Welcome to the IT Pro Panel Profile, where we talk to the CIOs, experts and IT leaders that make up the IT Pro Panel, and discover their top tech, pet peeves and IT inspirations.
The IT world is rife with nautical analogies; executives are described as ‘a steady hand on the tiller’ who helps ‘keep the ship afloat’. Usually, this is nothing more than somewhat flowery language, but in the case of Liam Quinn, it’s actually somewhat appropriate.
Liam is the Director of IT and an executive board member for Richmond Events, a company that runs business development and networking events aboard cruise ships. He has been with the company for over two decades, implementing projects such as data centre consolidation, email marketing initiatives, app development and more.
So what kind of person does it take to spearhead IT on the high seas? IT Pro spoke to the man who keeps Richmond’s IT in ship-shape fashion to find out.
Liam Quinn
Director of IT - Richmond Events
Describe your role in 20 words or fewer.
I’d say my role focuses around helping people to understand the things they already know.
What was your first computer?
The Commodore VIC-20 back in 1982. It had the 16K memory expansion pack and the best version of Jet Set Willy there was!
What do you like most about working in IT?
I love making data seem real. Allowing the business to make decisions based on actual information and not hearsay or assumptions is always very satisfying.
If you could magically get rid of one piece of technology forever, what would it be, and why?
I’d get rid of Wi-Fi access points - there has to be a better way of getting Wi-Fi to work. Maybe the new light-fi technology will deliver a better experience - I do hope so.
What future tech innovations are you most excited about?
AI, or really machine learning. Getting rid of repetitive tasks, as well as making better sense of all the data we’re generating, has to be the way forward. Let us focus on what we do best – thinking laterally and creatively.
Who’s your biggest inspiration in the world of tech?
R2D2. Who doesn’t want to be able to access and control every piece of technology with one simple key?
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