Q: Who or what inspires you outside of the cybersecurity world?
A: Outside of work I'm a keen recreational cyclist and runner and I'm inspired by endurance athletes like ultra-runners and professional cyclists that are able to perform at an extremely high level over long periods of time showing true grit and determination. This shows me that there is always room to improve both personally and professionally and to never give up even when it feels like you have a huge mountain to climb!!
Q: What’s something you wish more people understood about your job?
A: The rail industry is fairly unique as it has a large number of very specific requirements to ensure the highest quality and safety for the passengers that use it. This results in the need for very secure and stable systems that will operate under demanding conditions and it can be challenging to come up with solutions that meet these requirements. The role is quite diverse as we deal with many different on-train and wayside systems, and specific knowledge of many of the systems is needed. Rigorous testing is required to ensure all systems continue to function correctly after any software, configuration or firmware updates. There is also significant time pressure in some situations as taking a train out of service for a day would result in significant costs to the Rail operator.
Q: How do you celebrate your wins — big or small?
A: I enjoy celebrating wins big or small with the whole team including the customer as typically everyone is involved in the success at some level. It's great to celebrate big wins by getting together for a meal or drinks to relax and have some fun. Sharing successes as a team also provides the motivation to continue working hard to achieve the next milestone.
