Solution Architect wins Microsoft's MVP five years running

The enterprise application company has 250 plus staff and Francis, who works as a practice and productivity manager, is the only Solutions Architect Most Valued Professional (MVP) in Australia.

The accolade recognises his contribution to global best practice in solutions architecture.

"Being awarded an MVP once is an awesome experience. It is a personal award, not given because someone works for a major corporate, and it is given in recognition of work done in the IT community rather than behind doors," said Francis.  

"The best part about it is the community that it brings you into. The global MVP community is a stunning group of experts. 

"We all get together around March in Redmond, and it is a brilliant opportunity to exchange ideas with some of the best in the global ICT industry,' he said.

Francis has over 23 years experience in IT.

Speaking about being nominated five times, he said being an MVP is 'both hard and easy'. 

"The easy part is knowing what is needed, know a lot about something, and be prepared to share your knowledge openly and freely," he said. 

Francis, who is a Companion of the Australian Computer Society, said his strengths include SOA, IT strategies, Enterprise Architecture, BI/DW and technologies such as J2EE and the Microsoft product stack, including .NET.

He and the other Architecture MVP's work with Microsoft to map the future of Microsoft software and the Microsoft architecture community.

His role at Object includes leading two initiatives. The first is structuring Object's IP and people into Practices and the development and delivery of its IP, knowledge and capabilities as solutions. 

For example, the company is developing solutions and building skills in areas like Architecture, Microsoft, Cloud, Sustainability and Banking. 

The second initiative is delivering projects at a level that puts its solutions on par with those worldwide.

Dr Julian Edwards, chief operating officer at Object Consulting said to be acknowledged within Microsoft MVP's highly select group of experts for the fifth year running, puts Kevin amongst technology's best and brightest.

"Kevin's expertise has been instrumental in strengthening Object's practices and, consequently, strengthening Object's position as a seat of technical excellence.

"His commitment to best-practice and contribution to continually raising Object's performance benchmarks are reflected in his contribution to the industry and I am pleased that his broader contribution has, again, been recognised by Microsoft," he said.