Capability Statement:

An accomplished polyglot IT professional with decades of experience, Onno brings unique insight into the technology arena. A software developer, trouble shooter, researcher, public speaker, educator, writer and publisher, Onno has the ability to see the big picture, inspire and bring people along for the journey.

A small business owner and founder of several organisations, two decades running an IT consultancy, Onno is familiar with the realities of bringing together a team, leading it, and making things work. Onno has participated in several hack-a-thons, winning various prizes.

A software developer and vocal advocate, Onno uses and contributes regularly to the Open Source software community.

From 6502, 8-bit CPU assembly through Node.js Docker containers deployed using AWS CloudFormation at the tap of a key, Onno has been at the bleeding edge of technology much of the time.

An accomplished troubleshooter, solving problems, learning new skills and uplifting those nearby, Onno is a dedicated professional with a clear understanding of this fluid and changing environment.

Licensed and active member of the amateur radio community for the past decade, Onno has written, produced and presented a weekly podcast; published across the globe “Foundations of Amateur Radio”, available across amateur radio broadcasts, publications, websites and social media.

Dedicated and tenacious, Onno believes that “Social Good” is an important attribute to cultivate.

Based in Perth, Western Australia (UTC+8), Onno works remotely for clients around the world.

1999-current

Technology should simplify a problem and make the solution accessible to the user. ITmaze creates custom results for a global audience.

IT Consultant, ITmaze

Provide IT consultancy services to μSME, Education and Government, domestic and international.

Projects and Services vary widely in scope from:

• R&D projects, including analytics, code analysis and visualisations

• infrastructure development, deployment and management, including AWS and others

• providing individual training to large group seminars

• supplying application support to custom software development

• introducing system backups to designing and implementing business continuity processes

• building web-sites to rolling out large volume CMS systems

• installing ADSL to installing 2-way vSat satellite internet systems

• GPS & RFID tracking

2018-current

Weekly articles over a decade explore and explain many topics in the Foundations of Amateur Radio podcast amidst a global amateur audience.

Presenter, Producer, ITmaze

Write, produce and present a weekly podcast about Amateur Radio - callsign VK6FLAB. Published across amateur broadcasts, websites, publications and social media.

“Foundations of Amateur Radio” - a weekly podcast about Amateur Radio. It continues on from “What use is an F-call?” and discusses the various concepts that make up the 1000 hobbies that Amateur Radio represents.

New episodes are published weekly and available for download (https://podcasts.vk6flab.com/) before 01:00 UTC Sunday. An average episode runs for about three and a half minutes.

Host weekly 'net "F-troop" for new and returning hams on local repeater, 146.7MHz, IRLP node 9558 and Echolink Conference *VK3JED*. [00:00-01:00 UTC Saturdays]

2018-2021

Data Analytics and Code Refactoring meet in a global investigation that visualises a codebase and tracks its evolution across time.

Software R&D, International Legal Firm

Client required investigation code base on behalf of a litigant.

Designed, developed and deployed AWS infrastructure to meet the project requirements.

Authored detailed reports on findings.

2018

Building a dashboard for IoT requires the merging of analytics, big data and weather reports to explore energy saving opportunities.

AWS QuickSight Deployment, Mining Sector

Client required dashboard functionality to gain insight into their growing database environment. Project involved extracting and normalising data from a variety of sources.

2011-2018

Producing and Presenting a weekly half hour news bulletin for a global amateur radio audience is a rewarding way to grow the community.

News Producer, WA Amateur Radio News (Inc.)

Co-produce and present the Weekly Amateur Radio News in VK6.

Produce weekly segment "What use is an F-call?" for use in local and National VK1WIA news.

2016-2018

Migrating an unmaintained and undocumented live system with 24/7 uptime is a task that challenges all parties to achieve their best.

AWS Beanstalk Deployment, Not for Profit Cooperative

Client had legacy CMS (ExpressionEngine) hosted on a VPS which was crashing and not updated since 2012. Built and deployed replacement stack in AWS.

Project involved translating MySQL tables with 743(!) columns into a more sensible schema, updating 100+ external plug-ins, updating EE from 2.x to 3.x.

2017

Consider how to build sustainable, diverse and integrated communities, design a project, plan a roadmap and present it to the public.

