Who we are

As well as being an ethically minded, socially responsible, technically expert, slightly geekish workers collective, GreenNet is also 10 rather interesting individuals…

Michael (aka Mimo)

Experience at GN: Michael’s been working for GreenNet since 2002. His expertise lies in Open Source technologies and solutions. He is responsible for Debian systems administration, systems development and web development.
Favourite OS: Debian (allegedly he also has it running on his fridge)
Famous for: Open source greylisting policy service for our mail system and a multilingual extension to the Open Source content management used by GreenNet and the wider APC community.
Languages: German, English and PHP
Least likely to say: “Would you like me to clear up the office and wash up all the dirty cups?”

Liz

Experience at GN: Liz has worked for GreenNet since 1998, initially on user support and web server administration, and more recently on web development projects using ActionApps and Drupal. As an active member of the APC Women’s Networking Support Programme, she has contributed to technical installations and training at a number of UN conferences and international events supporting women and technology.
Favourite OS: Kubuntu
Famous for: Still keeping her chickens outside despite avian flu.
Languages: real English, techie English
Least likely to: get in a stew

Marek

Experience at GN: Marek has worked with GreenNet since 2000 as the technical operations manager. He works on core systems administration, platform monitoring and development, clients’ systems supervision, the analysis of web based projects; web servers’ administration and programming.
Favourite OS:
Famous for: Migrating the entire GN system to a colocated Linux platform and generally securing GreenNet’s future through brilliant technical planning.
Languages: Czech, English, Czechlish
Least likely to say: “Comrades”

Cedric

Experience at GN: Cedric has been providing freelance IT support to the Voluntary sector for 10 years. Previously a network administrator, programmer and technical writer with BT, he has Perl, VB and C++ skills and designed a content-management web system from scratch in Perl. He has been with GreenNet since 2003, working on regular mail and web systems administration, DNS administration and 1st level client support.
Favourite OS: CPM
Famous for: Being a supporter of the Campaign for Real Ale, and avid collector and analyser of spam, and pioneering no-cost peer-to-peer website mirroring.
Languages: British English (perfectly spelt and composed)
Contribution to the revolution: “childcare and proof-reading manifestos.”

Ian

Experience at GN: Ian has worked for GreenNet since 2005, and prior to that he worked for Laneta in Mexico City. For GreenNet, he has worked on a range of Drupal-based web projects, including some that have involved Drupal module development, and CiviCRM integration. Ian’s expertise lies in open source web solutions and security measures. He has also pioneered a ground-breaking new comprehensive Linux installation training amongst the GN user community.
Favourite OS: Kubuntu
Famous for: Defending APC DNS and borderline obsessive compulsive behaviour around security – leaving us so well locked up that not even the sysadmins can get into the server.
Languages: United Statesian English, Spanish
Least likely to say: “I say chaps, any chance of getting a warm beer around here?”

Howard

Experience at GN: Howard Lane is GreenNet’s Finance Officer. He has responsibility for financial planning and expenditure management. He prepares the company’s annual accounts, and quarterly financial reports. He implements a monthly bill run for invoicing GreenNet’s users. He also manages the financial relationship between GreenNet Ltd and the parent charity, the GreenNet Educational Trust. Howard is a certified accountant with 15 years’ experience.
Favourite OS: Anything that works (pleeeze!)
Famous for: Being an avant-garde percussionist – one of Britain’s foremost players of the plastic bucket.
Languages: English (south of the river and legalise)
Least likely to say: “it’s free as in beer”

Ana

Experience at GN: Ana works on 1st level support, offering bi-lingual advice on connectivity, hosting and use of open source applications. Ana’s background is in Open Source Software training and advocacy, and radical journalism for Indymedia.
Favourite OS: Ubuntu (although getting increasingly sceptical since it started snuggling up with Google)
Famous for: installing OpenOffice on people’s computers when they are not looking, and holidaying in Palestine.
Languages: Spanish, English
Most likely to say: “Call me back when you’ve uninstalled Outlook Express”

Sharif

Experience at GN: Sharif is our latest recruit, joining GreenNet in July 2007, and has a background in networking, web design and multi-media technology. Your first point of contact with GreenNet Support on Thursday’s and Friday’s Sharif solves users technical problems and contributes to various projects within the collective. Having lived in Egypt, Jordan, Brunei and now London he has been involved in networking and IT workshops in Africa and Asia promoting Open Source and low-power/off grid computing projects.
Favourite OS: Ubuntu
Famous for: Drifting sleepily into the office early morning in a very fetching pair of Thai fishermen pants, as well as getting our new broadband service up and running, not to mention schmoozing with the users and generally charming the socks off everyone.
Languages: English, Arabic
Most likely to say: “Oh gosh, is that the time – I must get off to work!”

Anna

Experience at GN: Anna has worked for GN since 1999 and has 10 years experience working on web and related training projects with non-profit organisations. Anna handles outreach, web project management, project conceptualisation and planning, CMS support and training.
Favourite OS: ChaOS
Famous for: Obsessive compulsive knitting tendencies.
Languages: English, German
Most likely to say: “Is anyone going for lunch?”

Karen

No longer based in the office, Karen still supplies GreenNet with spiritual guidance whilst circumnavigating the globe, fighting the good fight for open access to ICTs.