Hello!

I’m Julian. I would say I am a Software Developer, but that is a bit misleading because I no longer spend my entire days writing code. I architect software systems, manage tech teams, strategise about innovation and the business side of technology, and when possible, I do commit and push code up to GitHub. My ambition is to use technology and innovation to advance society at scale.

I currently lead 4IR (primarily blockchain and digital transformation projects) at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR’s) Centre for Robotics and Future Production. In addition, I teach on the MPhil in Financial Technology program at at the University of Cape Town, where I also carry out financial technology research. I have previously developed enterprise operations management software at j5 International which was then acquired by Hexagon PPM (a global software development and services company). Prior to joining j5 International, I developed institutional investment management software at Allan Gray (Africa’s largest privately owned investment management firm).

Outside of software development, I regularly speak at technology conferences and give guest lectures across the world. In recent times, I have tried my hand at building tech startups. I founded FoodPrint – a digital agri platform for farmers to access markets and services via WhatsApp – this was active in South Africa and Uganda, but we ran out of runway and I had to put the business on ice. I am also a founder at Mandla Money – a mobile money wallet for emerging markets.

On this blog, I primarily write about Technology, Business and Travel (I’m in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I haven’t met!). A few of my favourite things – Seriously Good Coffee, Coding, FinTech, The City of Gold (Johannesburg), Podcasting, Reading, Speaking, Writing, Wine Farms, Road Trips and Glenfiddich (on the rocks).

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