Name: Gary Willock
Profile: IT Strategic Leadership
Email: gary@garywillock.co.uk
Phone: +44(0)7745 856 004
Location: Liverpool, North West
Strengths
Leadership, Roadmaps, Digital Transformation and Strategy 100%About me
I am an accomplished and experienced Information Technology leader and Enterprise Architect, with a very wide range of business, technical and People skills. I have specialisations in Microsoft Cloud & M365, Cyber Security, Enterprise / Solution / Technical Architecture, and have OVER 20 years of experience in IT across a multitude of areas.
Following the achievement of an Honours Degree in 2003, I have performed a number of progressive roles from Systems Engineer to Solution Architect, and to Head of Service roles. I believe this progression has been underpinned and enabled through a genuine love of all things ‘IT’ and particularly with how IT interacts with and enables the wider business.
I believe it is through my breadth of experience that I am a unique candidate for contract engagement and/or potentially permanent leadership positions. I am capable of deep dive, and hands-on, technical leadership in a number of specific areas, and also highly capable of managing a multiple vocation project or service area. I am a very competent learner, capable of quickly understanding new areas and concepts.
I have a first class Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Business Information Systems, hold [active] CISSP, [expired] SC clearance, TOGAFv8 and I am an Azure Certified Architect.
Primary Services
A brief example of primary services that I offer to prospective clients or employers.
Microsoft Cloud & M365
Helping organisation to business case, adopt, optimise, transition, migrate to and ultimately manage Microsoft Cloud and Modern Workplace Services in an efficient and repeatable manner.
Strategy & Transformation
Helping organisation to develop and deliver strategies for digital IT transformation, with options appraisals, business cases, detailed roadmaps, and realistic delivery plans.
Cyber Security
Reviewing approaches to Cyber Security from a top-down, or bottom-up perspective, to help organisations to maximise limited resources against their bespoke security needs.
People Leadership
Establishing or leading operational and project teams - particularly around Cloud and Cyber Security services – alongside the development of the processes that enable them.
Enterprise Architecture
Helping organisations adopt re-usable frameworks, including policies, procedures, standards, design patterns and other artefacts that result in consistent business linked design.
General Architecture
End-to-end design services around data and data architecture services, ci/cd, DevOps, data centre migrations, M365 services, virtual desktop….and a lot more too (see 'Full CV')
Recent Work History
High Level overview of my recent work history and experience....
The above are only main and primary roles and some contract / associate work is excluded such as associate agreements with SOCITM (clients including several UK councils) and CoStratify (NHS trusts, Councils, Housing Associations, etc.). Full details are available from 'Full CV' download in top menu or..
Click here for PDF of full CV
Gary and I have worked together for over seven years. He is an incredibly knowledgeable Cloud and Cyber Security expert, one of the few true Enterprise Architects and offers a wealth of insights on all things IT. Our days at Insight Technology Solutions have been very successful and Gary was key to shaping our Cloud Go to Market and our approach to IT Security.
As technical people go , Gary is one of the most technically talented people I have come across in my working career. His knowledge is vast and always learning and embracing new skills and technology . Gary delivers quickly, accurately and with real value. He has an ability to quickly identify where pain can be removed, or value can be added, via IT changes that are realistic within a particular client. Common sense led innovation.
Although Gary didn't work directly for my area, he was a great asset to the wider IT function, ensuring that his security expertise was present in pieces of work where I'm sure there were time and scope pressures that would have made ignoring security posture an alternative. He had a knack of showing previous experience in most things we talked about, or very quickly refreshing his knowledge so that he could contribute as an expert. I would happily recommend Gary for any number of roles, whether in cloud architecture or security strategy or operation.
Gary is one of the most talented and diligent Architects I've worked with. He has a very broad range of skills and uses technology strategically as a business enabler identifying opportunities that clearly drive business opportunities.
Gary is an Architect who has designed and implemented complex solutions, blending state-of-the-art IT theory with a practical implementation with an approach that shows a real-life understanding of organisations and its business needs. When I have a problem, Gary is the first number on my phone and he has never failed to deliver
It’s not just the breadth of Gary’s knowledge that is impressive, but the depth too. No matter what the subject (and we covered a lot of technical areas in our 4 years working together) he makes sure he understands the minute details that make a big difference in architecting services that deliver value to clients.
Gary is one of the most technically able people that I have ever worked with, his knowledge around network configuration, infrastructure and servers is second to none and he also has an excellent understanding of all areas within ICT. He always gives 200% effort in everything he does.
Gary brought much needed strategic and practical expertise on Azure and IT Security to the University. He was instrumental in establishing our architecture and standards for cloud migration, and in shaping our BeSafe security programme, all at pace. Gary brings expertise spanning technology, security, transformation and commercial awareness. These qualities, in combination with impressive personal drive to make a difference, makes him a highly valued resource in any complex enterprise.