After graduating from Manchester Metropolitan university with BA (Hons) Fashion Design & Technology, I spent four years with Freeborders as an Application Specialist for their PLM Suite. The PLM suite consisted of 8 web applications to support the retail, footwear and apparel product development process, including technical drawing and digital storyboarding, line planning, specification development, supplier management, costing and workflow. I gained an in depth knowledge of all 8 of the applications and the business processes they supported.

During this period I worked with the European team in a pre-sales role, presenting the solutions and best practices to potential clients at senior management level across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. I also supported the after sales process, hosting training courses and developing software documentation.

In addition to the PLM suite, I was also the product expert for our partner, Browzwear’s, 3D garment design and development application, V-Stitcher.

In December 2005 I joined PTC as an Application Engineer, supporting the core team as they expanded their presence in Europe. Initially working in a pre-sales role, I specialised in their PLM solution for the RFA market, FlexPLM, presenting the solution to prospects and producing detailed RFI documents.

In the latter half of my time at PTC, I began to focus on product enhancements and worked with R&D to help define the baseline configuration for the system. I also wrote the scoping definition for the new Advanced Line Planning functionality and worked with R&D to help drive the usability of the software.

Coming from a design orientated background I have a strong focus on usability and user interface. The technologies available to streamline the key business processes are only as successful as the user acceptance level. It is my mission to educate the design community on how PLM technologies can actually enhance the creative process and to challenge the notion that implementing such applications stifle creativity.

In addition to joining the PDP, I am also Managing Director of Shadowfax Media Limited, a web media company providing web design, branding and content management solutions and consultancy.