Background

I am 31 years old, a senior software engineer by profession specialising in the application of formal software development techniques to create stable and reliable software systems.

I was educated first at Bel Royal School, St. Lawrence and went to De La Salle College, St. Saviour in 1985, age 11. After finishing sixth form at De La Salle in July, 1992 I spent my summer holiday working for the States of Jersey Computer Services Department then, in September 1992, I studied for an Honours Degree in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire.

In 1995, I was awarded a Degree with First Class Honours and subsequently worked in and around London for a number of companies including Xerox, Unisys, Thomson Tour Operations and Spring plc.

In 2000, I returned to Jersey to work in the family business, which was pre-dominantly The Luggage Shop to which I added a small, growing Internet-based retail business. In January 2005, ownership of The Luggage Shop, and our Internet-based business was transferred to a newly established locally owned company, 3B Holdings Limited to facilitate economies of scale and business changes that would take advantage of changes in the local economy.

At present, I work for 3B Holdings Limited managing and developing the Internet-based business and providing administrative and technical support for the company.

Why did I stand for Senator in 2005?

Since I returned to Jersey in 2000, I developed an interest in a number of political areas having experienced, on the one hand, the limitations and problems of operating a business in Jersey and, on the other hand, having developed an understanding of the specific hardships that people on low wages endure living in Jersey.

I decided to put myself forward as a candidate for Senator in the 2005 elections as I believe that I can add value to the States Chamber, and help make the Island a better place to live, work, retire and visit.

Active in the Community

In the years I have been in the Island, I have been active in the community:

• December 2001, I co-organised an event called evision.je: The Future of e-Commerce in Jersey in an effort to kickstart regular discussions between Internet and e-Commerce business operators with a view to helping the industry identify market opportunities that Jersey could exploit.
• September 2003 to December 2004, I provided an adult education course for Website Design at Highlands.
• July 2004, I worked with traders and property owners in York Street to provide a co-ordinated response to the States of Jersey's Environment and Public Services consultation regarding implementation of the York Street phase of the St. Helier Street Life Programme.
  
  The workshops I organised, and ran helped progress the York Street project and, through team work, has made York Street a significantly more vibrant, bright and popular shopping destination. The workshops ultimately lead to a change from what was originally intended a pavement sculpture at Charing Cross to the "Toad" sculpture. The workshops also helped establish the area as a premier location for large-scale alfresco artwork.
• October 2004, I became the Honorary Secretary of the Jersey Amateur Radio Society.

I have submitted responses to consultations in a number of areas of government policy, including pay-as-you-earn taxation.