| About Andy Walker
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Andy is an enthusiastic entrepreneur.
He now runs a number of businesses in the West Yorkshire region
and drives several community initiatives.
Previously from a project management background in a wide range
of computing and electronics companies Andy has held both
Operations and Development management positions.
Andy has MSc (Distinction) and BSc (Honours) degrees.
Passionate about sustainable communities and energy
efficiency, Andy now gives talks and presentations across
the region.
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Andy had a consultant role on Internet and Intranet related
issues as part of a European funded initiative for local manufacturing
companies. This work was associated with the University of Leeds Virtual
Science Park and Business Link for West Yorkshire. During this time Andy gave one to one presentations to the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, MEP and MPs, the Leader of Leeds City Council, the University Senate and number of chairmen and directors of blue chip companies.
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Andy worked
on the BMW / Rover Millennium project and managed the upgrade of their Voice
and Data network across 17 sites.
Andy was pivotal in the introduction of a structured method of risk analysis into BMW / Rover and then led a multi-disciplinary team to produce a Business Continuity Plan for their Voice and Data network.
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For two years Andy was the
Operations Manager for the NHS Messaging Service, a system installed and
managed by BT Syntegra. In this position he was responsible for the 24x7
running of the email system for the National Health Service in England,
Scotland and Wales. The Service provided mission critical facilities for
some 80,000 users on around 7000 sites.
During that time, the Messaging Service experienced a continuous growth
rate of around 10% month on month - ie more than doubling in traffic volume every six months.
Andy had the additional responsibility for IT security and successfully
prepared the organisation for a security audit by the NHS.
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After the BT Syntegra roles Andy formed Almscliff Solutions to specialise in Business Continuity Planning, IT Risk Analysis and Information Security auditing using BS7799 as a framework.
During this period Andy was a guest lecturer on Information Security auditing at the University of Leeds as part of a Computing MSc involving Secure Coding.
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Andy Walker started
around this time to create websites not only for his own start up businesses but also for some local companies.
This has included websites donated to the Otley Courthouse Project, Otley in Bloom, the Otley Film Society and also the Otley Street Festival.
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Andy Walker has been a resident of Otley, West Yorkshire for some 25 years and now gives a significant proportion of his time to community projects.
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For two years up till October 2008 Andy was the Chair of . During that time the organisation doubled in size and found an increasing place representing the 'green voice' of Otley. Through the 'Otley Town Enhancement Study' the group began to tackle larger and larger projects
Andy himself continues to be the project manager for the installation of a number of dry stone wall gateways marking the boundaries of the town.
The first of these was built in 2008 and the second two in 2009. This continuing project includes nine gateway structures - one on each of the roads into Otley.
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Andy played a small role in the formation of the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) in late 2009.
Biogas is an important renewable energy source and will provide a significant percentage of Britain's gas, easing the problem of energy security and also reducing the fossil fuel content of the gas and electricity grid. Andy designed their website, and then ran the Secretariat for the first month after the launch of the Association.
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In 2008 Andy founded and is now currently the Chair of SURE - SUstainable and REnewable Energy in Wharfedale. This community led energy initiative helps people move towards a lower-carbon, lower-energy lifestyle. It aims to tackle fuel poverty in the locality and to help to reduce the possibility of runaway climate change.
The SURE Group is attracting a lot of positive comment in the media and is now being approached by regional agencies to deliver energy initiatives for the area.
More information on the
and in particular on the
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