Navigating Waves of Technology

Lifeguard

During his college and university years, Mark wore the lifeguard hat at Woodford Leisure Centre in Hull – the one with the amazing wave machine that many local people will know and love.

Mark successfully completed a degree from the University of Lincolnshire & Humberside, leading him to Hull City Council’s IT services. There, he was involved in implementing the Hull 300300 number via the Oracle CRM software,  which was designed to enhance access to customer services for local residents and businesses.

Multinational IT Services

After a few years, he seized an opportunity with a multinational IT services company, involving diverse assignments ranging from working with Local Authorities around the UK to supporting various Central Government departments in establishing and managing central solutions via shared service centres. For the final few years at this company he became more involved with enhancing key university strategic relationships ranging from various Research and Development projects like Digital Proof of Age, Age Estimation and establishment of quantum-based project work, all of which was a very rewarding role.

Over a twenty-year period working for this company, he embraced remote work before it became a widespread practice,  but then in contrast he was often staying in hotels during the week, where he became a familiar face to all the staff, as well as other consultants from around the UK whose working/life arrangements were the same as Mark’s.

“For a long period of time, I was away from home, which was fine in the beginning, but then it takes its toll when you have a young family.”

As the IT industry underwent a paradigm shift during the pandemic, with most IT professionals transitioning to permanent remote work, Mark found himself missing the camaraderie of working within a team on site. This prompted him to explore new opportunities.

“The IT industry changed during the pandemic, and most staff worked from home permanently. However, I’m very sociable and like being around people and missed working alongside a team, and when redundancy became an option, I jumped at it and started to look for a new role.”

Project Management

Now Mark works as part of the KWL team, as an ERP Project Manager, working alongside a former colleague from Hull City Council, he says: “In all of my previous jobs, I worked with IT consultants and IT people. Here at KWL, we have a small IT team, and I am also involved with people in all other departments who have no relation to IT. It feels good to be working for an organisation that is here for the benefit of people, as opposed to a business that is profit-based.”

Running, running and more running…

Outside the realm of IT, Mark’s interests are diverse but all active. From previously being a scuba diving instructor and a fervent supporter of Hull City to marking milestones like diving 40 metres to see Christ of the Sailors statue off Malta, to diving HMS Scylla off the coast of Plymouth on his 30th birthday and celebrating his 40th by parachuting out of a plane and an aerobatic flight experience, he’s always sought excitement.

Regarding his passion for running, Mark says: “Running has given me so much for so many years; it’s the best therapy.” Unfortunately, recent surgery has put a temporary halt to his running adventures, but he anticipates getting back on the roads and fells very soon. “Hardmoors 60 in September is my main goal, but I have a long way to get back to that fitness.”

In the meantime, he is doing modest runs and participating in local team activities, facilitating the junior parkrun at Alderman Kneeshaw Park. This is for children aged 4-14 every Sunday morning, and is a friendly 2k run. He says: “At age 6, my son already has the running bug. I enjoy providing and supporting a free facility for young people to get involved and to keep fit and healthy.”

As he settles into this exciting new role, Mark is eager to sow the seeds for a running community at KWL. The journey ahead promises both professional growth and personal fulfilment, and Mark is ready to embrace it all, thankfully right here in his hometown of Hull.