Hi my name is Matthew McDonald and I am a platform engineer with experience in implementing and managing various cloud platforms, integrations and automation tools.
My experiences have led me to understand how to build strong team cohesion, enabling effective collaboration and communication within cross-functional teams, where each team member is able to contribute their unique skills and perspectives, enabling old dogs to learn new tricks and green horns to grow. To achieve this, each team member needs to feel valued for their experience and their potential. I really enjoy helping team members learn, spending the time to show them, that they're capable of things they didn't realise they we're, hopefully someday down the road they remember me for that.
Throughout my career, i have worked on many things (e.g. automating processes, building integrations, migrating systems to cloud solutions etc), the one thing i'd say i've always carried with me is an attitude of never being afraid to get stuck in and do something new or novel, in my experience, nothing ever turns out as bad as it might seem at the beginning, having said that, i've been around long enough to have been through it.
Use this carousel i made to see my experience, what platforms i've worked with, and what kind of things i've done with them. While you're looking you can use the search bar at the top of the panel to filter on items. (e.g. in platforms filter on AEM)
I have worked on implementing Adobe cloud platform in the role of a platform engineer, working alongside architects to plan and implement a secure, performative and robust Adobe products.
I have worked with a few different Azure services in my role as a platform engineer, from integrating platforms with single sign-on (SSO) to integrating Azure blobs with on prem integrations.
I have worked on PerfectGym as a platform engineer, working alongside architects to plan and implement a secure, performative and robust recreation center management system.
I have worked on Medtech Evolution as a platform engineer, working alongside architects to plan and implement a secure, performative and robust recreation center management system.
I have worked on StarRez as a platform engineer, working alongside architects to plan and implement a secure, performative and robust accomodation management system.
I have worked on Terminal Four as a platform engineer, working alongside other system administrators to maintain a secure, performative and robust web content management system.
I have worked on Intellimanager as a platform engineer, working alongside other system administrators to maintain a secure, performative and robust recreation center management system.
.net
I have built a few integrations and webapps using .net including with SignalR. Take a look at my showcase.
PHP
I have built a few integrations and api's using php including. Take a look at my showcase.
html, css and javascript
I have built a lot of different web front ends using html, css and javascript. Take a look at my showcase.
AutoIT
Below is a list of interesting things i've done with AutoIT
Java
Below is a list of interesting things i've done with Java
PowerShell
Below is a list of interesting things i've done with PowerShell
MySQL
Below is a list of interesting things i've done with MySQL
Microsoft SQL Server
Below is a list of interesting things i've done with Microsoft SQL Server
VB .NET
Below is a list of interesting things i've done with VB .NET
Medtech Person push
I created a poweshell script that took student data from a Microsoft Sql database and pushed it into Medtech evolution, leading to improved data accuracy and improved business processes.Wordpress environment refresh
I used a combination of bash scripts, and mysql stored procedures to automate the refresh of an on prem wordpress environment, to enable more rigourous pre-deployment testing.StarRez cloud migration
I migrated a legacy application on prem StarRez from on prem to the cloud, leading to new business opportunities, improved systems performance improvements, and system stability.RecCentre solution cloud migration
I migrated the RecCentre solution (Intellimanager) from an on-premises environment to the cloud (PerfectGym),Perfectgym integration
I built a custom webapp and webapi to enable student registration with UC's perfectgym system, using .net and signalR...D365 Integration
I redeveloped a Powershell script to pull card.xml files from a databse server fileshare and use Azure to send the files to an Azure blob...WCMS cloud migration
I migrated the WCMS (terminal4) from an on-premises environment to the cloud (Adobe Experience Manager), which was a significant project involved creating solution design, user management plans, cloud assessments, working with architects, testers, developers, desgners and stakeholders aswell as setting up new infrastructure and ensur...AEM Deployment process
I retroactively desgined the deployment process for our Adobe experience manager project, which lead to alignment between stakeholers, testers and developers...AEM Environment refresh process
I designed and implemented a comprehensive environment refresh process for our Adobe Experience Manager deployment, ensuring consistency and reducing deployment risks.Outage page integration
I created a custom outage page PHP based integration, enabling stakeholders to create their own custom outage pages, ensuring users were informed of system issues in a timely manner.AEM SDK Bump
upgraded our AEM SDK to the latest version, ensuring compatibility and access to new features.Local development environment setup
I set up a local development environment for our Adobe Experience Manager project, enabling developers to work on features in isolation and reducing the risk of conflicts.AEM CDN logging tool
I setup AEM's custom CDN logging tool, on prem which enabled better monitoring and troubleshooting of content delivery issues.Custom logging integration
Setup a custom logging integration for our Adobe Experience Manager project for use with AI, enabling better monitoring and troubleshooting of application issues.Domain approval process
I am currently working stream lining our domain approval process to improve efficiency and reduce delays, utilising different kinds of meeting formats to make collaboration more effective.Adobe organisation console migration
I am currently working on migrating UC's two Adobe organisation (DXP & CC) into a trust relationship managed by one Global Admin Console, to reflect the organisations structure, to ensure that the appropriate teams are managing their adobe products effectively.WAF allow listing process
