NTP Podcast

From a childhood without electricity to co-founding a listed betting company, Oliver Shanahan’s story is a masterclass in technical grit and commercial pivots. As the Group Head of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure at BetMakers Technology Group, Oliver traces his path from wiring up early ISPs and mining ERPs to building TopBetta from a two-person LAMP stack into an ASX-listed business. In this episode of Tech Execs, James MacDonald sits down with Oliver as he unpacks the high-stakes realities of bookmaking, the decision to pivot from B2C to B2B through acquisitions like Dynamic Odds, Global Betting Services, and Sportech, and why they rebuilt a legacy monolith into a cloud-native, multi-tenant platform that now powers 35+ sportsbooks. We also dig into ISO 27001 in practice, due diligence on tech debt, and how to use AI without leaking your IP. A candid, deeply technical blueprint for founders and engineering leaders navigating scale, regulation, and replatforming you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of Tech Execs, James MacDonald heads to Melbourne to sit down with Matt Vitale, former co-founder of Australia’s largest equity crowdfunding platform and now Executive Director at New Dialogue. Matt traces his winding path from nightlife promoter and sugarcane juice tinkerer to financial services lawyer, then startup pioneer, where he helped more than 300 companies raise over $250M. He shares the breakout Sheba Rideshare campaign, why storytelling and community trump slick code, and how a $300K LaunchVic grant sparked a hardware-focused angel network that became their most successful to date.Tune in to hear Matt break down how enterprises can safely adopt AI by deploying open-source large language models inside their own secure environments—model-agnostic, auditable, and up in days, not months. He makes the case for bottom-up experimentation, rapid pilots, and why compliance-by-design will be the real moat as regulation catches up. Alongside the professional achievements, Matt also shares the daily practices (think meditation, breath work, and long works) that helped him reset following burnout. A must listen for those working in the rapidly evolving AI space.

Victoria Aspden, Executive General Manager - Digital & Transformation at Ampcontrol has had an unconventional career journey. Initially choosing technology for its earning potential, she managed to work her way through the field when recruiters valued her relationship-building skills over pure technical credentials. This pattern of people taking chances on her became a defining theme throughout her career.In this episode of NTP’s Tech Exec podcast series, Victoria sits down with James MacDonald to discuss her diverse career and her core management frameworks, including ‘problem before solution’, ‘people, process, tech, data’ and their interconnectedness, and the ‘cone of uncertainty’. Victoria advocates for hiring people smarter than yourself and creating environments where vulnerability and honest communication are valued over technical expertise alone. Tune in to hear Victoria’s advice for leaning into your weird, and how challenging traditional gender roles in her family has allowed her career success. 

On the first episode of NTP’s Tech Exec podcast series, James MacDonald sits down with Andrew Cresp to talk about his journey through financial services technology leadership, from early days in the insurance industry, moving through major roles in banking, before landing as CIO at NGM Group. Having grown up in country South Australia, Andrew reveals his passion for making regional businesses world-class.The conversation explores Andrew’s philosophy that technology strategy cannot exist independently, only business strategy enabled by technology, and the current implementations he’s seeing of AI in contact centres where systems provide real-time prompts to agents while automatically summarising calls. You don’t want to miss hearing Andrew’s approach to tackling the hardest projects others avoid, building resilience through marathon-like persistence, and finding mentors across all organisational levels. Tune in to gain practical advice on building a career in tech and hear about the importance of aligned teams for business success.

Ever wondered what it's like to transition from finance to IT, and from Sweden to Australia? On this episode of the NewyTechPeople podcast, Linda Apostolidis sits down with Margareta Bogatir Studdert, who brings her unique global experience to Newcastle. You'll hear about her fascinating career evolution and the surprising differences (and similarities!) of working cultures across continents.Margareta explains her exciting work at NGM Group, where she merged two distinct IT support teams and is now leading a major strategic project. Margareta also sheds light on Sweden's progressive policies for working families and women returning to the workforce, which truly set them apart. She'll offer invaluable leadership lessons on cultural adaptability, delegation, and empowering teams to learn from mistakes. Plus, don't miss her thoughts on cutting-edge trends like AI for predictive health and automation, and how NGM is championing women in tech by collaborating with initiatives like Hunter WiSE. Tune in for an inspiring story of career growth, leadership, and the power of embracing challenges!

