STUDENT STORY

Dan Williamson

Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Information Technology graduate Dan Williamson is closely involved in some of the myriad technical details involved in the digital transition to the New Dunedin Hospital.

Dan Williamson OP News 1200x610

Dan started as a Service Desk Analyst at the Southern District Health Board several years ago. The variety of the role, allied to his open and friendly personality, suited him well. It also helped set him up for a career path that has provided no shortage of highly engaging challenges.

Now, Dan is an Infrastructure Engineer at the SDHB, his role encompassing a broad range of demands, including networking, virtual machine hosting, cyber security and cloud-based requirements.

On completion, the New Dunedin Hospital will be among the most digitally advanced healthcare facilities in the world.

And with that transformation comes no shortage of opportunities for those with I.T. skills.

Dan can’t wait.

Certainly, he’s come a long way from those days at primary school, where he was the one always asked to take a look at the classroom computer when it went on the blink.

“I think my I.T. destiny was set way back then,” Dan recalls.

Describing himself as a “mature student”, Dan enrolled at Otago Polytechnic in 2014, initially completing a Certificate in Information Technology (Level 4) before moving on to the Bachelor of Information technology. He admits he had some reservations about study, as it had been 15 years since he’d left high school.

“I was happily surprised. Finding my place was easy. I graduated in 2017 and walked straight into a job at the Southern District Health Board.”

Dan Williamson

Infrastructure Engineer

Southern District Health Board (and Otago Polytechnic I.T. graduate)

Despite being involved in highly technical work, Dan says it’s important that people also pay attention to their “soft skills” such as collaborating and communicating with others.

“Human interaction goes a long way and first impressions count. Also, if you are diligent in your work ethic, and are willing to put in the yards, you will be noticed.”

Patrick Ng, Chief Digital Officer Southern District Health Board, says the list of digital roles required for the New Dunedin Hospital is extensive and includes Solutions Analysts, Infrastructure Engineers, Developers, Test Analysts, Project Managers and Product Managers, User Experience, Health Informatics, Data Science roles, and Change Specialists, among many others.

"We have career-defining opportunities to contribute to our digital transformation and our new digital hospital,” Mr Ng says.

“We have a large digital team with plenty of scope for opportunity for people with ‘soft skills’ and digital skills.

“Any I.T. qualification would be a great launchpad for someone wanting to kick-start a career in digital, and contribute to our New Dunedin Hospital”

Patrick Ng

Chief Digital Officer

Southern District Health Board

Published on 16 Nov 2022