Department of Communities IDEAHack event, Government Department

Inaugural Hackathon to investigate an objective initiated by the Department of Communities. “Globally we want more thinking around what is required, and how to build vibrant high density infill developments. We want to find better ways to build sustainable, diverse and integrated communities where we can connect people with employment, place and home over their lifetime.”

2016

Using a reverse constraint model, discover where to build public housing using Government and Private data-sets and modern tools.

GovHack Perth 2016, GovHack Australia

Project to visualise Public Housing requirements.

We have lots of feedback where we should not build Public Housing. What we really need is a map showing where we should build it.

Using divers datasets from the ABS, Local Government and LandGate we created a detailed Tableau visualisation that incorporated the requirements and generated answers for the problem at hand.

Winner: "Most Innovative Use Of Location-based Information Prize, SPUR, Powered by Landgate"

2016

Penguins, Seals, Glaciers and Gales make for a lifetime of adventure by the Heard Island expedition, interviewed and recorded for the news.

Interviews with the Heard Island 2016 Expedition team - VK0EK, WA Amateur Radio News (Inc.)

Amateur Radio Expedition Team interviews.

After their successful expedition to Heard Island, the team arrived in Fremantle and took a few days to unwind. The Northern Corridor Radio Group (NCRG) hosted a BBQ at the Neil Penfold State Amateur Radio Centre where all 14 members of the team were interviewed on Saturday 23 April. Penguins, Seals, Glaciers and Gales made for a once in a lifetime adventure.

2015

Navigating through large datasets requires domain knowledge, unless you build an interface that allows you to dynamically explore.

GovHack Perth 2015, GovHack Australia

Project to navigate large datasets.

Datagum picks up data like your shoe picks up gum. It scans the entire content of a research repository up-front to generate an interactive method for performing searches.

Users click on a word from an available repository of words in a research body to continually filter down a list of available documents. This solves the problem of needing to know the exact terminology that a document uses, since it is already available to the user.

Datagum uses its own 3sheet.io server by default to scan a list of documents obtained from Trove and historical ABS Census Data.

Winner: "Big and Complex Data" - runner-up

2007-2014

Building regulatory compliant example solutions for livestock management using Open Source tools and on-site expertise.

Farm Management System, Livestock Farm

Replace paper based system to track vital statistics of animal husbandry, including births, deaths, weights, feed, medication, shipping, offspring, invoicing and ordering.

The original system was based on manual farming practices which required that the farm remember specific details about their stock, rather than track progress over time and alter practices as a result of data gathered.

The system was reviewed by the peak body for the industry who were impressed with the simplicity of the system.

2014

Visualising end-to-end journeys across the entire public transport system offers opportunities for improvement.

GovHack Perth 2014, GovHack Australia

During GovHack Perth 2014, using 16 million Transperth SmartRider Journey records we made an initial attempt at visualising transit data in Perth. We created bus stop activity heat maps, journey diffusion tables and suburb journey distance maps to offer insight into the usage patterns of the transport system.

Our team won the "iVEC Big & Complex Data Prize".

2013-2014

Experimenting with Lean principles and the Business Model Canvas, building a T-Shirt company is a learning experience.

Director, Naked Ape

Co-founded Start-up T-Shirt printing company.

Based on Lean principles.

Used the Business Model Canvas as the template.

2014

Radio interviews to promote Open Source involves explaining what the community does in such a way that the general public can understand.

Interviews for Linux Conf Australia 2014, WA Amateur Radio News (Inc.)

#lca2014 - Linux.conf.au - 2014 interviews.

Linux Conf Australia is the worlds premier technical Linux conference and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak with attendees, speakers and organisers about their projects, passions and other activities.

Interviews were conducted between the 6th and 10th of January 2014 in Perth, Western Australia.

2012-2013

Building a live reporting system interfaced with a telephone platform without any API produces reports on any web browser.

Real-time Broadsoft Call Reports, Large Expo Company

Client migrated CISCO Call Manager Express to BroadSoft platform. It didn't come with any real-time reports. The original CCME based logging system was transformed to use data from the BroadSoft platform. It presented that data in live reports, including historical reporting.

2009-2013

Scalable electronic ticket system with online registration, collection and validation saves on printing and manual handling.

Electronic Ticket System, Large Expo Company

Integrated ticket system to market, distribute, generate and validate electronic tickets. The system also provides for two tier distribution, where an exhibitor receives a key to distribute among their staff and clients, which in turn generates a ticket on the system.

