Michael Ford Email & Phone Number

Working with Waka Kotahi NZTA as client on the Asset Management Data Standard (nzta.govt.nz/amds)* Established processes for a fully remote team during the Covid-19 lockdown as scrum master and helped deliver the first beta deliverable on time.* Translated regulatory and civil engineering best practices into a data schema for various asset types. Ran feedback sessions with industry experts to refine the solution and ensure each field was fit for purpose and captured a wide range of requirements and users

Took the lead on our technology solution for outsourcing the internal meter reading function to an external provider. This required substantial upgrades to the built in meter reading module in Gentrack to support a new input formats but also new timings, processes and validation criteria. We achieved the transition and the technology was functional according to the required timeline. This was a fantastic learning opportunity about the value of data to an automated process like billing and I would be happy to talk to anyone about the lessons learnedI served as an internal advocate and promoter for a meter data management solution which would move to use advanced reads, generated every 15min, instead of legacy reads every two months. This involved extensive process re-imagining and business transformation where I generated user stories and maintained our list of development priorities (note the first phase of the project was completed with myself as product owner but not later stages which I understand are ongoing as of early 2021)

Created digital reporting in PowerBI to assist digital product managers with decision making and analysis.Analysed and gave recommendations about customer engagement channels such as website, apps, webchat, email, phone and knowledge base

Scoped out change requests from the business and prepared problem statements for consideration by the development teams. Performed current and future state analysis, user stories, options analysis and selection and managed stakeholders across a diverse range of business functionsCreated the business case and managed delivery for a systems integration between our billing system and external meter read providersLead a new agile team as a proof of concept. I delivered valuable findings to the wider agile team and worked with many stakeholders who were new to agile processes and helped turn them into supporters

Delivered analysis and recommendations regarding the deployment of advanced or "smart" meters and where we might replace legacy sites. Modelled various five year financial forecasts to help inform a choice in deployment partner and contract negotiations.Supported the meter reading team with ad hoc analysis and support

Tauranga

Held three positions in Billing, Customer Experience and Generation. Delivered new reporting, both as a weekly template and for ad hoc analysis.Created a simple system in Access to record time spent by billing specialists on customer inquiries and pass that through to management reportingMade recommendations to management regarding processes for on boarding customers and transitioning them between properties

Auckland

Worked with the team to clear backlog items inside an enterprise Java Spring web environment. Helped to free up senior developers to focus on the more complex issues while also contributing to continuous improvement of user reported issues - important so that they feel listened to. Completed my required sub professional work experience in order to graduate.

I assisted the IT team with rolling out their Windows 7 upgrade across the business. Mostly this involved installing software on one big pile of laptops and running hardware wiping software on the other pile. Never did I ever mix the two up either. I also swapped in SSDs to each as it passed through my station and helped users with starting up and getting running on their new setup.

Glenbrook Steel Mill

Contracted to NZ Steel at Glenbrook as part of my mechanical engineering work experience.I collected data for updating the gas and liquid pipeline diagrams at the Glenbrook steel mill. This involved interpreting decades old - and out of date in some cases - plant schematics and then following each from start to end on foot or vehicle. Many were up high ladders or forked many times throughout regions where health and safety were extremely important to keep in mind. I gained strong practical knowledge of a functional heavy industrial site, contributed to the information accuracy of the engineers and got plenty of steps in for the summer (if only my Fitbit had existed back then)

Alberta, Canada

Created visualisations of renewable power generation across the state and how it aligned with demand over a day, season or year. Analysis was performed using MATLAB

Auckland, New Zealand

I hope these skills aren't the ones that make the difference on any future jobs, or are needed for them. I did work for around two years at the local Four Square where we did everything from stocking shelves, reconciling the daily take, and helping customers out. It is where I gained my first appreciation of the functions of a simple business and what considerations went into operational processes, ensuring satisfied customers and staying on top of profitability metrics.

Bachelor’S Degree, Software Engineering

Education record