resolve high-level technical issues with speed and accuracy was indispensable to our team. What truly sets Mark apart is his proactive approach to IT challenges. Rather than waiting for issues to arise, he anticipated potential risks and took preemptive measures to mitigate them whenever possible. His innovative solutions and forward-thinking strategies helped streamline operations, minimize downtime, and bolster security—directly contributing to our business growth and success. Beyond his technical prowess, Mark is a remarkable communicator and collaborator. He has a rare ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, understandable terms for non-technical stakeholders, ensuring everyone is aligned on project goals and timelines. His approach fosters a sense of clarity and teamwork, making him an invaluable resource for cross-functional collaboration. On a personal level, Mark is a dependable, positive, and hardworking professional. His solution-oriented mindset and dedication to excellence make him a pleasure to work with, and his contributions have been crucial to the success of our IT initiatives. Working with Mark has been a rewarding experience, and I’ve greatly valued his presence on the team. I wholeheartedly recommend Mark to any organization in need of a Senior IT Systems Engineer who combines technical expertise, leadership, and a collaborative spirit. He would be an asset to any team or project, and I have no doubt that he will continue to excel in his career."