Neil Rae

Throughout my career, I have worked comfortably at the interface between business leadership and the delivery of digital technology

I am focused on the application of innovative technologies to solve complex problems, such as AI & data analytics, quantum and space based capabilities

I learned leadership and team building through the military but have adapted this to a broad range of cultural contexts, most recently leading the establishment of KPMG's UK Space business in collaboration globally across service lines and sectors

On a long term secondment to a global CIO organisation, I delivered digital transformation programmes across 75 country organisations

This involved working with user bases across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia, a data centre team in Mexico, a support team in Kuala Lumpar and developers in Holland and Colorado

Technical officer, serving in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. I led teams in a variety of challenging environments to deliver and support systems against the tempo of military operations

Some examples of my roles are below

I was an instructor in an anglo-dutch training team establishing a NATO Partnership for Peace staff course in Slovakia. This delivered staff training to officers in military doctrine, tactics and operational planning at battlegroup and brigade level. Students came from countries as diverse as Estonia, Ireland, Ukraine and Uzbekistan

As well as teaching all aspects of the course at syndicate level, I was the lead author for logistics, expeditionary operations and the final test exercise

I led the technical sub-unit that supported 3 Commando Brigade's artillery regiment. My teams served with each battery of the regiment, alongside their supported Royal Marines units. They were based in Plymouth, Arbroath and Poole

I had completed the All Arms Commando Course in 1997 and in the aftermath of 11 Sep 2001 deployed with the regiment to Oman, Afghanistan (Op Jacana) and Iraq (Op Telic - see below for article)

I led the creation and deployment of the high readiness airborne platoon that supported Joint Rapid Reaction Force options, including the Airborne Task Force and Spearhead. This capability has since been used at the forefront of every major UK operation, from Sierra Leone to Afghanistan

I completed P Company and parachute training and provided support to the 'in role' parachute battalion

Army initial staff course covering military doctrine, operational planning and the conduct of military operations at up to brigade level

This degree included the design, development and integration of software, digital and mechanical systems

Here are some public examples of information about my work

I have spoken on panels and keynotes on the growth of space technology innovation at forums ranging from Westminster Business Forum to SpaceComm Expo

This example is a podcast interview from the KPMG Insights team

I have collaborated across KPMG's global Space team to shape and contribute to our thought leadership. This our most recent site

I worked collaboratively across industry and the MOD via Team Defence Information to explore technology innovation in support of a Defence Support Network

This video was released by the MOD to highlight the innovations that were being explored

Presentation to Tech Data World on the potential of distributed computing

Workshop at annual Defence Information conference on the impact of modern digital innovation in Defence

Presentation to Tech Data World on the topic of Semantic Data Services in Defence

I was asked by a student at staff college for notes on the invasion of Iraq years later. I wrote these down and fact checked them with some other members of the Regiment. They are now in the keeping of the REME museum

I am interested in complex problems and how innovation with AI, distributed systems and semantic data can support emergent solutions

At a personal level, I have enjoyed exploring innovation in distributed applications and data stores, such as Tim Berners-Lee's Solid initiative and Freenet

I published an early Solid app on Github

My work on space based technology has extended this into innovation with large earth observation data sets, high capacity networks and edge computing