Sinclair Stockman
Advisor to the Board of Directors
Mr. Sinclair Stockton's a Subject Matter Expert with Extensive experience in advanced telecommunication systems, digital security, and operational management held the posts of British Telecom (BT Group) CIO and subsequently Chief Scientist. Responsible for budgets above £1.5bn.
Education -Top A-Level student in Northern Ireland Awarded a scholarship to Balliol College in Oxford University, to study mathematics. After my first degree, I was awarded a Thoron Scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, Where again he studied mathematics. Mr. Stockman then was awarded a scholarship to Queen's University in Belfast, to study the Relativistic Effects of Quantum Charge Collisions. I completed my thesis in 20 months and was awarded a Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics.
He joined British Telecom (BT plc,) which was setting up a Digital Innovation Centre in Belfast, which was a courageous step for the company to make, as Belfast was then in the worse days of terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland.
One of the first innovations was to create a Quality Management System, which was one of the first globally. We were given the task to make it happen, which we succeeded in creating, and was the first operational ISO 9000.
I was promoted to lead a team to develop advanced digital platforms, which was a pathfinder for the Communication infrastructure.
In the early 1980s, in conjunction with other colleagues, I led the Development of an innovative digital trading system, which within a year, became the norm for later trading systems globally (when I was in Japan last year, He got into conversation with a trader in Tokyo who confirmed that the essence of the Dealer Trading System was still in operation, 30 years later (obviously with many additions, but the topology was still effective).
The next target was to create a set of specialist digital engineering centers, to create the software to lay the foundation for managing the new wave of digital mobile phones.
He then moved to the British Telecom (BT), Technology Centre at Martlesham (UK), and I was one of several team leaders who were given the task of creating the software which would accelerate the exploitation of the new waves of digital components. A key part of this was to eliminate hacking and securing personal, business, and government information. Within a year, we had identified hackers and taken down their systems. In parallel, we created systems that could identify individual attackers both for economic integrity and investment but also identified illegal exploitation of children and also vulnerable people.
A team was created to address these attacks, and the systems team provided the software and technology which was successful both against illegal pornography, but also eliminating attacks and potential attacks in the City of London and beyond.
In parallel with the hardware technology teams, we set up one of the first digital imaging of individuals who were engaged in attacks against the state and also against individuals and companies. Again this evolved into highly successful counterattacks over many years (and is still in play, albeit the technology has changed significantly).
One of our fastest targets was on one Monday when one of the newspapers featured information provided by a hacker who claimed he had access to the BT platform. Within 2 hours, we had identified from a field of thousands who could have had access to the target date, to only 3 people, and by midday, the operator had been taken down (arrested).
As an aside, in court, the case was lost, because companies had not placed a statement when a computer was turned on anywhere in the world, which should have said -' this computer can only be used for legal purposes. Within 24 hours most systems added this warning and made it possible to take down hackers. Following this, we set up a team with the task of proactively taking down hackers, a process that continues to this day, but deals somewhat with more sophisticated attacks.
At this stage, child pornography came to the fore, and specialist teams were put in place to counter this evil. Whilst many companies have set up appropriate systems to take these attacks rapidly, there are still many cases of companies and individuals who are not aware that their systems are being used to continue selling this evil.
Following on from this phase, the digital platforms which were developed enabled operational teams to take down physical attacks, as well as financial. Again, whilst systems have taken out the abuse of innocents, new evil attacks require new and innovative counterattacks.
In 1997, I was tasked with creating a joint venture with Vivendi, based in Paris. The adventure succeeded in transforming telecoms into new business opportunities. After 3 years, I moved back into core BT and was given the role of the CIO (one of the first), which the task of accelerating the BT systems to underpin new business innovations. As CIO, I was responsible for both the UK systems and the international systems. This resulted in working with Mahindra in India and other companies. These and other innovations still function.
Following a successful career with BT, I decided to leave the group, and get involved in innovations. On leaving I was awarded the Martlesham Medal for Innovation and Communications.
He engaged two major lines, one on Digital health, which resulted in activity with the UN and also on helping to build business opportunities in Northern Ireland. Key to the latter was the deployment of high-speed digital connectivity. Working with ‘fellow travelers’ we succeeded in high-speed fiber delivered to key businesses on the first wave and then into new businesses, for example, media and manufacturing. These lines have been successful in enhancing Northern Ireland's business growth and have resulted in creating new jobs and opportunities to make the dark days in Northern Ireland be things of the past.
As well as my technology and leadership roles, I have also been a member of the Corrymeela Reconciliation body, which aims to move from fear to bright futures. This activity, with the many people who are engaged with this, has helped Northern Ireland and Ireland as a whole look forward positively. I am very much aware that we have still steps to take until the peace is truly solid. Again, the digital platforms we have deployed can accelerate engagement and partnerships, and with a fair wind, this can extend to all of the nations.
In the meantime, I remain clear that we have to work constantly for the light, the work of helping the vulnerable is something we need to sustain.
Recently acted as advisor to government for digital infrastructure, collaborated on the launch of the Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health, acted as an advisor for Smart Business Processes.
Chairman of the Connected Health Innovation Centre and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Ulster. He is also New Zealand Honorary Consul for Northern Ireland.
He resides in Belfast, Ireland.
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