Ben Torkington

Work history

Self Employment #

2009 - Present

LuckyBulldozer #

A creative conjunction between Dan Monaghan and Ben Torkington. Dan and Ben worked together in the film industry in the 90's, and have found a passion for three dimensional art.

Ben Ltd #

A software and consultancy company I formed in 2016. In addition to IT consulting, I have taken on several contract development positions:

  • iOS and Android native prototypes for {THE AND}, contractor to Xequals Ltd 2018 - 2019
  • Ongoing consultancy to Darkroom, a design studio 2014 - present
  • Acoustic monitoring plugin for Milestone XProtect, contractor to Acoustics Enforcement NZ Ltd 2015 - 2020
  • Prototype of automotive performance tuning app, under NDA 2015

Operations Manager, Leading Solutions #

2014 - 2015

I ran general operations of a small business supplying retail security products. The company had been split from its former parent company, and IT systems were built from scratch entirely on cloud based services.

  • Migration of stock and customer data from former proprietor's systems
  • Maintenance of stockfile, customer orders and dispatch
  • Ordering replenishment stock
  • Customs and shipping liason
  • Integration of freight forwarder systems
  • Accounts, wages, and associated IRD filing
  • Credit control

Parenting and part time work #

2011 - 2014

Took over full-time custody of my children. Various part-time positions:

  • Decommissioning of the Warkworth-based former Times Colour Print facility for PMP NZ
  • Camera Operator
  • Forum Moderator

Sabattical #

2009 - 2010

This year I decided to refocus on software development, and began by refining my C skills and learning OpenGL to complete a personal project.

I also began training in helicopter piloting, but decided against pursuing it.

Network Manager, PMP Print #

2005 - 2008

LAN management and shop floor integration at head office, a distribution center, and three print facilities.

  • Brought multiple server rooms and closets back from chaos
  • Transitioned server infrastructure to VMWare ESX on premises and in dataceter
  • Devised and implemented IT Disaster Recovery Plan

Worked with:

  • Windows Server 2003, 2008
  • Active Directory
  • Exchange Server
  • VMWare ESX
  • EMC SANs
  • Cisco MLS
  • Shop floor data collection
  • Crystal Reports
  • MS Access

Software developer, Leigh Fisheries #

2005 - 2006

Visual Basic 6 app development for:

  • Invoicing to multiple currencies
  • Integrated with shop floor weighing and labelling systems
  • Managing forex contracts

Systems Administrator, Retail Expertise #

2004 - 2005

  • Support for retail POS and automated branch-pull replenishment systems
  • Set up and maintenance of VPN access to multinational clients
  • Warehouse picker assistance technology maintenance
  • Moved company to VOIP telephony

Worked with:

  • Windows Server 2000, 2003
  • SQL Server 7, 2000
  • Linux
  • Asterisk

Digital Prepress Operator, Times Colour Print #

Feb 2001 - 2004

  • Receive and check client-supplied magazine/flyer page documents
  • Preparation of four-colour separations for printing
  • Implemented an autotmated process for print signature pagination

Group Systems Support, Times Media Group #

June 2000 - Feb 2001

IT Support for a large printing facility, a newspaper production office and associated branch offices.

  • Shop floor data collection on print and binding machinery
  • Systems to support automated print quality control
  • Prepress support
  • Staff timekeeping systems
  • Report customisation
  • LAN administration

Scanner Operator, Times Media Group #

Feb 2000 - June 2000

In this role I worked mostly on Rodney Times, at the time a locally owned newspaper recognised by multiple Qantas Media Awards.

  • Transitioned newsroom from film to digital photography
  • Daily scanning and touch-ups of news and commercial photographs
  • Assisting with page layout and general production tasks
  • Hardware maintenance of production Macs

Tools #

  • Nikon D1
  • Adobe Photoshop 4, 5
  • QuarkXPress 4.0
  • Acrobat Distiller

Freelance #

1998

Working with Avid Media Composer and 35mm film. Developed an app to support a pos-conform process in which the digital rough-cut of What Becomes of the Broken Hearted was finalized on film.

Assistant editor roles included:

Stockfile Manager, Warkworth Mitre 10 #

1997

  • Migration of store to computer based point of sale (Pacsoft)
  • Automate replenishment of stocks

Helpdesk, IHUG #

Sep 1995 - Dec 1995

  • Phone and online support for PC & Mac users
  • Routine modem fleet testing and swapping
  • Maintain support software repository
  • Processing new user applications

Helpdesk, Internet Company of New Zealand #

Jun 1995 - Sep 1995

  • Phone and online support for PC & Mac users
  • Maintain support software repository
  • Processing new user applications

See my CV

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