In this episode of the NewyTechPeople podcast, James sits down with Adam Ingles, a fractional CFO and Director at Quick:Ratio, who works with technology startups. Adam shares his experience in the tech industry and explains the benefits of fractional CFO roles for early-stage startups. He breaks down when companies should bring in finance expertise, the current fundraising landscape, and the key elements of a strong pitch deck.Adam also offers advice on funding options, the challenges faced by Newcastle-based startups, and what he looks for when choosing to work with a company. Plus, he covers work-life balance in fractional roles, essential hires for growing startups, and the best resources for founders.Whether you’re a tech professional, a startup founder, or simply interested in the financial side of scaling a tech company, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

In this episode of the NewyTechPeople podcast, we sit down with Roger Crellin, a seasoned technology executive who has recently moved to Newcastle. Roger shares his extensive international experience in the commercial side of technology, including roles at Fujifilm, smart TV manufacturers, and casino software companies. He discusses the challenges and rewards of working abroad, offering valuable advice for those considering international career moves. Roger emphasises the importance of networking, integrating into local communities, and maintaining a global perspective in the tech industry. He also delves into the concept of fractional work, explaining its benefits for both companies and professionals. Throughout the conversation, Roger provides insights on leadership, mentorship, and the essential skills needed to succeed in senior technology roles. This episode is packed with practical career advice for technology professionals at all levels, from those just starting out to seasoned executives looking for new challenges.

In this episode of the NewyTechPeople podcast, we sit down with Michael Graham, a partner at Cutcher & Neale. Michael shares his journey from labourer to accountant to systems consultant, highlighting the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in the ever-evolving world of technology and finance. He discusses the shift from traditional accounting systems to cloud-based solutions, the impact of AI on various industries, and the importance of understanding core business processes. Michael emphasizes the value of communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and the need to stay abreast of technological advancements. He offers insights into effective team management, the balance between remote and office work, and the future of data integration and AI in business decision-making. This conversation provides valuable advice for both seasoned professionals and those just starting their careers in the tech and finance sectors, underlining the importance of understanding the 'why' behind processes and the ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms. 

Our latest episode of the NewyTechPeople Podcast features Josh Jeffress, Principle at Design Anthology.Josh, a passionate innovator and industry veteran, shares his incredible journey from trade school to establishing a design powerhouse in the Hunter region. Discover his insights on:* The importance of education beyond degrees* The power of innovation through cross-pollination* How relationships and partnerships drive success in tech* The invaluable role of learning and embracing challengesJoin Josh as he reveals the secret to thriving in the fast-paced tech industry: a fusion of passion, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. Tune in for a thought-provoking and inspiring discussion that will ignite your curiosity and empower you to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology.

Join us as we speak with Adam Boyle, CEO of EngageRM and founder of Pegasus, an Australian tech company that started in mining safety and grew into a global player before a successful exit. We'll hear how Pegasus got its start doing labour hire and training in the mining industry before expanding into software like digital safety inductions. When the mining downturn hit, Pegasus pivoted to new industries like retail, developing contractor management portals for major companies like Woolworths. Just as the company was preparing to expand internationally, COVID-19 struck, but Pegasus was able to quickly adapt its software to help businesses manage new pandemic protocols. This agility led to continued growth and acquisition offers, culminating in a +$150 million sale to Avetta in late 2020. Tune in for the fascinating story of Pegasus' journey from local startup to global exit, how the company and its employees benefited financially, and what founder Adam Boyle is up to now as an investor and advisor in the tech sector.

