Chris Kelly: Regional Network Co-ordinator (NI) for UKERNA

In April 2000, Chris Kelly joined UKERNA on secondment as Regional Network Co-ordinator (NI) on a project sponsored by the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, now known as the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).

This role has, inter alia, three core responsibilities:

1. Ensure that supported connections to SuperJANET are provided to 17 NI FE colleges and other suitable Colleges and offices;

2. Assist in setting up a Regional Support Centre based in Northern Ireland;

3. Explore and develop the case for a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) for the NI tertiary education sector.

Thus far, the first two responsibilities have been achieved and the third is still in progress. Currently, Chris is working closely with the NI MAN Steering Group to develop the MAN initiative.

Prior to joining UKERNA, Chris worked as a Senior Systems Analyst in the Networking section of QUB Computing Services. Previously, Chris has worked as a full-time lecturer in Computer Science in the Further Education sector.