What kind of work are you currently doing, and what have you accomplished over your career?
 
Current: 
CEO Irish Computer Society/ICS Skills, since 1997
Chairman of the Board of Directors, European Computer Driving
Licence Foundation, since 2002   
Chairman of the Industry Steering Board at the Innovation Value Institute, since 2013
 
Past:
President, Owner, Focus Assessments Inc., Canada 1996 – 2013 (sold company)
President, Ireland-Canada Business Assoc. 1998 - 2000
Business Development Manager, Bioniche Life Science 1994 – 1997
Sales/Marketing , Merck Frosst Canada Inc. 1991 - 1993
 
What did you study, and how has the academic aspect of Queen's benefited your career?
 
BA(Biology) / BPHE 1982 – 1986 at Queen's
BEd. 1987 at Queen's
MBA 1993 – 1994 at University College Dublin, Ireland
 
When I graduated from Queen's in 1987 I got a job teaching in Kingston Penitentiary and I started a sports clothing business. Truth be told, both of these jobs facilitated my desire to coach rugby at Queen's. I was very much focused on helping build the Queen's rugby program and was very proud of the success we achieved during the late 80's and 90's. Rugby as a profession was not an option in those days so in 1991 I joined Merck Frosst as a Pharmaceutical sales rep. The academic grounding I had at Queen's in exercise physiology, chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy and biology was essential for this job. The communication skills I learned through Education at MacArthur and through coaching Queen's rugby were a natural fit. In the winter of 1993 I was working in Montreal at Merck in the Marketing Dept. I had planned to do an MBA in Europe that autumn. As my last act as Head Coach of the Queen's varsity rugby team we organised a tour of Ireland for February 1993. It was on that tour of Ireland two things happened that changed my life. I met my wife Aisling and I decided to move to Ireland to do an MBA at University College Dublin.
 
What passions of yours drove you into your current line of work? How have your passions shaped your career?
 
Taking an idea from inception to implementation is my passion. From my involvement in Queen's rugby to running a successful global digital skills business the requirements are the same it is just a matter of scale. Spot the gap, develop the plan, build the team and lead the charge with confidence and conviction.
 
What sport(s) did you play at Queen's, and during which years? What position(s)?
 
Varsity Rugby, Loose Head Prop, 1983 – 1987, (Vice Captain 1986-87) (OUAA All Star 1984-85, 85-86, 86-87)
Forwards Coach Varsity Rugby, 1987 – 1991
Head Coach Varsity Rugby, 1992 – 1993
Inducted into the Queen's Rugby Hall of Fame - 2010
 
How has your time as a varsity athlete helped you get to where you are today?
 
Without doubt leadership and a dedication to achieving goals were the two key life skills that I acquired directly as a result of my time as a varsity rugby player at Queen's. Achieving success on the pitch mirrored many of the challenges that I face in business every day. Building a team, developing strategy, implementing a game/business plan; having experienced all of these things at Queen's gave me a distinct advantage in the business world.
 
What is your most memorable moment from your time as a Gael, either on or off the court?
 
The most memorable on field moment of my many years spent with Queen's rugby was lifting the Turner Cup and OUAA banner after beating Mac in the Final of the 1986-87 Season. Off the field there are just too many memorable moments to pick one. Suffice to say, most of the best friends I have to this day were made through Queen's rugby.
 
Describe an instance in which you overcame adversity, either as a team or an individual, on or off the field. What did you learn from that experience?
 
In my second year at Queen's, due to the graduation of a couple senior players, I was fortunate to be selected to Prop for the 1^st team for the first match of the year. It was a home game against U of T and the opposite front row were all OUAA all Stars and playing for Ontario. I will never forget the sense of doom as I prepared to pack down for the first scrum. My worst fears were realized; my opposite number twisted me like a pretzel and launched me straight up in the air. The good news is that we (my front row colleagues and I) figured out how to survive and actually win our own scrums over the course of the match. The bad news is the Queen's Journal photographer was on hand snapping pictures of the opening scrum. As luck would have it the Journal photo editor was so impressed with the picture of the entire Queen's front row bodies bent and suspended off our feet by U of T it featured on the front page. What a way to launch my rugby career at Queen's.  
 
After your time as a Gael, how have you continued to be involved in athletics, whether it be participating or supporting?
 
After playing rugby for Queen's in the 1987- 88 season I became Queen's forwards coach under Al Ferguson until 1992-93 when I took over as Head coach for the year. During that same period I played rugby for the Kingston Panthers RFC serving as club President for a couple years. I also played with the Ontario Lakeshore rep side. When I moved to Ireland in 1993 I played rugby for University College Dublin for two seasons winning the Leinster Provincial Winters Cup in 1995. Since retiring as a player I have coached mini rugby at Coolmine RFC and I remain a passionate supporter of the game at every level.
 
As a former player, what do you think of the rugbyl team's performance in recent years?  
 
As a former player and coach of Queen's varsity rugby I am immensely proud of the accomplishments of the current rugby team.  Rugby is now a professional game and as such requires a professional approach to player and game plan preparation. The current team's success is a reflection of the coaches and players dedication. When I return to campus it has struck me that while much has changed the Queen's rugby spirit remains unaltered. I guarantee you there are players going through the Queen's rugby program today that will reflect on a similar experience to me in 25 years.
 
What messages would you like to share with current student-athletes?
 
Life offers many opportunities, being a varsity athlete at Queen's is one that you need to seize with both hands and squeeze every drop from. The experience, friendship and skills you foster will remain with you forever.