Nigel Grounds
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Phone (+61) 420 975 441 Email nigel@goodstuff.co.nz WWW goodstuff.co.nz |
Summary
| Substance | I solve problems. I'm particularly good with technical problems, and my solutions are innovative, pragmatic, and robust. Some have been downright spectacular, though I say so myself. In fact I can identify and fill gaps at all levels, from strategic management decision making to specialised technical troubleshooting. I'll study any situation in great detail, and I'll soon figure out what it needs. That's what I'm good at. |
| Style | I deliver. I'll always tell it like it is, and won't promise anything I'm not 100% confident of achieving. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but I'll temper this with pragmatism when necessary. I can be trusted. |
| Speciality | Retail card payments: EFTPOS, PINpads, their Terminal Management Systems, and Point of Sale integration. Cards, schemes, acquiring, and switching. AS2805/ISO8583, EMV, and PCI-DSS. Security, cryptography, networking, monitoring, support, research, analysis, design, development, integration, testing, and vendor management. The whole shebang, really (I’ve been doing it on and off since 1986) ... except perhaps card issuing, which I might learn a bit more about one day. |
Qualifications and Memberships
| 2009 | Project Management Professional certification (now lapsed). |
| 2001 | PRINCE2 Foundation level certification. |
| 1998 | Master of Business Administration, Massey University, New Zealand. |
| 1984 | Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (with Honours), University of Auckland, New Zealand. |
History
| Nov. 2022 - present | Kaitiaki (NZ Maori: guardian, caretaker) of the family estate in North Hokianga, New Zealand.
Executor of the estate of my late brother (a long held family farm) in New Zealand, made challenging by distance and a serious injury sustained in the process. Now part-time only. |
| Aug. 2015 - Sept. 2022 | Australia Post (Melbourne, Australia; contract then permanent) Service Delivery Manager.
AusPost operates a network of around 3700 integrated EFTPOS terminals across Australia. These terminals process both regular card payments and bespoke "Bank@Post" transactions through a Postilion switch operated by a third party (I worked on the project that established this in 2011-2013 – see below). Between 2015 and 2022 I returned and:
In 2022 I left AusPost with its Payments and Banking services in arguably the best state that they have ever been in. |
| Jul. 2013 - Jan. 2014 | DWS (Melbourne, Australia) Consultant.
Engaged as a Team Leader in NAB's JBWere "Project Blaze" (a very apt name!) migration from Goldman Sachs systems to NAB systems. |
| Apr. 2011 - Mar. 2013 | Australia Post (Melbourne, Australia; contract) Business Analyst.
Engaged as a member of the EFT and Banking team in the major overhaul of Australia Post's EFTPOS and Point Of Sale systems. |
| Sep. 2010 - Mar. 2011 | National Australia Bank (Melbourne, Australia; contract) Implementation Project Manager.
Responsible for the final testing and implementation phases of an urgent National Online (commercial internet banking service) hardware upgrade. |
| Dec. 2009 - Sep. 2010 | Coles (Melbourne, Australia; contract) Business Analyst.
Engaged for the "Visa Self Acquiring" project, in which Coles established direct credit card processing links with Visa. |
| Aug. 2009 - Dec. 2009 | National Australia Bank (Melbourne, Australia; contract) Service Delivery Lead.
A mix of delivery management/administration and process improvement activities in the Delivery team of the Cards and Acquiring division. |
| July 2008 - Oct. 2008 | TAFMO (now Touch Networks, Melbourne, Australia): Project Manager.
Responsible for two major software development projects. |
| Jan. 2007 - July 2008 | National Australia Bank (Melbourne, Australia; contract) Implementation Manager and Project Manager.
Engaged in a series of projects commencing with (and further relating to) the implementation of a new payment transaction switch. |
| Nov. 2004 - Nov. 2006 | Good Stuff Limited (own trading companycompany, Auckland, New Zealand): freelance Project Manager. Contracted to:
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| Oct. 2002 - Oct. 2004 | eFunds International Limited (Watford, UK): Service Delivery Manager
Project and service management in support of eFunds' Connex software (EFTPOS and ATM transaction processing). |
| Sept. 2001 - Oct. 2002 | Transaction Network Services (TNS) UK Limited (Welwyn Garden City,
UK): Project Manager
Responsibility for a program of work relating to mobile phone pre-pay "topup" services via EFTPOS terminals and ATMs. |
| July 1997 - June 2001 | Good Stuff Limited (own trading company, Auckland, New Zealand): freelance Project Manager. Contracted to:
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| 1994 - 1996 | Transaction Exchange Limited (Auckland, New Zealand): Business Development Manager
Overall business unit responsibility for a new EFTPOS service. |
| 1993 - 1994 | Cardinal Network Limited (Christchurch, New Zealand): development Consultant
PC (Windows) client-server systems development. |
| 1992 - 1993 | Desktop Strategies Limited (Auckland, New Zealand):): Auckland Representative
Sole charge sales and support role for a five person IT business. |
| 1991 - 1992 | Hypercom Data Systems (now Provenco, Auckland, New Zealand): Implementation Manager
Project management and high-level technical support for EFTPOS systems. |
| 1986 - 1991 | Burroughs (now Unisys, Wellington, New Zealand): pre- and post-sales Technical Support, Technical Consultant, development Team Leader and Project Manager.
