Résumé

Tech entrepreneur, commercial pilot, international consultant, author and lifelong adventurer.

My professional journey began with mainframe computers in South Africa in 1983.

Since then, I’ve worked across multiple industries and continents, founded businesses, explored emerging technologies and pursued opportunities that rarely fitted into a conventional career plan.

More than four decades later, I’m still learning, experimenting and creating.

RapidSky Aviation Solutions

2023–Present | Chief Executive Officer

As a pilot, my thoughts are seldom far from the sky.

RapidSky combines my experience in aviation, technology and entrepreneurship to develop practical solutions for general aviation.

Our interests encompass aircraft development, aviation technology, engineering solutions and specialist operations, including humanitarian and animal welfare initiatives.

After more than four decades in business, I’ve discovered that starting another career can be considerably more enjoyable than retiring from the previous one.

ZaGenie

2004–Present | Chief Executive Officer and Technology Consultant

ZaGenie brings together decades of information technology experience, accumulated intellectual property and a carefully refined collection of tools, systems and workflows.

As a boutique managed services provider, we support a select clientele with technology consultancy, systems integration and managed IT services.

My philosophy remains straightforward: explore emerging technologies, test them thoroughly and implement what genuinely improves productivity.

We live on the bleeding edge of technology so our clients don’t have to.

Ubuntu Synergy

Ongoing | Founder and Initiative Developer

Growing up in Africa gave me an appreciation of ubuntu: I am because we are.

Ubuntu Synergy applies that philosophy to a growing ecosystem of 47 initiatives combining education, entrepreneurship, income opportunities, community development, conservation and practical assistance.

The objective is to empower people through collaboration and sustainable participation rather than dependency on traditional charity.

Vintage.

• 12 March 1963   Johannesburg, South Africa.

Pisces. Dreamer. Visionary. Creative. Ambitious.

Education.

• 1969-75   Potchefstroom Central Primary.
• 1976-80   Potchefstroom High School for Boys.

Academically complacent. Lazy. Lucky to have passed.

National Service.

• 1981   South African Army Gymnasium.
• 1982   North West Command Signal Unit HQ.
• 1983-86   South African Defence Force Reserve.

Conscription. War. Fortunate. Survived.

Bankorp Data (Trust Bank of Africa).

• 1983   Mainframe Computer Operator.

Managing Burroughs B5900 and IBM 3031 mainframes. Programming in COBOL with paper punch cards.

Prospect 2000 Computer Services, South Africa.

• 1983 – 86   Owner & Operator.

Imported the first Macintosh and IBM personal computers into South Africa. Digital accounting for clients.

Proboma Computer Services, South Africa.

• 1984   Computer Bureau Manager.
• 1985   Computer Sales Executive.

Managed a team of operators using DEC PDP 11/44s, with 300 baud leased lines to distant clients.

Plessey, South Africa.

• 1986   Sales Executive.

Selling Plessey K2 telephone switchboards, and integrating national computer networks, using ISDN.

Nottingham Building Society, United Kingdom.

• 1987   Mainframe Computer Operator.

Backpacking through Europe, ran out of money, and resorted to working as a computer contractor.

Coca Cola Cadbury Schweppes, United Kingdom.

• 1987   Computer Systems Operator.

Contract to help with the ITC systems integration of two large companies, one using DEC Vax, and the other IBM.

Diners Club International, United Kingdom.

• 1988   Computer Systems Operator.

Contract to consolidate a cluster of IBM/36 computers, and get them to talk to merchants in the UK.

Quorum Computer Professionals, Europe.

• 1987-94   Owner & Consultant.

Discovered the agency was making the real money, so started my own agency, with 18+ contractors.

Digital Equipment Corporation, France/Switzerland.

• 1989   Computer Centre Operator.
• 1990   Business & Systems Architecture.
• 1992-94   DEC Geneva, European HQ.

Contract that culminated in running the Digital European Business & Systems Architecture program office.

Philips SME, United Kingdom.

• 1993   Computer Systems Consultant.

Short contract to amalgamate various business processes and implement new computer systems.

Sir Herbert’s Flying Circus, Europe.

• 1989 – 1998   Owner & Pilot.

Bought a plane, and flew over a thousand people on pleasure flights in the Alps, and around Europe.

The Cyber Chateau, France.

• 1993-98   Internet Training.

Bought a chateau, and created a conference centre, offering the first Internet courses in France.

Internet Commerce Centres, Global.

• 1995-98   Internet Franchise.
• 1995-98   Internet Café Geneva.

Relocated training to the ICC Building in Geneva, Switzerland, serving various UN organizations.

AffiliateFORCE Seminars, United States.

• 1999   Affiliate Marketing Consulting & Training.
• 2000   AffiliateFORCE Conference – Miami, Florida.
• 2001-03   Affiliate Marketing Workshops & Cruises.

Moved to the United States to ride the Dot Com wave, and focused mainly on affiliate marketing.

Internet Affiliate Marketing Association, Global.

• 1999-2005   Keeping It Fair In Revenue Share.

A failed attempt to set the ethics and standards for affiliate marketing. Like herding feral cats.

AmbiTech Solutions, South Africa.

• 2004-12   Managed Services Provider.

Moved back to South Africa, started from scratch, and built a thriving regional IT company.

Nature Conservation, South Africa.

• 2012-15   Limpopo Province.

Retired at the age of 50, and spent three years in the African Bush, combatting the evils of poaching.