David’s journey in technology began early, sparked by an old PC left behind by his older brother. Initially planning to pursue an electrical engineering degree at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ, David’s interests quickly shifted to computer science and human-computer interaction. Seeking new opportunities and the chance to explore more of the world, he moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he earned a degree in Computer Science at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, laying the foundation for his career in software development.

David is now a Cloud Application Architect at Cloudforce with 15 years of experience in software architecture, application development, and product management. Prior to Cloudforce, David spent 15 years at HireRoad (formerly Acendre Inc., NGA.net), developing SaaS-integrated talent management systems for government and commercial clients. His expertise spans various cloud platforms and development practices, and he is certified as both a Scrum Product Owner and Scrum Master, bringing agile expertise to his approach. At Cloudforce, David focuses on developing tools to leverage generative AI functionality within the Microsoft Cloud ecosystem.

Other fun facts about David:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I play a lot of pool in my basement, I love cooking and baking, and I like to ride my mountain bike (preferably down mountainsides).

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A fighter jet pilot… Too bad I grew up in NZ and RNZAF’s air combat force was disbanded just before I finished high school.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Elizabeth David’s chocolate almond cake

What are you reading at this moment?

• Snow Crash by Neal Stephenso

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Matariki – which is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster. Its first rising in deep winter, around late June or early July, marks the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar. Matariki was added as an official holiday in New Zealand in 2022 but has been observed for centuries. Matariki is traditionally an occasion to mourn the deceased, celebrate the present, and prepare the ground for the coming year. Celebrations include feasting, music, dance, and storytelling – emphasizing the themes of renewal, growth, and community.