James Bertschik

Led comprehensive IT consultancy services, overseeing full lifecycle technology fleet refreshes for SMEs across diverse sectors, including non-profit, healthcare, manufacturing, and engineering.

Developed and led the maintenance of multiple custom software solutions, enhancing operational efficiency for a major Australian Health Insurance company.

Designed and deployed multiple Microsoft 365 cloud adoption and uplift projects for geographically dispersed clients, enhancing remote work capabilities and business continuity in response to 2020's evolving environment.

Engineered and delivered a custom multi-camera live streaming solution for Frankston City Council, enabling simulcast coverage of 2018 Victorian State and 2019 Federal Election debates to online audiences across multiple social media platforms.

Secured grant funding from Multimedia Victoria (now Film Victoria) to facilitate the UK expo of in-house developed streaming audio and video platforms.

Directed comprehensive operational management, including building infrastructure, OH&S compliance, vendor relations, and advanced technology systems (digital signage, access control, network security, high-speed Wi-Fi).

Served as a key liaison with local enterprise, education, and government bodies, actively participating in committees and advocacy groups to shape regional economic growth, flexible work, and health tech initiatives.

Co-developed and successfully pitched funding applications to LaunchVic and Frankston City Council, securing over $300,000 for startup ecosystem development.

Initiated and secured a $15.3M Federal Election commitment in 2019, collaborating with Monash University and Peninsula Health to establish the 'PenStart' HealthTech Accelerator.

Implemented a comprehensive web-based member management system, integrating billing, payment processing, legal agreements, access control, and resource allocation, streamlining operations and member services.

Recruited over 20 early-stage pre-seed startup founders into the Founder Institute program through workshops, networking events, and 'Founder Panels', fostering a robust entrepreneurial pipeline.

Cultivated and managed critical stakeholder relationships, including securing financial and in-kind sponsors, venue partners, and a network of business and startup mentors.

Provided direct 1:1 and group mentoring to participants on critical startup topics, including vision, customer development, go-to-market strategy, and fundraising, guiding their business growth.

Managed weekly progress and milestones for all participants, compiling detailed metrics and reports for Founder Institute HQ, ensuring program accountability.

Designed and deployed temporary festival-wide high-speed Wi-Fi and network services, supporting over 800+ end-user nodes/devices across multiple venues for a 48-hour hackathon.

Managed end-to-end technical project lifecycle, translating operational specifications for diverse stakeholders (production, venue, contractors, sponsors), ensuring compliance and high-performance technology delivery.

Procured, deployed, and supported all festival technology, including A/V equipment, facilitating the seamless delivery of 38 workshops and presentations over a 48-hour period.

Developed and integrated ticketing and festival automation interfaces between Eventbrite and internal systems, streamlining participant onboarding, payments, notifications, and access control.

Successfully pivoted the entire 2020 festival to a remote-delivery/collaboration model amidst uncertainty, ensuring continuity of keynote addresses, workshops, panels, and hackathons.

Directed comprehensive operational and technical management, including building infrastructure, OH&S compliance, vendor relations, and advanced technology systems (building automation, high-speed Wi-Fi).

Managed external vendors and served as primary venue liaison, securing critical resources for short-term, high-impact events.

Oversaw the development and administration of websites, databases, and web applications to support organizational goals.

Developed and integrated multiple websites and platforms, consolidating event ticketing, video production, product launches, and eSport/gamer communities under the Anything Interactive brand.

Led ideation and development of new community engagement concepts, collaborating with vendors and sponsors to expand reach within Australia's rapidly growing electronic entertainment and eSport gaming scene.

Served as the technology lead for all Anything Interactive events, managing technical operations for online and in-person gatherings ranging from 50 to 5,000 participants.

Managed the planning, procurement, deployment, and maintenance of all IT infrastructure for 250+ eSport players, supporting over 20,000 attendees during a 7-day festival.

Developed and deployed a custom live-streaming technology stack that broke industry records, enabling the longest continual eSport broadcast with over 15,000 unique streams over 7 days.

Acted as the primary technical liaison for the festival, coordinating with live production teams and venue technical staff to ensure seamless delivery of all technical requirements.

Developed the public-facing festival website, an event ticketing system, and a comprehensive player communication/registration portal, enhancing participant experience.

Engineered and maintained temporary networks, successfully supporting up to 500 computers/devices for large-scale LAN parties.

Developed and administered websites, databases, and web applications, enhancing event management capabilities.

Developed rapid-deployment custom ticketing, payment, and automation solutions, optimizing event setup and participant management within 2-3 days.

Conducted industry outreach and secured sponsorships, enhancing event funding and resources.

Managed external vendors and served as primary venue liaison, securing venues, finances, and insurance for high-impact, technically complex short-term events.