Q&A with Ben

Can you share a little about your background and how you got involved with Altis?
The first 10 years of my career was predominantly as an ETL developer on stacks such as DataStage, Informatica and Oracle/Unix, working in Sydney, Dublin, London and then Melbourne. I made a conscious shift into project management which, while a good change, often took me away from data projects that I enjoyed. Altis was a great opportunity to combine both aspects - being a PM on data projects.
What motivated you to join our team?
Having worked at a number of consultancies - small, medium and large - Altis stood out for its focus on a strong people culture. I was impressed by then CEO John Hoffman taking an hour of his time to discuss Altis with me during the recruitment process.
Can you describe a memorable experience you've had while working here?
My family and I have been fortunate to enjoy some great trips away with the Altis clan - Daydream Island, Fiji, Sunshine Coast. Other opportunities to meet face to face with colleagues in other regions have also been welcomed.
What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
Neither Altis nor the data industry stands still and continual learning to stay up to date is important.
What is your favourite project or accomplishment, and why does it stand out to you?
Rightship was an interesting client for several years, with their use of data to predict risk and improve safety standards in global shipping. They were a small data focused business that had a significant industry impact, plus a culture that aligned well with Altis.
How has your role evolved since you started with us?
I've been fortunate to undertake several roles at Altis - including project management, strategy, business development, delivery leading and people management. Each has its challenges and rewards, bringing variety to the job.
What skills or lessons have you learned during your time here?
Altis' focus on soft skills is another highlight and key point of difference with previous employers. I used conflict techniques from Achieve 2 with my wife - with success initially until she cottoned on to what I was doing and put a stop to it!
How would you describe the team culture?
Altis has always felt like a big family with team members willing to spend time to get to know one another personally and make time to help professionally when needed. It can sound cliched but it really is the magic sauce of a successful consultancy more so than technical skills.
Can you share an example of collaboration or support from your colleagues?
My first forays into delivering strategy engagements involved a steep learning curve, as they are typically short and intense engagements. My first one was with a small financial services company and I valued the input and review of several colleagues both from the Vic team and beyond to deliver this work.
What are your hopes for the future of Altis?
To maintain the culture of attracting good people and retaining them through the delivery of challenging but enjoyable projects. Keep the focus on people as this is what customers ultimately remember and engage.
What advice would you give to someone considering joining our company?
Take the time to get to know your colleagues both in your region and beyond. There are lots of great people with interesting stories to tell.
If you could summarise your experience in one sentence, what would it be?
An organisation of interesting and talented people, working together to deliver outcomes for our clients.
Do you have a favourite memory or anecdote that highlights our workplace?
Running around Albert Park Lake dressed in a Santa outfit pushing a pram with my young kids

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