+2100 Consultant, Speaker, Researcher, Blogger, Lecturer, Technologist, Faciltator, Social Entrepreneur, Activist
Port Elizabeth Area, South Africa
- Current
-
- Managing Director at NETucation
- Past
-
- Director at Computer Society South Africa
- Director at ICDL
- Business Development Manager at World Wide Worx
- Director at ISETT SETA
- Information Security Specialist at First National Bank
- Information Security Specialist at ABSA
- Information Security Specialist at National Bank of Abu Dhabi
- Senior Consultant at Deloitte
- Network Security Analyst at Global Internet Access
- Firewall Engineer at Internet Solution
- Graduate Trainee at General Motors South Africa
- Education
-
- University of Johannesburg
- University of Johannesburg
- Vista University
- Recommended
-
27 people have recommended Ramon - Connections
-
500+
connections
- Industry
- Professional Training & Coaching
- Websites
Ramon Thomas’s Summary
My most recent experience includes a strong focus on marketing research, public relations, training, workshops and public speaking at various conferences across South Africa.
My value to your business is the large network of people I know in the real world and through my social networking profiles. As a student of technology and marketing I can promote your products and services through what Guy Kawasaki calls Evangelism i.e. bringing the good news about your business to clients and potential clients.
Some of what I have taught in my own workshops include how to use the Internet to boost your online profile, increase your sales from your website or blog, convert more leads from your email list or social networking connections.
When I'm not on the Internet I am teaching Blogging for Business workshops across South Africa. My pioneering research into the Online Dating industry has positioned me as an expert on the Psychology of Technology. I am the author of two ebooks: Parent's Guide to MXit and LinkedIn Lessons. Before founding NETucation in 2004, I worked in the Internet and Banking industries in South Africa, England and United Arab Emirates. I holds a B.Sc degree and will complete a Masters in Information Science in 2009. And I'm also a member of the Computer Society, Internet Society, Science Fiction SA , Toastmasters and Professional Speakers Association. When not working I enjoy classic music, poetry, Tai Chi, sketching and salsa.
Ramon Thomas’s Specialties:
wellness consultant, herbalife independent distributor, public speaker, training, marketing, research, communication, presentations, internet security, online safety, psychology, sales, direct marketing, facilitation, workshops, seminars, south africa, keynote, dating coach, mxit, blogging, blogger, social networking, linkedin, podcast, ebook author, napoleon hill, john demartini, Uitenhage, vandana shiva, peace, activist, pacifist, non-violence, free software, open source
Ramon Thomas’s Experience
-
Managing Director
NETucation
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Internet industry)
December 2003 — Present (5 years 8 months)
The focus of NETucation has shifted in 2007 from research to training. On the training front I offer seminars on how technology can be used for marketing, public relations, recruitment and more. On the research front ongoing projects include researching the online dating industry, Internet cafe industry, MXit, blogging, social networking and related systems in South Africa.
On an ongoing basis I conduct interviews with industry experts for inclusion on my business blog as podcasts, background and supporting information in research papers. This is supplemented by desk research using private academic databased and other public sources for specific clients when they require a competitive intelligence report.
From time to time we also blog conferences like TEDGlobal and Futurex to showcase conference blogging. -
Director
Computer Society South Africa
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
April 2004 — July 2007 (3 years 4 months)
The Computer Society South Africa (CSSA) helps ICT promotes the professional development of ICT practitioners in South Africa through networking events, conferences and Special Interest Groups.
As a Director of the CSSA, my direct responsibility is developing programs and projects to grow the interest of young people in the ICT industry. I serve on the Executive Committee (Exco) and the Management Committee (Manco). This is a volunteer position which allows me to give back to the community.
Two major projects I have undertaken is the production of a ICT Career Guide which will be available at Futurex 2007 in May next year. The 2nd project which will follow is a national roadshow to all the Universities in South Africa to share with them the trends in ICT Careers and also promote CSSA. As a result of my involvement with CSSA I served on the board of the ISETT SETA and ICDL Foundation, as non-executive director. -
Director
ICDL
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Education Management industry)
February 2005 — October 2006 (1 year 9 months)
Non executive director, strategic direction, relationship building, public relationships, financial management, policy decisions, partnerships, skills development, computer literacy, ICDL, open office, course material
-
Business Development Manager
World Wide Worx
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Information Services industry)
December 2003 — February 2006 (2 years 3 months)
Sales & marketing, developing new customer relationships, developing new sales strategies for government business, research, interviews, project development, project management, customer account management, customer relationship management, web marketing, direct marketing strategies online and print, event co-ordination for Mobility 2005 conference.
