Introducing Mike Foreshew - Executive Manager Technology Services

Mike Foreshew, 38, was appointed as Executive Manager Technology Services earlier this year and began working at State Headquarters on 29 July.

Fire Flyer sat down with him for a quick chat.

What’s your personal background?
Married with three boys, who are 9, 6 and 4.

How’s your learning curve been so far?
Nearly vertical. I liken it to someone turning on a firehose and saying ‘here, have a drink’!

What’s your professional background?
For the previous 12 months (before joining CFA) I was an independent contractor and worked on separating Alinta (an energy infrastructure company) into three separate structures.

Before that, I was a contractor and management consultant. And before that, I spent two and half years as the Global Chief Information Officer for an automotive airconditioning and heating supplier. I’d spend eight to 10 weeks out of every 12 on an airplane.

What attracted you to CFA?
No-one had to sell the job to me. I’d made a lifestyle choice a few years ago, after I had cancer and our six year-old boy was diagnosed as autistic, to spend less time travelling. And I wanted to extend into a new environment and apply my skills to a different environment. I wanted that challenge. My health’s all good now.

What are the main challenges facing CFA from your perspective?
The convergence of two technologies – IT and communications – they’re increasingly coming together. How we can benefit Operations, and what we do as an organisation. There’s also real-time collaboration at much higher levels. And virtual communities such as Facebook and Myspace – how we can use them to benefit as an organisation.

What do you do when you’re not busy with work?
Lots of sports and activities with the children. I’m coordinator of Milo Cricket in Dingley. It’s like Auskick but with cricket.I race rally cars through dirt and forest and have been doing that for about 10 years.

I’m also in the process of restoring and building my next rally car. It’s a 1970 Ford Cortina. It should be ready by later in the year. There’s a race on 29 November and that should be its first event.