Judges' Profiles
Peter Jenkins
As owner and director of local software engineering company, Flexware Ltd, Peter Jenkins does everything from writing software and testing machine to machine telecommunications equipment to working with satellite communications and LED based navigation beacons. In his spare time he’s a Bright Sparks judge - and he has been for 8 years!
Peter’s got 24 years of industry experience up his sleeve. He kicked off his career doing not one, but two electrical engineering degrees and then after getting involved in several interesting university projects landed his first real job in the USA. According to Peter, the best thing about working in this industry is that you don’t end up doing the same thing all the time, “The technology changes, the tools change and what was once very difficult or time consuming becomes much easier. New and more sophisticated technologies have to be developed and used – and I can do things in hours now that would have taken several weeks twenty years ago.”
Peter enjoys mentoring graduates as they start their careers, seeing them develop as they gain industry experience [and their skills surpass his] – and he loves judging Bright Sparks and seeing the new ideas dreamed up by very smart teenagers. “Often I see things that are very innovative and I think, how much that student could do if they were given a degree and just a few resources”
Chris Chitty [Dr Robotech]
Chris Chitty’s had a fascination for all things hi-tech for almost all his life – and he loves how working in the hi-tech industry means working in a world of really interesting things [and getting paid for it]. Chris currently works at Massey University in the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology. Here he lectures and mentors engineering students who are working with industry linked projects. This means they do everything from identifying customer needs and developing concepts to mechanical and industrial design, manufacturability, production and marketing.
Chris also makes an appearance on television screens across the nation as Dr Robotech on the television show Let’s Get Inventing, a programme designed to teach kids about invention, innovation and the fun you can have experimenting with engineering.
According to Chris, the most rewarding thing about his work is the look of wonderment and excitement on young people’s faces when you work with them on an experiment and their invention works. He recommends that as there are many ways to do something, you should not always take the first path. He adds, “If you try something and it does not work it is not a failure – you have successfully found a way not to do something, and you have an opportunity to try out that other idea.”
2009 will be the first year Chris is a Bright Sparks judge.
Richard McLean
“Chase it, grab it, and hang on tight.” That’s what Bright Sparks judge, Richard McLean, advises keen you hi-tech stars do when it comes to securing a career in technology.
Richard started out in the hi-tech industry over 20 years ago, when after working in the packaging industry he had a sudden desire to do something more fun. Since making the transition to this fast-moving, ever-changing world of technology he’s never looked back. “Markets change all the time – and fast!” he says. “The opportunity for company growth and learning is nearly unique.”
Richard currently works at a software company called WinScribe and owns his own business called Concept to Market. Here Chris helps make technology companies successful in offshore markets. This involves matching technology development to customer needs and coaching and managing technology company owners.
Richard is looking forward to his second year as a Bright Sparks judge, and feeling rejuvenated by the insights creativity of the talented young people who enter the competition.
Garry Reynolds
A judge from the very beginning of the Bright Sparks Competition, Garry Reynolds is passionate about helping building the engineering and technology capabilities of students and businesses in New Zealand. Garry works in the tricky space where hi-tech aspiration meets market reality, helping companies commercialise products through directed research and design. “All my clients are geeks,” says Garry. “I’m different because I can speak both geek and business.”
Garry has a background in engineering and telecommunications. He was General Manager of Motorola in New Zealand during the initial growth phase of cellphones and Garry has also been CEO for a couple of technology manufacturers.
Garry puts a lot back into his industry. He’s the chair of the Professional Engineering Advisory Board at MIT, sits on the AUT Advisory Board at the Innovation Centre. is a guest lecturer at University of Canterbury, Auckland University and AUT, the Chair of a number of smaller technology companies’ advisory boards, judge of the Manukau Business Awards and Young Enterprise Awards, and YES Mentor.
Of course he’s a big fan of Bright Sparks too, “I like seeing the real-world practical applications that come from kids who are still at school. I like seeing the project complexity evolving as the same Bright Spark enters in consecutive years. It really is the best possible exposure they can have to real engineering while still in school.”