Andrew Back

Current

Open Source Strategist at BT Osmosoft
Open Source Focus Group Lead at BT Design

Past

Infrastructure Solution Design at BT Design
Network Architect at Mysterian
Messaging & Directory Services Architect at Iomart

4 more...

Connections

141 connections

Industry

Information Technology and Services

Websites

Andrew Back’s Summary

* Open source focus group lead at a networked IT services company - involved in advocacy and building of frameworks to support use of open source in the enterprise.
* Infrastructure solution design at a networked IT services company - consulting on application non-functional requirements, and enagaged in the production of high level designs for infrastructure products.
* Network architect at an ISV & consultancy - leading on IT infrastructure elements in consultancy work, and engaged to carry out research in connection with health informatics, peer-to-peer systems, and wireless networks.
* Design authority at an application service provider - leading the design and implementation of a carrier class messaging and collaboration platform, and carrying out investigation into new technology.
* Systems engineer at a dotcom - responsible for the design and implementation of a corporate directory service, and EDI services to support supply chain and banking operations.

In recent years I’ve become interested with the move towards towards utility computing and the technologies that will enable the delivery of infrastructure as a service. I also follow developments in software defined radio, and am really excited about its potential.

I am a huge advocate of open source software and support its use wherever practical. I believe this model translates to and will benefit hardware development, and it is only a matter of time before we start to see the liberation of devices. And I believe in the freedom of information infrastructures.

I support professionalism in IT and am active in the British Computer Society.

Andrew Back’s Specialties:

IT infrastructure has been the main theme in my career to date, and I am experienced in the design of solutions incorporating:

* Systems - UNIX (various) & Linux (Sun & LPI Certified System Administrator)
* Networks - LAN, WAN, IP, DECnet, OSI (CCNA)
* Clustering - Veritas Cluster Server, Sun Cluster
* Middleware - BEA Weblogic Server (BEA Certified System Administrator)
* Directories - X.500 & LDAP

Andrew Back’s Experience

Open Source Strategist

BT Osmosoft

(Public Company; 1-10 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

October 2007 — Present (2 years 2 months)

Osmosoft was acquired by BT in May 2007, and currently operates as a wholly owned subsidiary.

As Open Source Strategist with Osmosoft I provide consultancy to customers across BT in connection with:

- The adoption of open source technology and principles
- The 'open sourcing' of BT inventions
- Open source governance and the creation of associated policy and process
- Open source futures

In addition to the above I engage in advocacy, act as a community liaison and support related learning initiatives.
Open Source Focus Group Lead

BT Design

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

October 2006 — Present (3 years 2 months)

- Lead a line-of-business wide open source focus group under the auspices of professional communities.
- Engaged in work to support the use of open source software in the enterprise: E.g. creation of policy and process.
- Active in a pan-BT SIG involved in open source advocacy: E.g. conference planning.

Additional Information

Andrew Back’s Websites:

Andrew Back’s Interests:

open source, IT infrastructure, infrastructure as a service, IT architecture, IT strategy, hack labs, radio systems, community networks, computer recycling, radio systems, software defined radio, computer conservation, reconfigurable computing, green technologies, music, new media, wireless networks, cognitive radio

Andrew Back’s Groups:

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), Chartered Member of The British Computer Society (MBCS CITP), Member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (MIEEE), Member of the IEEE Computer Society, Member of The Society for Computers & Law, Member of The Computer Conservation Society