The Formal Stuff

Here is the official stuff for those that need a "formal" biography:

Pat is a very experienced program and project manager with a strong academic background in the profession which includes post graduate project management qualifications. He has a significant and current consulting and business background with a particular strength in communicating complex concepts in simple and pithy ways including discussions, presentations, blogs and papers.

Prior to establishing HolisTech® Pty Ltd in 1998 and later Padden Industries Pty Ltd (a private investment company), Pat spent twenty years (and 3 days) in the Australian Regular Army serving in a variety of locations performing a wide range of tasks. These tasks included: project management, requirements analysis, strategic capability analysis, process analysis and management, implementing management efficiencies, liaison, general management, contract development and management, human resource management, leadership, administration, operations officer and platoon commander.

Work with HolisTech® has added considerably to that experience where Pat advises on holistic solutions to business problems for product and capability focussed organisations, services numerous consultancy contracts with government and private organisations particularly in the project management and program management domains.

Among other qualifications Pat has a Master of Technology Management, a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Managerial Economics), and a Diploma of Personnel and Resource Management. Pat has been an economics tutor and systems engineering/project management guest lecturer at undergraduate and graduate level. He is currently studying towards his Doctorate in Project Management (DPM) at the RMIT University (deferred for 2009).

Pat is the Managing Director or Director of four companies, a member of the Project Management Institute, the Australian Institute of Management and the Systems Engineering Society of Australia. 

The Real Me

I am the normal family man - wife and two daughters, two dogs (german shepherd and golden retriever - stupid and cupid as the kids call them!), a stack of frogs in the garden and a visiting family of magpies (a native Australian bird that is quite at home in the urban environment).

Managing two businesses, doing a doctorate and trying to spend time with family and friends is always a challenge and one that I often don't manage to balance properly.

I was born and raised in Papua New Guinea - mainly in the islands. Went to boarding school in Queensland, Australia and joined the Army straight out of school. The Army was a great life but this, my second career is as equally invigorating and challenging.

My interests include:

• project management (hence the DPM),
• my businesses,
• my innovations/inventions (if I ever get to do anything about them),
• rugby union (I support the Queensland Reds ... when will they get it together!) and my part time coaching,
• rugby league (the Brisbane Broncos and the Canberra Raiders),
• cricket,
• golf (I haven't played for years but grew up playing on a golf course my father built in New Britain),
• permaculture,
• fitness, but
• my interest in good food and wine often wins out over that one!!

The fact I can spend time on my interests is testament to my very tolerant and very supporting wife and less tolerant but no less supporting children ...thanks.