2012-2013

National Annual Conference requires a local team to plan, procure, produce and promote a professional event for the amateur radio community.

Conference Organiser, The Wireless Institute of Australia

Organise Amateur Radio conference for the Wireless Institute of Australia, held in Fremantle in Western Australia.

2011-2012

Elected club committee authors a new constitution for association compliance while planning events and outings for club members.

President, Hills Amateur Radio Group (Inc.)

Updated the club constitution to be compliant with the new Department of Commerce requirements for Rules of Association.

Provided guidance and leadership to the committee.

2012

Recording and editing interactive voice response messages for media company.

Record and Edit Telephone Messaging System Audio, Media Organisation

Script, record and edit interactive voice response messages for corporate telephone system.

2007-2011

CISCO Call Manager Express real-time call logging reports visualised on a browser exposes several reported bugs in the CCME.

Real-time CCME Call Reports, Large Expo Company

Client migrated from POTS exchange to a CISCO Call Manager Express. It didn't come with any real-time reports. A system was developed that scraped the call data from the CCME and presented that data in live reports, including historical reporting.

In the process several bugs were found in the CCME call logging system.

2004-2011

Website gets 7.5 million hits in 96 hours during the 2005 World Solar Challenge. Serves officials, participants, sponsors, media and public.

High Volume Event Website, Government Department

World Solar Challenge website, 7.5 Million hits in 4 days during the bi-annual event in 2005.

System provides event information to sponsors, participants and officials. Coordination of photos, blogs, system alerts, GPS tracking and timing information. Incorporates results and provides media only access to high resolution photography.

2005-2011

Visualising the current location of solar cars across the middle of Australia using satellite trackers and Google Maps.

GPS Tracking for International Event, Government Department

Implement system to receive and decode location messages to display on a Google Map for the World Solar Challenge.

2010-2011

Tracking the “Tour Down Under” peloton across South Australia on Google Maps in real-time.

Cycling Peloton Map, Government Department

Project to map the location of a cycling peloton as it travels through Adelaide and surrounds. Implemented under LAMP and incorporating SPOT trackers for location data.

2011

Organiser event management radio traffic streamed across the internet to avoid installing radio repeaters in low coverage areas.

Event Radio Streaming, Government Department

Custom built system to provide audio streaming of event radio. The system allowed local users to connect to the streaming server to hear the event radio to overcome difficulties with installing traditional radio receivers in a high-rise office building.

2008-2009

Assist, triage and document issues for the Ubuntu Server team as a community member to build and strengthen Open Source.

Contributor and member of the Ubuntu Server team, Open Source Community

Assisted members of the Ubuntu Server team with debugging and documentation.

2002-2009

Develop and commission a mobile vSat terminal for national broadband internet coverage using Gilat hardware and a 1.8m dish.

Remote connectivity vSat terminal, ITmaze

Built, commissioned and deployed 1.8m and 1.2m VSat installation based on Gilat SkyBlaster and SkyEdge. This project provided ITmaze with broadband connectivity during remote operation throughout Australia.

2008

Reverse engineer and deploy an Iridium satellite modem linked GPS to visualise the location of an Arctic Circle Adventurer in real-time.

Arctic Capable Satellite Tracker, Adventurer

The system decodes messages generated by the device and displays them on a map. The manufacturer did not provide specifications of the message format which had to be reverse engineered. The device was built into an enclosure, capable of withstanding the Arctic environment.

2007

Design and build workstation and server virtualisation using Ubuntu and KVM for internet deployment.

Workstation Virtualisation, Accounting Service Firm

Project to virtualise several distinct workstations and servers using Ubuntu and kvm.

2004-2007

Install remote area Glilat vSat terminals in Queensland, South and Western Australia and provide on-site support for end-users.

Fixed VSat installation, National Internet Service Provider

Install remote area vSat terminals in QLD, SA, WA and provide on-site support for end-users.

2006

Millmerran Community Services Directory. Built and deployed a community website to promote local businesses and clubs online.

Community Website, Local Community

Millmerran Community Services Directory. A community website to put local businesses online. Implemented using LAMP.

2002-2006

Migrate Website to new hosting provider, update site, maintain site and provide training.

Website Development, Small Business Association

Migrate Website to new hosting provider, update site, maintain site and provide training.

