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Writers' biographies

Techworld is written by people who work as IT managers and engineers, or who have done these jobs in the past and are now making a living from their writing. It’s not a site thrown together by people who don’t know what they’re talking about. It's written by real experts in their fields.

Ian Auger Ian Auger:
After completing a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ian spent 3 years at BBC Television News before joining ITN in 1988. Initially he worked in television production and joined the IT team in 1991 carrying out various roles before taking over as Head of IT & Communications in 2001. During the late 1990s Ian designed, planned and implemented the transition from terminal-based systems to a networked PC environment. Included in this was an award-winning ATM network which supports the companies pioneering, server-based video production system.

Bryan Betts Bryan Betts:
Bryan Betts is a UK-based freelance writer specialising in business and technology. In recent years he has focused on data storage, storage networking and mobile technology of all kinds, including wireless links such as GPRS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. He also writes on topics such as IT security, processor technology, monitors & graphics and e-commerce. He has installed, used and explained hardware of all kinds, from PCs and LANs to RAID and wireless networks. Bryan lives in West London not far from Kew Gardens, for which he has a season ticket that doesn't get used nearly enough.

Steve Broadhead Steve Broadhead:
Steve Broadhead’s IT and networking experience dates back to the early 80s, managing PC networks for two insurance companies, after which he made a sideways move into the world of computer journalism. In 1991 he formed Comnet, which became The NSS Group, with Bob Walder and in 1998, created the NSS labs and seminar centre in the Languedoc, France, offering a wide range of test services to the IT industry. Steve is currently involved in a number of projects in the broadband, mobile, network management and Wireless areas, from product testing to service design and implementation.

Dave Cartwright Dave Cartwright:
David currently earns a crust as a Norfolk-based technology consultant, specialising in networking, telecomms, security and Internet application development. He has variously worked as a systems and network manager in academia and the defence industry, a full-time writer, technical director of an international test lab, head of IT for a multi-national publisher and CTO of both an Internet startup and later a venture capital organisation. Since 1996 David has been a member of the judging panel for the UK Networking Industry Awards. When not writing copy for TechWorld or developing Web sites for friends and family, David's main weekend vice is spending vast amounts of money renting light aircraft to fly over the mountains of Norfolk.

Denis Crampton Denis Crampton:
Following several years of postgraduate research in Geochronology and Isotope Geology and a brief stint in the Civil Service, Denis Crampton moved into oil and gas exploration in 1982, joining the UK subsidiary of the seismic acquisition and processing company, Seiscom Delta United, as a Senior Programmer. This was followed by several years as a Geophysicist. Most recently, before setting up Arx3D, he worked for five years with Geco Prakla (now WesternGeco), the seismic acquisition and processing subsidiary of Schlumberger. He is co-author of Business On The Infobahn.

Manek Dubash Manek Dubash:
Manek Dubash is a journalist who has been working in IT for nearly 20 years, and has always focused on communications issues and technologies. He has worked on a range of titles, including PC Magazine where he was editor-in-chief. He has also worked for research & analysis company Datamonitor and is now freelancing. His work includes editing and publishing Network Weekly, a networking, security, wireless and telecoms newsletter, while also writing for major IT publications and vendors. Just after the turn of the century, he moved to Lewes, E Sussex, missing the Great Flood by a week, and now loves gazing at and walking on the South Downs.

Chris Evans Chris Evans:
Chris has worked in IT for more than 15 years, mostly as an independent consultant to large organisations specialising in delivering enterprise storage solutions, including Open Systems storage products and SAN technology. He also manages his own software company. For more details, see www.brookend.com or contact him at chris@brookend.com.

Roger Gann Roger Gann:
Roger Gann may be a qualified solicitor (and a former builder) but he's spent most of his working life trying to get computers to do what they're supposed to do. He edited the UK's first Windows magazine, late in the last century, but has been freelancing for the past decade or so, writing about hardware and operating systems. He's also been known to get his hands dirty, crawling behind servers, CAT5 patch cable in hand.

Simon Gordon Simon Gordon:
Simon is the EMEA Business Development Manager for Nishan Systems. Simon has been working as a European expert in storage networking technology for the last five years, including more than two years as a leading expert in Brocade Communications Systems working closely with OEMs, and two years as the lead European storage guru for Dell. Simon has been working in the IT industry for more than 15 years, for companies such as Digital Equipment, Unisys, and NCR. He has an honours Degree in Computer Science from Reading University and is a member of both the British Computer Society and the Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Dennis Howlett Dennis Howlett:
Dennis fell into writing after retiring as IT and tax partner for a regional firm of Chartered Accountants. An odd mix we know but it takes all sorts. He is so old that Dennis can recall writing Ashton Tate databases, hard wiring the occasional Novell 3.11 network and implementing DOS 5 applications software. When he's not brewing beer, supping wine or titillating his taste buds on good French food, Dennis writes about enterprise applications. Oh yes...Dennis lives in France but says he's moving to Spain sometime soon.

Robert Jaques Robert Jaques:
Robert Jaques, founder of editorial consultancy ITeditor.com, has been working as an IT and business journalist in various staff and freelance roles for over a decade. During this time, specialising primarily in networking and comms, he has been contributing to a host of titles ranging from technical and business publications to national newspapers. He has also edited several high profile IT magazines and websites. His IT background began with a postgraduate degree in computer science and software engineering; when he spent far too much of his time doing battle with a command line Ada compiler – though needless to say the compiler won.

