Brett has worked in the software industry for some 16 years, and in that time he has gained considerable experience in a wide range of technologies, including assorted programming languages such as Fortran, C/C++, and Java; middleware technologies such as CORBA, DCE, and BEA Tuxedo; database platforms such as Oracle and Oracle RDB; and operating systems such as OpenVMS and Linux/UNIX. Brett holds a doctorate in chemical physics from the University of Canterbury, and still maintains close links with the University, working as a part time lecturer in the Electronic and Computer Engineering Department. In his spare time Brett likes to listen to music, play his guitar, and drink beer.