Nigel Schmalkuche was hired in 2017 through 2019 as an Enterprise Architect Strategist to work on a range of activities mostly focused on our Cloud Computing strategy and implementation. Nigel has a wide and deep knowledge in many disciplines that resulted in a fabulous addition to our team.
Some of the activities Nigel progressed for us was our ICT as a Service and Information Insights Strategies, Enterprise Architecture Maturity Model and Assessment, Cloud Adoption and Assurance Framework, various Architecture Work Packages, AWS Public Cloud Initiation workshops, Innovation activities using AI and Machine Learning, commencement of our Data Analytics Community of Practice and TOGAF coaching for our EA staff.
Nigel has great skill in quickly building diagrams and models to help communicate and set directions. He does this energetically by engaging well with stakeholders, refining and seeking approvals through various boards.
He has a deep knowledge of Enterprise Architecture practices and solid experience in the industry. We will miss his enthusiasm and appetite for taking on more tasks and hope that we can hire him again the future.
Christine Stephenson is a pleasure to work with. She is one of those rare people who are both very passionate about enterprise architecture and process management, and who can combine that passion with an ability to provide meaningful outcomes for the business.
Nigel Schmalkuche has extensive and detailed skills in knowledge in Enterprise Architecture and how to establish and deliver and EA capability in an organisation. He is a person of great vision and ability to execute on that vision. His approachable friendly nature made working with him enjoyable.
I've worked with Christine Stephenson on engagements for a number of clients, and rate her highly as an architect, a team builder and as a manager of change. Christine maintains good networks and relationships wherever she goes and has an excellent feel for organisational dynamics and pragmatic change techniques.
I've seen her build a large, effective team in a short time, and been impressed by her ability to educate and create cohesion at the same time. Beyond effectiveness, I've had a great time working with Christine - a consummate professional, but at all times focusing on people.
Nigel Schmalkuche's strengths are enthusiasm, motivation to achieve high quality documents and present to business or ICT clients in a way they understand. He always is well read on a range of ICT subject areas. Nigel specialises in ICT as-a-service Architecture (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, iPaaS, hosting and outsourcing arrangements. He documented and negotiated the implementation of a revised ICT Governance Framework and established the member groups.
Nigel also implemented TOGAF across organisation. He converses well with technical specialists and business owners. He continues to maintain up-to date knowledge across all areas of Enterprise Architecture (Business, Information, Application, Technology, Security), ICT, Strategic Planning, Program and Project Management.
Strong Business acumen. High level of verbal and written of communication. In short Nigel is a very energetic and enthusiastic proponent of Enterprise Architecture and he will be a valuable asset to any organisation.
Christine Stephenson was responsible for giving shape to the fledgling Enterprise Architecture function at Emirates Group IT. As a colleague, she is one of the friendliest people one can possibly meet in a workplace.
She has a natural ability to know and network with people around her. She brought a lot of knowledge, past experience and energy to her work and put in place some of the fundamental cornerstones of EA for the Emirates Group.
Bard Papegaaij is a highly capable and professional consultant who brings enormous capability to the areas of benefits management and enterprise architecture. Importantly he is one of the rare consultants able to translate the IT language into realisable business benefit.
I would highly recommend Bard to prospective clients.
I would like to recommend Nigel Schmalkuche as a highly competent enterprise architect and effective manager. As he is committed to keeping his skills up to date through research and formal certifications he is able to provide credible and contemporary advice to clients, peers, staff and superiors.
Nigel successfully run the Enterprise Architecture Program and produced strategies and roadmaps that have guided the organisation successfully through technology change One major success that he personally initiated while working with me was the ICT Governance Framework. This brought together the necessary governance ICT needed and facilitated sound ICT decisions without added roadblocks. The governance also contributed to the effective running of the technology change program (Program One).
Nigel has a broad experience across a number of ICT disciplines and is able to easily articulate what I require and provided me with products and services that have met or exceeded what I was after. I am happy to provide additional information to attest to his strengths and abilities.
I had the good fortune of associating with Bard Papegaaij during the past few years. Developing an Enterprise Architecture practice at DEEWR offered many challenges.
Bard was frequently our guide, mentor and facilitator. When I did seek advice to get over an immediate hurdle, what I received was valuable insights from someone who was living, breathing and enjoying Enterprise Architecture.
He helped me to understand the game, realize the wider implications, and see well beyond the current issues. I found Bard to be erudite, articulate and always pragmatic in his suggestions. He also has the knack of coming up with the correct pitch to suit his audience.
Christine Stephenson was engaged to assist us develop an EA capability in our large multi-national organisation, at the same time as conducting the business study and requirements to support our ERP Project. Christine's role was to coach and mentor a team of people selected from the business, none of whom had any previous experience with EA or TOGAF.
Building this capability as part of such a huge project was a challenge for all concerned, but under Christine's guidance and with her support, the team have been able to navigate through the process, and develop the plan, skills and tools to successfully deliver the required artifacts to date, including so far a strategic roadmap view of the next 5 years, (over 8 countries), currently working on the detailed Roadmaps to support our ERP implementation.
Working with Christine Stephenson was pure delight. Christine did an amazing job mentoring our team through a large-scale project. She has wonderful skills in turning theory through practice, and a talent for guiding teams of skilled staff through tough waters, upskilling them along the way!
On a personal level Christine brings a wonderfully warm, caring and helpful approach to those she works with, and is adored by all those around her. I'd love to have the opportunity of working with Christine again in future.
Having worked with Nigel Schmalkuche at several conferences, I can say he is one of the friendliest and most dynamic industry professionals I have had the pleasure of working with. His enthusiasm for his profession and can-do attitude make him someone we always want to stay connected with.
Working with Christine Stephenson was a pleasure and we'll miss her. She has a very open attitude with a drive to get work done. I always valued her inputs as a senior manager.
She instigated change and was driving the enterprise architecture team forward. She made sure that standardisation and consolidation was taken to the next level. Always making sure to listen and take others input when coming up with a solution or proposal.
Her knowledge in the IT field is vast and diverse and she has used it to improve the way Emirates Group IT is looking at IT Architecture. She has also made sure that processes were implemented and followed.
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