This episode of the NTP Podcast features Brett Thomas, COO of The Melt. Brett recounts his journey from aspiring professional soccer player to founding The Melt, a hardware startup accelerator. After a leg injury ended his soccer career, Brett backpacked internationally for a year before working in surveying and offshore hydrographic positioning. He later helped build out the internet's fiber optic infrastructure during its rapid growth. Brett then joined mining supply chain software startup Qmaster with his current business partner Trent Bagnell. After Qmaster's acquisition, Trent founded the Slingshot startup accelerator. Inspired by Slingshot's success, Brett and Trent opened The Melt's first prototyping lab to support hardware startups. They have since expanded The Melt's network and facilities with various partnerships and grants.

Join us as we speak with Josh Weeks, founder and Director of Alpha Echo, an Australian cybersecurity company. Josh shares his journey from wanting to be a teacher to becoming an aerospace engineer for the Australian Defence Force. After leaving the ADF, Josh struggled to find work but eventually launched his own contracting company in Canberra. He later moved his family back to Newcastle and slowly grew his business by expanding into new government contracts. Today Alpha Echo has 35 employees across cybersecurity, training, and classified facilities management. Josh discusses the challenges of starting a company and his focus on hiring good people and giving back to the Newcastle region. He explains how Alpha Echo aims to improve Australia's cybersecurity posture through education and leading by example. Tune in to hear more about the origins and growth of this homegrown cybersecurity firm.

In this episode, Carolyn Breeze shares her career journey through the world of tech and payments. Starting at eBay, she gained experience at large Silicon Valley companies before becoming Country Manager for Braintree in Australia. Her passion for payments grew as she helped expand GoCardless's services down under. After a stint as Chief Commercial Officer at Zepto, Carolyn took on the CEO role at Scalare Partners - an early stage investment firm with a unique model.  Carolyn outlines how Scalare differs from traditional VC firms by taking an active role in helping their 26 portfolio companies. She also provides advice on taking on new challenges to expand skills, even if you feel underqualified. The conversation covers the sacrifices of being a startup founder, the importance of founder self-care and salaries, and why founders deserve the opportunity to benefit financially from secondary sales. Carolyn reflects on her learnings so far and the value of ongoing education and resources. Tune in for an insightful chat about thriving in tech, the payments space, and the world of startups and investing.

On this episode of the Digitally Diverse podcast, Ellen talks to Sophie Benjamin, Content Designer at Canva. Sophie talks about going through three career changes, and the process of transitioning into tech. We discuss the principles of content design and the similarities and differences between them and UX or Product Design. The episode also covers a wide range of topics spinning out of Sophie's varied career history, including how to build a sustainable culture, find your workplace fit, manage the risk of burnout, and grow your career. 

In this episode, James talks to Michelle Crawford, Chief Conversationalist of Being More Human.  Michelle sheds light on the power of good leadership. People often forget that leadership and management is a technical capability and shares tips to help listeners develop that skill.  We also look at how the best leaders have excellent strategic thinking capabilities and embrace ambiguity. We discuss your genius zone, where you are most efficient, and how to identify and assist your team to work in that zone, too.  Michelle then dives into her experiences with start ups; culture building, developing a sales funnel, managing multiple priorities and identifying high-performers. This podcast is for anyone interested in start-ups, leadership or culture. We hope you enjoy the show!

On this episode of Digitally Diverse, we talk to Jalissa Lawson, a Senior Product Designer at Zip Co. Jalissa talks about her experience transitioning from marketing to product design and UI, what it's like working in the fintech space and how she's adapted to a start-up way of thinking. Jalissa also shares how she's upskilled via university, boot camps and good old-fashioned YouTube, along with what makes a stand-out workplace culture, and more.