I have worked with our stakeholders to establish a process to ensure that the right governance is applied to allowing external organisations access to crawl our website.Personal budget web app
i created a PHP web app to help manage personal finances and track expenses. The application uses a PHP api backend to cater external applications to consume the budget data, but also the webapp frontend, which uses vue, html, javascript and css.Esorteric styling system
I created a full fledged styling system for my web applications, employing a philosophical approach to ensure consistency and maintainability. ESS is built on the premise that interfaces are closer to temples, manuscripts, or instruments than to machines. It draws heavily from ancient esoteric traditions (Egyptian, Greek, Hermetic, medieval, Eastern) and sacred geometry. Its guiding principles are:-
structure must be understandable without motion, hierarchy without color
Meaning precedes interaction -
the system must not compete aggressively for attention
Attention is finite and sacred -
motion is never decorative; nothing moves unless something meaningful has changed
Change is costly -
not all UI elements are equal; authority is expressed through restraint, not flash
Hierarchy is real -
only a few actions may request "ritual" elevation; if everything is sacred, nothing is
Ritual is rare
Diploma of Information Technology - Software Engineering
Completion:I studied for one year at Computer Power Plus. I completed a group project on delivering a software solution, and i majored in java
Creating .net applications
Completion:I completed a three day .net application development course at Auldhouse (now Lumify)
Powershell
Completion: I completed a three day course on automating with Powershell at Auldhouse (now Lumify)
Cloud automation with Powerapps
Completion: I completed a three day course on automating with Powerapps at Auldhouse (now Lumify)
National Certificate in Agriculture - Level 4
Completion: I completed a year long course in Agrigultural studies for dairy farmingI am currently a Platform Engineer at the University of Canterbury, working on cloud infrastructure and automation within UC's Web Experience team. I am interested in developing robust systems and processes that enable my team to try, learn, and deliver.
I worked as an Application support consultant, providing technical assistance and troubleshooting for various applications used throughout the UC community such as UC's reccentre, healthcentre, marketing team, accommodation services team etc.
I worked as a Junior Systems Support Consultant, providing technical assistance and troubleshooting for JadeSMS and some other smaller systems for UC's student services team. Due to my own experiences in this role, i developed a strong belief in training and developing new staff
I spent time in the role of IT Helpdesk advisor, providing first-line technical support to users across the organization. I took an interest in understanding the systems that i was helping to support, and in doing so i learned a lot and made strong connections with senior staff members
This was my first IT role where i really started to believe in what i was doing. I worked as an IT Service desk advisor, providing first-line technical support to users across the organization undertaking the 2011 census. I gained experience in troubleshooting a variety of IT issues and improving user satisfaction.
I worked for a time, as a Systems administrator for a transcribing company. Although the time i was given in the role was short, and the opputunities to learn were limited, i did manage to identify some areas where improvements could be made, although i needed more time to fully understand the business, which i unfortunately didn't get as the owners sold the business.
Yes, after graduating from my studies, i worked as a picker and packer for staples while looking for my start in IT. Not much to say, tried to make myself indispensable to the boss, seemed like a stressful job, so tried to make it as easy as i could, kept my head down and did everything asked of me
I worked at Grasslands farms as a herd manager for a few years, gaining valuable experience in dairy farming industry, from managing day to day activities, to coordinating junior staff, to making difficult decisions under pressure. I developed tenancity and number8 wire thinking in this role.
I worked as a dairy assistant, where i had the opportunity to work in a sole capacity, which allowed me to develop a strong sense of responsibility and independence.
I worked as an assistant herd manager, where i gained experience in managing and caring for dairy cattle, as well as learning about the various aspects of dairy farming operations.
I worked as an intermediate dairy assistant, where i gained experience in the day-to-day operations of a dairy farm, i learned a lot about the industry working alongside the farm owner.
I worked as a junior dairy assistant, where i learned all the fundamentals of dairy farming and gained hands-on experience in the field, working alongside the herd manager.
I worked for atime as a food processor at Quality bakers, where i gained experience in the food processing industry and developed a strong work ethic. The work culture was that of working hard, and smart. I had some great colleagues, and even considered a career as a baker at the time.
I worked as a sales person at Cobra promotions, where i gained experience in customer service and sales techniques. I was alright at this, naturally. It was a great opportunity to develop my communication skills and learn about the retail industry, but i realised quickly it wasn't what i wanted to do.
I worked as a drain cleaner, working alongside an experienced colleague who taught me the ropes, i pretty quickly realised i wanted to do something else.
I worked as a food processor at Turners & Growers, not sure why, but i always wanted to work in this place. I had applied for a position previously but didn't get it. I was still pretty young, but i learned about how to work with people, what kind of attitudes people have and how to work hard to ensure the work is done before the end of the shift.
I worked as a plastics processor, alongside my bothers who both worked here. In all honesty, i shouldn't have worked here, as i wasn't technically old enough, but i did, and i learned a lot about the different characters i would come across in the workplace in future.