My name is Nate, and I am an intermediate to senior level SharePoint Developer and Technical Consultant. I’m kinda obsessed with software development and anything technology related. I live in Christchurch, New Zealand.

My current focus is on the following:

  • SharePoint Framework (SPFx)
  • React
  • PowerShell
  • Automation
  • Scripted SharePoint tenant administration
  • Azure DevOps
  • ASP.NET Web App and API Development

my history

I changed paths after plateauing in my previous data analysis career. Automation of Excel using VBA awoke a passion within me and I simply couldn’t resist it.

I left the previous career in June 2014 after spending three months studying part time in the evenings - full-time structured studies was what was needed to kick start my ambition.

Fast-forward to October 2016 and I finally graduated with a National Diploma in Advanced Software Development, focusing on C# and Java, amonng other technologies.

Re-wind to early 2016, a Farmer approached me whom required a solution to his irrigation scheduling issues in the looming shadow of a legislation change. The culmination of this scenario was a project lasting two years, whereby I built a bespoke ASP.NET Web Application to handle this particular business challenge.

Things went very well with the product, and there were appearances at multiple successful trade shows. Unfortunately none of those turned into sales, much to my dismay. In a nutshell, the business fell flat and although I was left with the technology, sans a competent business partner the options dried up. Many legal bills bled me dry within the 2017 financial year, which necessitated me putting my aspirations aside to do some actual earning.

While the business side of things didn’t work out, what it did do was give me a lot of very quick, focused real-world experience. Of course it wasn’t as good as working with a mentor, but it sufficed to jump start this career change.

what I do now

I’ve been working for a small professional services company building custom SharePoint WebParts and Extensions including navigation down to individual React component level. My focus has been on replicating default Microsoft ootb look-and-feel while adding extensive additional functionality.

You want a News roll-up function? Microsoft already provides one of those. Oh, you want to be able to filter the existing News items on your SharePoint Communications Site? That’s where I come in!

On top of that I have a particular love for automation of repetitive tasks. I’ve been intimately involved with the automation of complete SharePoint tenant provisioning and customisation using PowerShell, specifically ootb SPO and open source PnP cmdlets.

Finally, that automation goes a lot further when coupled with Azure Logic Apps and Azure Functions to wrap API functionality with solid UX and workflows - all of which I am experienced in.

And now we’re in 2020 in the middle of a viral pandemic and many workplace redundancies, of which I am not immune. Being let go is rough, but I’ve landed on my feet and landed a kick arse role with a bigger company with country wide reach. Excitement is an understatement!

what else is there?

I absolutely love the outdoors, though opportunities are getting harder to come by as I get busier and busier - playing 4 years of catch up ya know? I love going mountain biking, and although I no longer practice them, actively follow the worlds of martial arts and rugby league, and travel as often as I can.

I enjoy all facets of technology, and winding down after a long day with a couple of beers and a session in VR is what I call “a great way to end a challenging day”.