My name is Mark McKenzie and I am an IT professional with decades of experience working in Education, Financial, Healthcare, Big Data.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of being employed by several of the world's foremost corporations. This unique journey included assignments across diverse geographies in Asia, Europe, and the United States, endowing me with a comprehensive understanding of various business cultures.

My journey

My IT career commenced in the United Kingdom during the early 1990s, initially focusing on Japanese typesetting freelance work and providing technical support for MacOS and Windows platforms to various local enterprises. In 1999, I relocated to Japan, and by early 2000, I had secured a position as a System Network Administrator for a startup in Osaka. This role entailed establishing the office network infrastructure from inception, including cabling, server configuration, and liaison with local telecommunications providers. I also conducted multiple site visits to the Tokyo datacenter to ensure operational efficiency.

Subsequently, I transitioned to the Kanto region, where I temporarily engaged in English language instruction while recuperating from a significant health issue. Upon recovery, I re-entered the IT sector, joining a boutique Japanese firm that serviced high-profile clients such as General Motors Japan, Citibank, and Credit Agricole/Calyon Bank in Tokyo.

My next significant appointment was with ICON Clinical Research, a major Contract Research Organization (CRO), in the capacity of IT Support Analyst. As the primary IT liaison, I was responsible for integrating the company into the global IT infrastructure. Key achievements included implementing the ITIL framework, deploying IP telephony, and establishing a global Helpdesk system. My comprehensive understanding of Japanese business culture was instrumental in facilitating these initiatives. Additional responsibilities encompassed managing the installation and configuration of multiple servers and network hardware, orchestrating office relocations in Tokyo and Osaka, and overseeing two international office moves in Bangkok and Shanghai. I also provided support for an external IT governance and compliance audit in Beijing.

Notable accomplishments at ICON included spearheading the launch of the company's Japanese-language website and significantly reducing operational costs through the renegotiation of printing service contracts. I later transitioned to the medical imaging department as an Application Support Specialist based in Germany, where I provided technical support for Citrix environments, SQL databases, and proprietary applications for a high-profile client.

Following the closure of the IT department in Germany, I joined IQVIA as a Software Development Analyst. My responsibilities encompassed technical and documentation support for an analytical platform, expanding the test suite, implementing new test cases, and managing a cluster of 12 servers. I also assumed SCRUM Master duties and played a pivotal role in the transition to a new analytical platform, utilizing SQL for data analysis and ensuring cross-country data normalization during the Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) cycle.

Recently, I undertook a career sabbatical to enhance and expand my IT competencies through self-directed study. I successfully completed the Masterschool Cybersecurity program, an intensive 7-month curriculum designed to prepare professionals for careers as cybersecurity analysts. The comprehensive program covered cybersecurity fundamentals, Python programming, Windows and Linux operating systems, network fundamentals, security protocols, and cryptographic techniques. Specialized modules included threat intelligence, penetration testing, secure application development, incident response, and risk management. This program provided extensive practical experience through real-world projects and practice sprints. Additionally, I obtained several industry-recognized certifications, including the CompTIA Security+ certification, further validating my expertise in threat analysis, incident response, and risk management.