About The Author

Robert Willis BSc (Hons) MCP

For a Handbell based biography please go to A Web page Wasted on Robert and Fiona Willis

"I'm an Engineer - I make things work." - Miles Obrien

I hold a lower second honours degree in Computer Systems and Networks from Plymouth University and am currently employed by the NHS Information Authority in Exeter as a Configuration Management Engineer.

My current responsibilities are for the Authority's Asset Management System, Hardcat, where I am the system administrator and Domain Administrator. I have developed a series of ODBC interfaces which can transfer user information out of the Authority's help desk system, HEAT, and I have successfully linked into Microsoft's SMS Server database to extract System Hardware information and software scans.

I am responsible for:

• All de-registration and disposal of redundant IT equipment and media across the organisation
• Technical Control of the Asset Management System, Hardcat
• Training and coordinating Asset Registrars across the Organisation’s nine sites
• Manageing and performing annual nation-wide IT asset audit
• Covering department’s control of Exeter System patching software for Health Authority systems

During my time in the Authority I have:

• Built and Administered a Windows 2000 IIS Server
• Configured multiple Cache Database Systems
• Completly rewritten of the Authority's Asset Management Procedures
• Designed an end-to-end Licence Management Application
• Designed hardware/software change detection system using SMS, Cache and Hardcat
• Designed and written an online Asset Movement System allowing controlled engineers to successfully assign IT assets in an audit-trailed environment.
• Designed SQL Links to separate systems to create CMDB foundation
• Completed the ITIL Practitioner Certificate in Configuration, Change and Release Management
• Worked as part of a team to rollout organisation-wise VOIP clients to 1000 users
• Managed own workload via central call-logging system, Heat

Before joining the NHS Information Authority I was a Senior Second Line Technician for Friends Provident in Exeter.

I worked with a team of 9 technicians and our job was to look after some 1200 PCs in the Exeter Offices. 3 of us, myself included, were responsible for responding to incidents raised through the Help desk. We spent the entire day fixing machines, helping users with software problems and rebuilding sick and dying machines where necessary.

In what little free time I have outside of Bell Ringing and the Exeter Children's Orchestra, I still repair PCs for friends and family.

I also hold a BF degree with distinction from the Unseen University of Ankh-Morepork.