To celebrate our 100th NTP Podcast episode, we filmed our first-ever live episode! In this episode, we take time to reflect on the progress that Newcastle has made from a steel city into a technology hub. We talk about how the technology community fuels and is fuelled by this evolution and how we can keep it growing strong into the future. We also reflect on a massive 100 episodes, with many more to come! This podcast features previous guests of the podcast and some new faces, including Justin Hales, CEO of Camplify, Matt Finch, Head of Emerging Technology at NIB, Linda Apostolidis, Director at NewyTechPeople, Ria O'Donnell, Managing Director at Custom Learning Solutions, Daniel Van Heerden, CTO at BiscIT and many more!  Link to /NEW: slashnew.tech

On this episode of the Digitally Diverse series we chat with Ryan Whitmore, Senior Product Design at Ready Tech. We chat about Ryan's career to date, his role at Ready Tech, resources he recommends and the problems the team at Ready Tech are solving. Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the Digitally Diverse series we chat with Gloria Chan, Head of Design at Wisr about her career to date, advice for those wanting to start a career in design, what the team at Wisr are currently working on and representation in the design industry.  Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the Digitally Diverse series with our host Ellen Bennett we chat with Mikey Ford, Product & Creative Technology. Mikey shares his career journey starting as a developer and moving into the project management space, productivity tips and his perspective on the ever changing technology scene. Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the NTP Podcast we chat with Jackson Clarke about his career to date, his experience at University studying a masters and what problems Tentacle CM&I are solving. Hope you enjoy the interview! 

On this episode of the NewyTechPeople Podcast we interview Adriaan Steyn, Product Design Lead at Hide and Seek Digital. Ellen and Adriaan chat about his career to date, his experience studying at University in South Africa, the projects Adriaan is currently working on as well as his passion for making meaningful impact with his work. Hope you enjoy the interview!

In our latest podcast episode we chat with Andre Pinkowski about his career to date, his experience as a founder and invaluable tips for scaling startups.

In this episode of the NewyTechPeople Podcast’s Digitally Diverse Series, Ellen Bennett has an insightful chat with Ash Ivory, Head of Product at Askable. Ash shares how they amplify the collaborative culture at Askable, gives a peek into the projects their team have been working on, the key learnings they have acquired over their career, and the innovative ways they weave AI into their day-to-day workflow.

On this episode of the NTP Podcast, our host Ellen Bennett sits down with Kavita Agarwal, QR Lead at Arq Group.

On this episode of the NTP Podcast, our host Ellen Bennett sits down with Amanda Chan, Lead Product Designer at Lyka, to discuss the mission of Lyka in creating nutritional food for dogs. Amanda sheds light on the misconceptions surrounding the pet food industry and how Lyka is working to provide transparency and quality in the products they create. Amanda also shares her journey and career in technology, highlighting her passion for creating products that make a positive impact on people and their pets.

In this episode of the NewyTechPeople Podcast, we sit down with Matt Gardan, the Founder of Digital Native. Matt shares his career journey to date, including his experience working overseas. He discusses the problems that Digital Native is solving, and how the internet has changed the workplace. Matt also shares his insights on building resilience in the face of adversity, achieving work/life balance, and the importance of networking. This is not an episode to miss!

In this episode of the NewyTechPeople Podcast, we sit down with Amanda Maykot, Product Design Manager at REA Group, to discuss her career to date. Amanda shares insights from working in product design and management, including what she's learned from women in leadership positions and the importance of mentorship. We also discuss career advice for younger designers and how mentorship can help guide your professional development. If you're interested in a career in product design or management, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Ben Tattersfield, Product Owner & Business Analyst at Codafication. We discuss Ben’s experience founding a startup, the transition into his current role, what the team at Codafication are currently working on and key learnings from his career. Hope you enjoy the interview!

In this episode of our Digitally Diverse series with host Ellen Bennett we interview Rebecca Bolton, Brand Designer at Enigma. We discuss her university experience, freelance work, passion for design and key insights she would give to those wanting to start a career in technology. Hope you enjoy the interview!

In this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Daniel Borg, Director/Designer at psyborg®. Daniel is a Newcastle local and well known in the Newcastle technology community. We hear more about his experience in the design space and key learnings building a business from startup phase. Hope you enjoy the interview!