-
Director
ISETT SETA
(Government Agency; 11-50 employees; Government Administration industry)
January 2005 — February 2006 (1 year 2 months)
Non executive director, financial management, business strategy, relationships, partnerships, industry support, skills development in information & communication sector in South Africa
-
Information Security Specialist
First National Bank
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Banking industry)
February 2003 — December 2003 (11 months)
Responsible for managing and support the network firewall systems. Function included regular upgrades of security patches. Trouble shooting problems reported from internal users (staff) and external users (clients). Strategy development to improve security standards, processes and procedures. Liaison with business and with support departments.
-
Information Security Specialist
ABSA
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Banking industry)
May 2001 — August 2002 (1 year 4 months)
Responsible for managing and support the network firewall systems. Function included regular upgrades of security patches. Trouble shooting problems reported from internal users (staff) and external users (clients). Strategy development to improve security standards, processes and procedures. Liaison with business and with support departments.
-
Information Security Specialist
National Bank of Abu Dhabi
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Banking industry)
June 2000 — December 2000 (7 months)
I worked on contract in the Middle East implementing the first Internet banking solution in the United Arab Emirates. My responsibilities included documenting the complete technical implementation of the firewalls, web servers, anti-virus servers, proxy servers all running on the Sun SPARC platform, and working with the internal and external auditors (who happened to be from Ernst & Young in South Africa) to have the complete project signed off by December when it launched. I learnt about the dynamics of working with people from many different countries, diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
-
Senior Consultant
Deloitte
(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Management Consulting industry)
April 1999 — October 1999 (7 months)
At Deloitte I was a Senior Consultant in the Enterprise Risk Services division, more specifically penetration testing of networks and systems. The results had to be written up in reports and this greatly enhances by ability to communicate technical issues in layman's terms. They sent me on a presentations skill course which led to me winning an award at a company team building session in the Drakensburg for leading my team's presentation. During the brief time with Deloitte I was seconded to the London office for a week to assist in a Due Diligence project. This was to prepare Freeserve.net (now Wanadoo) for a listing on the London Stock Exchange by then owners Dixons. And upon return I was transferred to Cape Town office to service clients like Old Mutual, the biggest insurance company in Africa.
-
Network Security Analyst
Global Internet Access
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Internet industry)
August 1997 — March 1999 (1 year 8 months)
I was head hunted to join this ISP, at the time the 3rd largest in South Africa, as the System Administrator. I learnt how to manage and support Linux servers running email, web, ftp and databases. After a while I completed the first Checkpoint Certification offered in South Africa and spent a long time researching Checkpoint Firewalls running on Bay Network routers. My roles changed and eventually I learnt to integrate the technical solutions with an understanding of the customer needs because I assisted in the pre-sales process. Sadly this company was sold and the network we built is owned by DataPro, a 1st tier ISP, and the rest by Bytes Technology Group.
-
Firewall Engineer
Internet Solution
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Internet industry)
January 1997 — July 1997 (7 months)
I was a Firewall Engineer where I learnt how to install, configure, manage, support and trouble shoot network firewalls for the corporate clients of this leading ISP in South Africa. This job set the tone for my career till 2003.
-
Graduate Trainee
General Motors South Africa
(Privately Held; 5001-10,000 employees; Automotive industry)
February 1996 — December 1996 (11 months)
I was a trainee in the Warranty Department where I learnt about how to write SQL queries and produce reports for management and auditors to track the use and abuse of the warranty payment.
Ramon Thomas’s Education
-
University of Johannesburg
MA , Information Science , 2006 — 2010 (expected)
- Activities and Societies:
- Currently busy with my Masters thesis: The Impact of the Internet Cafe industry on the Information Economy in South Africa. This is has been postponed till 2010.
-
University of Johannesburg
Post Graduate Diploma in Information Management , Information & Knowledge Management , January 2003 — July 2005
-
Vista University
BSc , Computer Science , 1993 — 2005
- Activities and Societies:
- Founder of the Computer Science Society, Volleyball, Klawerjas player
Additional Information
Ramon Thomas’s Websites:
Ramon Thomas’s Interests:
public speaking, dating & relationships, learning dynamics, stand-up comedy, social networking, tai chi, eastern philosophy, sketching & painting, classical music, cinema, theatre, hiking and swimming
Ramon Thomas’s Honors:
Several best speaker awards from my Toastmasters club (2007)
Distinction in Computer Science in 2nd year (1994)
Merit Award for Mathematics HG in Matric (1992)
Ramon Thomas’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