2004

Overhaul of GST related billing for a bakery. Transformed the business and GST billing. Implemented using Excel and DHPOS.

GST Implementation, Small Business

Overhaul of GST related billing for a bakery. The GST differs for fresh vs. prepared goods in a bakery. Transformed the business and GST billing. Implemented using Excel and DHPOS.

2004

Small community courses. Provided lecturing for Internet familiarity, Office software, Website development, computer trouble shooting.

Computer Technology Courses, Home Users

Small community courses. Provided lecturing for Internet familiarity, Office software, Website development, computer trouble shooting.

2003-2004

Proof of Concept demonstration of cordless phone over vSat voice communication with the telephone network using Asterisk and CISCO ATA.

Research and Development, ITmaze

Proof of Concept. Asterisk server connected to a terrestrial network. Cisco ATA connected via vSat. Telephone conversation between cordless phone connected to the ATA and phone connected to POTS via Asterisk. There were timing and connection issues, but the call was successful.

2002-2003

Design and build an internet accessible connection to Maximiser CRM using VMware, VNC and ssh.

Remote VMware Guest, Large Expo Company

Client had an application that did not provide remote access and could only run across a local LAN. System was developed to launch a VMware guest once a remote connection was received using VNC over ssh.

System was capable of 10 concurrent users and was deployed in remote office locations around Australia.

2003

Provide broadband Internet and logistical support to a solar team through the 2003 World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide.

Logistics and Network Support, Solar Team

Provide broadband Internet and logistical support to a solar team through the 2003 World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide.

2000-2003

Migrate Website to new hosting provider, update site, maintain site and provide training.

Website Development, Small Business

Migrate Website to new hosting provider, update site, maintain site and provide training.

2000-2003

Provide Master of Ceremony and announcer services to 20+ expos, including home shows, mining expos and others.

Master of Ceremony, Interviewer, P/A announcer, Large Expo Company

Provide MC services to 20+ expos, including home shows, mining expos and others.

2000-2002

Develop and teach Introduction to the Internet and E-Commerce courses for the Small Business Development Association.

Small Business Workshops, State Government Agency

Introduction to the Internet and E-Commerce.

2002

Build a system to track student participation in psychology research projects and integrate it with University systems.

Online Subject Pool for Psychology, University

System to track student participation in psychology research.

2000-2002

Develop a tool to automatically generate an online survey from a spreadsheet, collecting and reporting the responses.

Graduate  Destination Survey, University

Survey Tool which takes an excel spreadsheet and generates an online survey.

2001-2002

Build an interactive website as a management interface for WebCT online learning tool for use by lecturers and tutors.

WebCT Manager, University

Management interface for WebCT.

1999-2002

Web / CD Hybrid application for tertiary sociology teachers with information, examples and a means to analyse and redesign their own units.

Meeting Needs / Changing Outcomes, University

Web / CD Hybrid application provides tertiary teachers of sociology with information, descriptive examples and a means for analysing and re-designing their own units.

2001

Middleware System to link Oracle based authentication and meta-data to a generic version of the Academic Staff Development Database.

Student Learning Database, University

System that links Oracle based authentication and information to a generic version of the Academic Staff Development Database.

1999-2000

Murdoch University Academic Staff Development programme. Tracks enrolments, class size, reminders, reports, surveys.

Academic Staff Development Database, University

Murdoch University Academic Staff Development programme. Tracks enrolments, class size, reminders, reports, surveys.

2000

Technology training to facilitate community projects. Developed course material to educate office staff in the use of video editing tools.

FinalCut Pro Course, Community Organisation

Client needed on-site training to use technology to document various community projects. Course material was developed and the client used the course to educate their office staff in the use of video editing tools.

1998-1999

Technical Director and Co-Founder of business continuity company. Set-up business systems including office network, servers and web-site.

Technical Director, Rescue Technology Group

Co-Founder, set-up business systems including office network, servers and web-site

1997-1998

Team Lead in Central IT help desk with a doubled call volume and reduced staff turnover. Developed and taught staff technology courses.

Customer Service Officer, Curtin University

Increased number of calls handled by 100%.

Reduced staff turnover by 75%.

Developed staff training units.

1993-1997

Produced live weekly national radio show about computing with over 1200 interviews featuring Australia's first internet audio broadcast.

Presenter, Radio 927, 6NR (CBAA)

Created National radio program about computing and IT with over 1200 live interviews.

