- github.com/daemonl
- chaos404.com/cv/
- +61 458 553 200
- dw@chaos404.com
As a FinTech Consultant Damien applies modern software paradigms to regulated finance. With over a decade of experience, he utilizes his specialist knowledge to create API-first, event-driven, and scalable solutions that solve the complex problems of modernizing traditional financial systems. Damien brings a wide range of technical and leadership skills, leading by example and bringing agility and transformative communication to his teams.
| Time | Company | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2023 - Present | Interchange Financial Technologies | Founding Chief Technology Officer |
| May 2020 - Jun 2023 | Embed Financial Technologies | Chief Technology Officer |
| Jan 2020 - May 2020 | ANZ Bank | Chapter Lead |
| Jun 2019 - Jan 2020 | Bluebike / Duty of Care | Senior Developer |
| Nov 2018 - May 2019 | Nearmap | Senior Developer |
| May 2018 - Nov 2018 | ECAL | Chief Technology Officer |
| Feb 2018 - May 2018 | SEEK | Senior Developer |
| Feb 2016 - Feb 2018 | Third Party Trade | Chief Architect |
| Oct 2015 - Feb 2016 | Lynx IT / Tabcorp | API Lead |
| May 2013 - Oct 2015 | Sapient | Chief Technology Officer (Consultant) |
| Feb 2013 - Oct 2015 | Rebase | Director, Consultant |
| Oct 2012 - Feb 2013 | Smart Matter | Senior Developer |
| Jan 2012 - Oct 2012 | Specialist Link | Principal Developer |
| Apr 2011 - Dec 2011 | World Vision Australia | Contract Developer |
| Feb 2011 - Apr 2011 | Urban Intelligence | Integration & Field Programmer |
| Jul 2009 - Feb 2011 | Lightmoves | Project Support Developer |
Damien's technical expertise includes:
Damien's key skills include:
Following the bankruptcy of FTX.US, Damien transitioned to become the founding CTO of Interchange Financial Technologies, a new startup formed to continue the spirit and mission of Embed Financial Technologies.
As the CTO at Embed Financial Technologies, Damien was responsible for technology decisions and API design. Embed has created modern, developer-focused APIs and portals that enable businesses to create innovative investing experiences within traditional financial systems.
Navigating a complex regulatory environment, Embed successfully launched its clearing product to market on-schedule; while maintaining a developer-led focus.
Embed was acquired by FTX.US in June 2022.
As a Chapter Lead within the 'Fabric' team, Damien worked on ANZx, a project to build a new modern bank within the ANZ's traditional bank brand and infrastructure. He was responsible for the adapter layers between legacy bank platforms and new applications.
At Nearmap, Damien provided native support for GDA2020 and assisted in migrating to a new map tiles service, making major changes to the legacy WMS server.
Due to split focus in a relatively small team, Damien was given full code ownership of these changes. He achieved the goal by wrapping legacy services with a new Go layer as an adapter for incoming and outgoing requests, and progressively replaced functions in the legacy codebase until there was none left, with no disruption to customer flow, allowing for the future release of GDA2020 and other new workflow features.
As CTO at ECAL, Damien began a team and technology transformation from a quagmire of tech-debt into a planned and 'clean' micro-services architecture.
At Third Party Trade, Damien designed and built a quality, modern API, aggregating various 'industry standard' (read: legacy) systems into a single, radically simplified interface.
Customers of Third Party Trade were able to add financial trading functionality to their applications in a matter of weeks, using the services they developed, up until its acquisition by Square Inc. Damien's architecture is now used to power Square's 'Cash App' Investing platform.
At Lynx IT, Damien designed and coded APIs that supported new gambling platforms for Lynx IT's largest client - TabCorp. His innovative solutions met emerging standards within the highly regulated Australian gambling industry.
At Sapient, Damien redeveloped their Medical Practice Management software using modern technologies and techniques. This project required integration with the technically outdated and under supported Medicare Australia Client Adaptor.
Rebase successfully delivered a wide range of solutions, including bespoke ERP systems, BMS integrations, and the Claiming.com.au API which spun off into its own startup company, Sapient.
At Smart Matter, Damien built all front-end components of customer portals, working with styling and designs from agencies, and building APIs to import data from Smart Matter hardware and databases.
All portals are in active use by tens of thousands of end clients each day
At SpecialistLink, Damien transformed and rebuilt their existing application into a global offering that could meet the needs of practitioners around the world.
Introduced the Scrum-Agile project management methodology, combined with Jira and Greenhopper software. Developed a secure software platform that processed Medicare claims, provided complete medical practice management functionalities, and was readily scalable and adaptable to be launched in any global market
At World Vision Australia, Damien was responsible for all front-end JavaScript and assisting with .NET API development and integration.
At Urban Intelligence, Damien was hired as a Dynalite specialist to program non-standard requirements in assembly code, and build custom interfaces into building management systems, way-finding installations, and a touch-screen cafe table to allow customers to order from the table.
At Lightmoves Pty Ltd, Damien built a fully customized, hosted CRM and ERP application, based on open-source libraries and languages.