Peter Judge Peter Judge:
Peter has spent nearly 20 years writing about IT from a business perspective. He has worked as Network Editor on the leading enterprise IT weekly, IT Week, and on ZDNet UK as Enterprise Editor. He also spent a year as a telecoms analyst, for Infonetics Research. Outside tech writing he has degrees in Fine Art and Nuclear Physics, neither of which he practises to any great extent (which is probably just as well), and a few other hobbies (don't mention the Morris dancing - Ed). With two rabbits, two cats, three daughters, wouldn't want to work anywhere but at home - at least that's what he says in term time.

Hamish Macarthur Hamish Macarthur:
Hamish E. Macarthur is the founder of Macarthur Stroud International. His experience encompasses the computer and telecommunications markets in Europe and the United States and covers strategic market issues through to the implementation of business plans and preparation of investment schedules. He has co-authored a book titled "How to Market Computer and Office Systems", published by Macmillan, and is a regular contributor to industry publications. A graduate in Mathematics from Aberdeen University, Hamish is a regular speaker at major conferences.

Kieren McCarthy Kieren McCarthy:
Kieren has spent most of his adult life writing about computers and what can be done with them. At some point, he has worked for PC Week, The Register, Computing, Practical Internet and PC Dealer, and is news editor of Techworld. He is currently freelancing so he doesn't have to move from his house in the mornings or live in London, while consistently failing to get on with several books. Any and all activities, save TV watching, are welcome provided a beer is at the end of them.

Louise McKeag Louise McKeag:
Louise McKeag has been working in the telecommunications and networking industry for 18 years. Her network support and project commissioning work for several large finance houses and petrochemical companies has given her the dubious pleasure of installing equipment in Africa, Russia, and on offshore platforms in the North Sea, as well as various less scary places around the UK and Europe. She has also worked on a major IT publication and run training courses on networking technologies and now works as a network consultant.

Chris Mellor Chris Mellor:
Chris Mellor is an IT technology writer with experience in SW and HW products. He covers the support, project, marketing and sales issues facing software consultancies, hardware manufacturers (DEC, Unisys) and software suppliers (SCO, DEC). Since the early 90s he has written about office automation, GUIs, the Internet, PCs, portals, Unix/Linux, communications, VOIP, storage and more. Outside of IT, he likes to drive at speed-camera-alerting speeds and produces paper and PDF-based guides on various topics.

Dave Mitchell Dave Mitchell:
Dave Mitchell is an IT consultant and freelance journalist specialising in networks. He writes for a variety of publications including Techworld. He conducts in-depth tests and reviews from his testing lab based on the University of Sussex campus. Prior to becoming self-employed he worked for 21 years managing and operating ICL and Unisys mainframes within the pharmaceutical, services and corporate financial sectors.

Ian Murphy Ian Murphy:
After leaving the Royal Marines in 1981, Ian ended up in book publishing where he found computers in his spare time.  A self- confessed geek, Ian decided that these were fun and took to using and writing about them. Over the last two decades Ian has been a software developer, owned a computer training company, managed support teams, done project management and been a certified trainer on a vast number of software packages.  Most days of the week, he is to be found at the end of a keyboard.  When IT gets too irritating, Ian has been known to put on his hockey goalkeeper equipment and go hunting for a victim!!!

Andy Reid Andy Reid:
Andy joined Eton College in 1997 to establish and direct the Computer Service and oversee the installation of a fully switched network providing over 3000 ports. He was lured to Eton from Royal Holloway, University of London where he spent the previous 22 years, first as a systems programmer, writing communications software, and then for 10 years as the Network Manager. Royal Holloway installed one of the first service ATM LANs in UK higher education in the early 90s and Andy has written and lectured on ATM, networking and other topics related to the use of I.T. in education. His main current interests are the uses of virtual learning environments in secondary education.

John Silltow John Silltow:
John Silltow is a director of Security Control and Audit Limited. He has over twenty years experience of information systems within the government and private sectors. He undertakes a range of assignments for various clients and has specific expertise in computer audit, computer security, software management and software testing. John is a regular contributor to technical publications and has authored several texts on information security.

Bob Walder Bob Walder:
Bob, a leading authority on network security, is one of the founders of The NSS Group, Europe’s foremost independent network and security testing facility. He has spent more than 20 years in the computer industry, undertaking key roles in several different environments, ranging from a computer vendor and software house, to local government, manufacturing, and financial institutions. Since forming NSS in 1991 much of Bob's time has been invested in advising on, testing and certifying a range of security products for end user organisations, vendors and certification bodies. He is also a regular contributor to the major networking and security titles.

Michael Wallace Michael Wallace:
During his 12 years in the industry Mike Wallace has worked in almost every job in the industry. From starting out as a junior fixing printers, he has gone through the low point of his career as a tech journalist to his current role as an IT Manager looking after a department managing offices across Europe. Mike has built Novell and Microsoft networks from scratch and managed large and multi-site Cisco networks. Yet, to this day, he still feels the biggest challenges he faces are dealing with his user base and his staff.

Vanessa Watkins Vanessa Watkins:
Vanessa stumbled into IT via a rather circuitous route. She started off with a chemistry degree, then did research, where she broke the record for most test tubes smashed in one go. She spent a few years noodling around with various careers that included being a karate instructor and civil servant, before going to University College London to study for an MSc in IT. She persuaded the Royal Holloway to take her on for a couple of years. Ten years later, she’s still there, so it must be good. Outside of work Vanessa likes doing non-IT things, including writing and jewellery design.

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