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Francesca

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This is all rather out of date. I must get round to fixing it sometime!

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At Play

In my first job after I graduated from the University of Bristol in 1991, I was a software engineer for several years at Alstom Power Conversion Ltd. (formerly Cegelec Projects Ltd.) I worked on a number of research and development projects. In those days, system development involved heavy C coding on Solaris machines. Challenging and fun.

In late 1996, I had the chance to change my career direction, when the offer of working as the IT Manager for a local engineering company, Engine Developments Ltd presented itself. I was responsible for the entire IT side of the company (maintaining systems, troubleshooting, website design and maintenance, writing bespoke software etc.). It was a unique opportunity to see how IT can help solve business problems.

Since summer 2000, I have been working as a senior technical consultant for 3i. My work at 3i is split between project management and IT security.

I have a very active interest in IT security. See my Security page for more detail.

Other technical stuff which currently tickles me includes anything to do with web browser/ server technology, Linux and Perl. What a great programming language!

When I'm not spending time with my family, I can sometimes be found programming or testing my chess program. It's an interesting, therapeutic hobby; and I've got to travel a lot and meet all sorts of interesting people through it. What else? Well, I enjoy sport, especially rugby, soccer and skiing. I'm a member of the AEI Rugby Football Club, although I don't play as often as I did a few years ago. With all the information about computer chess on this site, you would think I'm a great chess player myself, right? Well, you'd be wrong - I've played for the local chess club a fair bit in the past, but not at any great level.

When I have time (seems less and less these days), I love to read. I enjoy all sorts, including "classic" Science Fiction (John Wyndham, H.G Wells, John Christopher etc.), the odd biography, and anything on artificial intelligence/ computer chess/ IT security.

Other stuff which I enjoy includes go-karting, music (big Pink Floyd fan), stand-up comedy, classic BBC comedies (Black Adder, The Young Ones, Men Behaving Badly etc.), decent beer, Chilean wines, Dilbert, attempting to play football, watching England attempt to play football, and 1980's arcade games (which you can now run on your PC) .

We recently bought a second hand piano, and I'm teaching myself to play it. I'm aiming to master one or two Scott Joplin rags - I can get by on "the Entertainer".. "Maple leaf rag" is next in line.