Produced and presented Australia's first Live Internet Audio broadcast.

Awarded employee performance bonus for promoting IT to the general public.

1994-1997

Member of a world leading interactive multimedia team producing teaching aids using HyperCard, SuperCard and Quicktime.

Customer Service Officer, Curtin University

Managed software development projects.

Developed multimedia products as teaching aids.

Increased IT awareness on campus.

1992-1994

Document help desk procedures for call tracking and knowledge base collection increases productivity. Staff training reduces call volume.

Customer Service Officer, Curtin University

Supported and trained staff and students.

Implemented Standard Operating Procedures for call management and problem resolution.

Presented productivity software training courses.

1992-1993

Produce and present spoken word radio shows, both live and pre-recorded, for radio for the print handicapped.

Producer, 990 Information Radio

Produced and presented several weekly shows under the alias of Martin Menno.

1991-1992

Honing radio skills by presenting and producing over a thousand hours of live radio.

Presenter, RTRFM 92.1

Developed radio skills and presented over 1000 hours of radio programming under the alias of Martin Menno.

Provided IT support to 5 permanent and 150 volunteer staff.

Hosted several fund raising shows (radiothons) for the station.

1990-1991

Converting COBOL Modula-2 statistical code base to Informix Wingz HyperScript using Macintosh Programmers Workbench and Pascal.

Admin Officer, The University of Western Australia

Converted Modula-2 code base to Wingz HyperScript.

Implemented Standard Operating Procedures for Documentation.

Increased software sales by 50%.

1990

Produce and present radio shows, including Monday Night Concert, the afternoon classical music programme, the classical guitar and others.

Presenter, 6UVS-fm

Produced and presented programmes, including Monday Night Concert, the afternoon classical music programme, the classical guitar and others

Hosted several fund raising shows (radiothons) for the radio station.

1989-1990

Finalised CAD-CAM application and took it to market, providing end user support. Rewrote reporting engine increasing performance.

Software Developer, Holec Hazemeyer

Increased software-reporting speeds by 400%.

Managed software support for 250 users.

1988-1989

Responsible for the management and maintenance of Standard Operation Procedures for a biomedical company building a new facility.

Standard Operations Writer, Centocor Europe

Developed Standard Operating Procedures for biochemical processes. Wrote and updated existing documentation.

Managed distribution of SOPs throught the organisation

Implemented database management procedures.

1985-1986

Bringing computer gaming tapes to mass production by remastering original titles for the ZX-80, ZX-81, ZX-Spectrum, VIC-20 and Commodore 64.

Software Developer, Aackosoft

Responsible for remastering game tapes for the Commodore VIC-20, the Sinclair ZX-80, ZX-81 and ZX-Spectrum.

Presented and sold software at several trade-shows.

2023

Brenda Edmonds Education Award

In recognition of outstanding service in the education of the Amateur Radio Community and advancement of licensees.

2016

Most Innovative Use Of Location-based Information Prize

Awarded to the team "WA Public Housing" - The team aimed to develop an algorithm for determining where public housing should be built, and developed a map using open data sets from a range of government agencies including Landgate. 

Awarded during GovHack Perth 2016

2016

Foundation License Award

Is presented in recognition of exceptional service to the hobby of Amateur Radio and The Wireless Institute of Australia by a Foundation Licence holder.

2015

Pawsey Supercomputing Centre Big & Complex Data Prize

Awarded to team "datagum" for the hack judged to best demonstrate the use or mash up of large and complex open Government data sets. 

Awarded during GovHack Perth 2015

2014

Rising Spatial Stars

Two individuals judged to show the most promise in using spatial data. 

Awarded during GovHack Perth 2014

2014

iVEC Big & Complex Data Prize

The hack judged to best demonstrate the use or mash up of large and complex open Government data sets. 

Awarded for Team Bushack during GovHack Perth 2014

2012

Presidents Commendation Award

In recognition of his active participation in various aspects of amateur radio during his first year as a licenced radio amateur.

1989

World Record Endurance Computing

During the HCC Computer Dagen at the Utrechtse Jaarbeurs, held between 24 and 26 November 1989, a group of computer geeks stayed awake for 63 and a half hours to secure the World Record Endurance Computing. Supervised, ratified, issued and subsequently deleted by Guinness World Records who removed all endurance records from their books.