Tarryn Penny
My journey into technology began somewhat uniquely - graduating from the University of Stirling in May 2000 with a BA (Hons) in English and Politics, I was captivated by the Y2K phenomenon and how it revealed the complex relationships between technology, business process and human behaviour. My transition into IT began while working as a team lead for a global telecommunications company, where I was introduced to Business Analysis through hands-on involvement in building and rolling out a bespoke global CRM and billing system. This experience set the foundations for a 20+ year career in IT project delivery.
Throughout my career I have developed expertise across multiple disciplines; business analysis, project management, change management and leadership. These skills continue to grow with each project as each piece of work brings its own unique challenges from the technical to the human. I’ve been fortunate to work with some industry leaders like Disney and Vodafone, also in healthcare, local government, charities, and innovative tech organizations. This exposure has embedded my belief that technology is just a small part of the puzzle, and that its true value cannot be realised without a deep understanding of people, processes and organisational dynamics.
I’m in my element when faced with challenges that others might find daunting, peeling back the layers to identify the core issues and create solutions that address root cause rather than superficial quick fixes. The experience is even better if I can upskill others along the way.
Clare Simes
As a student of manufacturing and systems engineering, I graduated in the mid 90’s with a wealth of knowledge on lean manufacturing and process optimisation but with no understanding of how to apply them in the real world. My first jobs were in the automotive and manufacturing industries firstly as a quality engineer and then as a process improvement engineer which enabled me to understand how the information I had gained through my study worked in a practical sense.
It wasn’t until the early 2000’s when software solutions were becoming more and more prevalent in businesses that I started to merge my understanding of optimising manufacturing processes with technology and evolved into a business analyst, project manager and change manager specialising in IT software implementations.
Since then, I have worked in an array of different positions and companies refining and developing my skills across a diverse range of projects which have included warehousing, manufacturing, ERP implementations, CRM, local government and winemaking solutions. I love nothing more than a new challenge and engaging on a project, seeing it through from initiation to closure. I enjoy working alongside a team of like-minded individuals and the satisfaction of a job well done, as well as being able to share the knowledge and experience I have with others to help mentor and develop their skills.