In this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Ria ODonnell, Managing Director at Custom Learning Design. We discuss Ria's career to date, how she transitioned into her role as managing director and a focus on learning and business development. Hope you enjoy the episode!

In this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Sam Bricknell, Co-Founder and Director of Techvisa. Techvisa are the go-to in the tech space for Immigration advice, with a combined 30+ years of experience. They have worked with some of Australia’s largest VC funds supporting their start-up portfolio members to navigate the process of securing talent offshore. We chat about Sam's career to date, his experience Co-Founding a company and advice he would give to younger tech professionals. Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Mark Boswell & Alek Patsouris from Strategic Group. We discuss Mark & Alek's career to date and what they are currently working on as well as their teams focus on building strong relationships with employees working remotely. Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Mitchell Bright, Lead Electronics Engineer at D+I Newcastle. We discuss his career to date, his university experience and the transition into Design and Industry.  Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Luke Thompson, CTO at LEOPARD.Host. We discuss his experience growing a hosting company in Lake Macquarie and the challenges competing against international players as well as advice he would give to those starting a career in tech.  Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Jacqueline Garrett, Founder and CEO at GGWP Academy. We find out more on the creation of GGWP, the need for this in the gaming world, working as female founder in tech and GGWP's recent crowdfunding opportunities. Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Sandy Agafonoff, Squad Lead at Hello Fresh. We talk about his role within Hello Fresh, the rise of the company globally, his experience working in technology and his transition from freelancing to working with a rapidly growing company. Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the NTP podcast we chat with Mike McKiernan, about the idea behind starting Deckee, his experience growing a startup to an international and now global scale and the recent crowdfunding investment opportunities.  Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the NTP Podcast we interview Angela Cobb & Oliver Stewart, Co-Founders at Tortoise & Hare. We talk about their recent rebranding, the ethos of Tortoise & Hare, how customer experience has become an absolute necessity for businesses and key resources they recommend. Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the NTP Podcast we interview Vivek Jayachandran, Co-founder & Managing Director at Jaegersoft. We discuss Vivek's experience going from university to founding a Software Development company, the benefits of work placement and the importance of networking to grow a career in tech. Hope you enjoy the interview!

In this episode we chat with Phil Ireland, CEO & Co-Founder of Hone Carbon. We discuss what the team at Hone Carbon have been working on, Hone group progressing through a Series A funding round and resources Phil would recommend to our listeners. Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the RemoteTechPodcast series we interview James Barr, Senior Product Designer at Digital Creators. James shares insights from the different stages of the product design life cycle and explains how he collaborates with his team and his clients entirely remotely. Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the NTP Podcast we interview Cathy Lill, Head of Product Engineering at Hireup. We discuss her career to date, how Hireup approaches remote work and recommendations/resources for technology professionals. Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the NTP Podcast we interview Martin Carr, Founder/Director of Applied Virtual Simulation. You may recognise him from a previous episode on the podcast. Martin returns to discuss their 3 year contract with Land Simulation Core 2.0. Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode we chat about the growth of the business, recommendations for young tech professionals and what they look for in tech hires within the company. Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the NTP Podcast we interview Jonathan Milgate for the second time. The last time we spoke to Jonathan was over two years ago and in that time he has transitioned into his role as CTO at Camplify. Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the NTP podcast we interview Daniel Van Heerden, Software Development Manager at Biscit. We talk about his experience working in Newcastle, how working from home affected his team, his perspective on university as a pathway into technology and transitioning from a technical role into a people management role. Hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode of the RemoteTechPodcast series we interview Ben May from the Code Company. Ben shares his advice on building culture remotely as well as how he has scaled the Code Company from Hervey Bay Queensland to a worldwide audience. Hope you enjoy the interview!

On this episode of the NTP podcast we interview Cole Cornford, Director at Galah Cyber. We talk about his experience working in cyber security, his interest in the Newcastle technology community and growing cyber security in the area. Hope you enjoy the episode.