Infrastructure and Applications
Infrastructure and Applications are responsible for developing and maintaining network connections, operating systems, database software and Data Centres. The team provides support from development, through testing, to the release and maintenance of each new service. This support entails researching, purchasing, and managing the best hardware and software solutions available, monitoring network connections and security threats, and adapting software programs to specific requirements.
Contact
Tel 64 3 479 8284
Fax 64 3 479 5080
Email networking@otago.ac.nz (Network Services)
Email sysop@otago.ac.nz (Operations Services)
Steve Lucas, Infrastructure and Applications Manager
Steve has over 25 years experience in the University’s central computing environment. His career began in Systems Analysis and Development, when the University was making its first steps into online database technology for administrative systems. During this period he developed solutions spanning both Student Management and Financial systems. Steve began his move into leadership roles in the mid 1990s.
Steve is responsible for the effective and efficient provision of world class Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions for the University and to provide the technical infrastructure upon which solutions are delivered. Steve believes the key to achieving this is to provide leadership and direction to the team of highly talented and professional managers and technical specialists that make up the Infrastructure and Applications Team.
Contact
Steve Lucas
Infrastructure and Applications Manager
Tel 64 3 479 8284
Mob 021 279 8284
Email steve.lucas@otago.ac.nz
Dave Maclaurin, Systems Services Manager
Dave and his team of technical specialists, are responsible for architecting, implementing and maintaining the core, critical IT systems running within the ITS data centres. These systems range from replicated data storage and virtualisation environments to enterprise wide databases and applications that in turn enable many of the administrative, teaching and research functions of the University across all of its campuses.
Daves's team have well over 70 years collective enterprise level IT experience in both higher education and commercial environments, and Dave has over 20 years IT experience in a variety of roles ranging from programming and systems analysis, to database administration, systems architecture and project management. Dave holds an M.A. from Otago and has longstanding interests in enterprise IT architectures, music, poetry and astronomy.
The scale of the University's data centre IT environment, encompassing some of the largest hardware, software, database and storage deployments in the country, is both a technical and managerial challenge and a source of great satisfaction for Dave and his team, as they harness its capabilities and focus on delivering the best IT services possible to the wider University of Otago community.
Contact
Dave Maclaurin
Systems Services Manager
Tel 64 3 479 6545
Mob 021 996 792
Email dave.maclaurin@otago.ac.nz
Andrew Foster, Operations Services Team Manager
Andrew’s role is the management of the central ITS data centres supporting the University’s operational and business needs in a varied role in a challenging environment, with full accountability for the cost-effective data centre functions, and with a primary focus on providing services with the maximum uptime with the least inconvenience to end users. The position also includes administering the acquisition and installation of hardware equipment, software, and maintenance agreements to maximize integration, compatibility, and continued operations of systems and services.
Contact
Andrew Foster
Operations Services Team Manager
Tel 64 3 479 7291
Mob 021 917 157
Email andrew.foster@otago.ac.nz
Mike Conroy, Applications Team Manager
Prior to taking up the role of Applications Team Manager in 2008, Mike was a systems analyst and application software developer for many years.
Mike is responsible for the supervision of the Applications Team who provides application systems analysis and development services to the University. This includes oversight of the full software development lifecycle from design and architecture through to testing and deployment.
Contact
Mike Conroy
Applications Team Manager
Tel 64 3 479 5144
Email mike.conroy@otago.ac.nz
Maurice Gaut, Network Services Group Manager
Maurice has nearly 40 years of applied technical experience starting his career as a Telegraph and Data Technician within the NZ Post Office. He moved into the commercial sector in 1985 expanding his experience in network management, data/voice/video communications systems. He has worked in the education environment for 10 years, bringing his strong knowledge base of the characteristics, features and integration capabilities of a wide range of systems.
Maurice and his team are responsible for the effective operation of the University’s network and telecommunications which includes the LAN/WAN, wireless, phones/PABX and mobile phones.
Contact
Maurice Gaut
Network Services Group Manager
Tel 64 3 479 8973
Email maurice.gaut@otago.ac.nz