Michael: Business and Technology Resilience Specialist

Every IT contractor develops their own speciality over time, but the path into that niche is rarely straightforward. Projects change, priorities shift, and the skills organisations need most often emerge during disruption rather than planning.

Many contractors find their strongest opportunities appear when businesses realise something critical is missing: capability, preparedness, or resilience.

In this article, we’d like to introduce Michael, a valued member of Umbrella Club. His experience highlights not only the technical side of contracting but also the importance of relationships, reputation, and staying connected.

Looking for a community of experienced IT professionals? Umbrella Club offers connection, shared insight, and professional introductions. Become a member today.

Introducing Michael

Do you have a niche or special areas of interest?

My area, some would say, is very niche.

I get this a lot from recruiters: Business Continuity, IT Disaster Recovery/Service Continuity, or as it’s called these days: Business and Technology Resilience, or Operational Resilience.

In a nutshell, I devise and implement alternate business and technology strategies, systems, plans, and training to help organisations withstand a major outage or incident that could threaten the business’s ability to provide products and services.

Describe your ideal project

Some engagements in the past that have been my ideal project: Walking into a client’s office and realising they don’t have the capabilities or skills in place to withstand and survive should a major outage occur.

For instance, how do they keep the ‘lights on’ and stay in business?

This is my ideal scenario: design, build, drive, influence, and implement a complete program from scratch…until they get to a point where the stakeholders are confident they have the skills and systems in place to survive a major disruption.

Then I hand it over to them…to sustain as an ongoing concern.

What advice would you give to an IT contractor at the start of their career?

Be open to the ups and downs, be prepared for them. There will come a time when there will be gaps, ‘in between’ contracts, and it’s important to deal with this as a ‘given’.

When you’re working and earning, that’s the easy part.

Also, integrate yourself with the client. Meet everybody, even those you don’t work with directly. Get a sense of what the client is all about, understand how they operate and their culture.

The days of contractors sitting at the corner desk working alone unseen are long gone.

Importantly, as they say in real estate: ‘position, position, position’.

In contracting it’s ‘network, network, network’ is absolutely invaluable. And it’s not just about knowing recruiters… you virtually become a brand!!

How long have you been a member of Umbrella Club?

2 months.

What are your favourite things about Umbrella Club?

So far, meeting like-minded people. Plus, Richard and the team seem to be very proactive.

Want to work with Michael or join him as an Umbrella Club member?

Michael highlights something many IT contractors learn over time: technical expertise opens the door, but connection keeps it open.

Meeting people with similar and different skills broadens your perspective, strengthens your knowledge, and often leads to opportunities you wouldn’t see otherwise. Conversations become introductions, and introductions become roles.

Through Umbrella Club, members spend time with like-minded professionals who understand the realities of contracting.

Peer conversations provide perspective during quieter periods, shared experiences help sense-check decisions, and relationships formed outside a project often lead to introductions inside one.

If you want a professional network that continues to work for you, start by joining the community. Or if you’re interested in hiring Michael as a contractor, contact our team today.

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