Sales/technical support; software design, development, testing and implementation; introduction to project management. |
| 1985 - 1986 | New Zealand Post Office (Wellington, New Zealand): Assistant Engineer, Switching Systems
Software development and toll billing system integration. |
Comments
| 2021-2022 | Paul Novachev, Manager Payment Operations, Australia Post:
"Brilliant!!!!!! And bloody hilarious. Remind me again who will be taking this over once you are gone?" (August 2022) "Brilliant. There is not much you can't do." (May 2022) "Love your work Nigel." (February 2022) "If anyone was going to solve it, it could only be you Nigel." (October 2021) |
| May 2018 | Various, Australia Post - 360 degree feedback report |
| October 2017 | Martin Lavelle, Programme Manager, Australia Post:
"Nigel has taken it upon himself to resolve the technical issues surrounding the self-install procedure for the PINpad Hardware refresh. He takes great delight in solving deep technical issues working in his own down time to understand the problem and resolve it. This has taken some time and through his efforts a workable solution has been driven out. This delights our business by confirming the self-install strategy and reduces the organisational spend by around $800k." |
| January 2017 | Anita Matuszewski, Head of Technology, Australia Post:
"Excellent job on PINpad zero floor limit work. Able to articulate problem, solution and drive remediation. Can talk techo, talk business, talk SENSE! Well done keep it up - much appreciated" |
| October 2011 | Phil McAleer, Project Manager, Coles:
"Nigel delivered outstanding work during the Coles project. In particular, he was very innovative and found clever ways to produce great results." |
| July 2008 | Peter Moody, Senior Implementation Manager, NAB:
"You were one of the few who took what was in front of us professionally and ensured you made time to attend most if not all of the scheduled internal and external conference calls and meetings. During those meetings your conduct was professional and your subject matter expertise invaluable. You took ownership of the components assigned (or had fallen in your lap). You got on with the tasks at hand and kept everybody regularly informed. You informed internal and external parties how it is and didn't fluff about just telling people what they wanted to hear. When issues did arise they were clearly communicated and rectified promptly (not that there were many of these instances). The end result was an exceptional piece of work completed to a very demanding client's satisfaction (and beyond judging by the conversations I've had with [client])." |
| January 2004 | Steve Walker, Manager, eFunds International:
"Nigel has demonstrated great flexibility and a high level of skill in managing clients, staff and commercials to maintain expected project revenue and client satisfaction. 4(/5)" "Nigel is a natural communicator ... team management and client communications are, in my experience, better than the norm. 4(/5)" "Nigel has proved to be a highly flexible and capable PM, who can apply his expertise to a wide range of applications. 4(/5)" |
| June 2002 | Denis Stalker, IT Delivery Manager, Barclaycard Merchant Services:
"I wanted to take the opportunity, before I leave, of registering my appreciation for the work done by Nigel Grounds since he joined the project and the good working relationships that he has worked to build ... He has, in my opinion, managed to strike the difficult balance of being open enough with BMS for us to understand situations and appreciate problems without going so far as to reveal information TNS may wish to remain more confidential ... I have also appreciated Nigel's manner and approach which has always been cheerful and helpful - it makes life so much easier. As the TNS point of contact for BMS/Bell development I feel that Nigel has been a very good ambassador for TNS." |
| July 2001 | Kevin Vitali, Manager Implementation & Projects, Technology
Infrastructure, ASB Bank:
"Nigel was often put under pressure due to resource constraints, tight deadlines and costs. Through good communication and management skills he still achieved what was required at all times. He was also required to manage more than eight projects at one time. This did not faze Nigel and every project was completed with the same high standard and quality. Nigel has proven himself to be a dedicated, reliable and energetic person, who consistently works and acts with the utmost integrity. The relationship, humour and team building skills he brought to the department and other areas of the Bank will be sorely missed." |
| December 2000 | ASB Bank Technology Infrastructure award:
"Project Manager of the Year: Nigel Grounds - the Y2000 man. It came and it went, no one died or suffered (a) major disaster. Great work Nigel." |
| February 1995 | Direct report, Operations Support staff member, Transaction Exchange:
"In the very short time Nigel had to train me, his ability to pass on his knowledge concisely and clearly gave me the necessary skills and confidence to hold the fort while he was away. Nigel has a very broad knowledge base that he is most willing to share - he explains rather than instructs, which makes it easier to complete the task, and which gives a better understanding when faced with unexpected problems. He has a positive way of giving advice and suggesting alternatives, is skilled at interacting with others, and likes to maintain a pleasant and friendly working environment." "Nigel's pleasant manner and sense of humour made working for him most enjoyable, and I value the skills and knowledge I have gained while under his supervision." |
| April 1990 | Unisys "Performance Planning & Evaluation":
"Quality: Nigel strives for technical excellence in his own work and that of his team. This has been a major factor in the success of the projects he has worked on. Performance Rating: 5(/5)." "Commitment: outstanding. Nigel has worked very long hours for prolonged periods and continuously lived away from home during the review period. Performance Rating: 5(/5)." "Innovation: very true of Nigel. Uses good business acumen to measure the risk of new ideas and then implements them if acceptable. 5(/5)." "Ethics: two relevant areas are straightforwardness and following through on commitments. Nigel (is) very straight to the point and has always met his commitments. 5(/5)." |
Last updated November 2024.
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