IT Leadership · Cloud · Cybersecurity

Mazidul
Hakim.

IT Manager — Technology & Infrastructure Leadership

Senior IT leader with 17+ years turning technology functions around — network modernisation, cloud migration and cybersecurity uplift across complex, multi-site organisations.

17+
Years in IT leadership
$2.4M+
Annual IT budget owned
8
Branches supported
99.9%
Network uptime
Manifest / 01

About

Senior IT leader with 17+ years' experience owning IT strategy, operations and cybersecurity for multi-branch, multi-entity organisations — currently leading the group technology function for an international shipping and logistics business. I build and run distributed onshore/offshore teams, own technology budgets, and partner directly with senior leadership to turn business growth priorities into a clear, funded technology roadmap.

My track record is taking full ownership of a technology function and transforming it: replacing legacy network infrastructure with a modern SASE architecture, delivering a full cloud migration, and embedding ITIL-aligned governance — while staying close enough to the technical detail to be the escalation point when it counts.

Career highlights

  • $2.4M+ / 8 branchesOwns IT strategy, budget and operations across Australia and New Zealand for a global shipping and logistics group
  • MPLS → Fortinet SASERemoved single points of failure across every branch
  • Azure cloud migrationCompute, virtual desktop, identity and device management
  • Essential 8 programGroup-wide cybersecurity uplift at lower licensing cost

I judge every technology decision by the business outcome it drives — not the shine of the tool. Uptime and security are the baseline; the job is turning IT into something the business can actually grow on.

Manifest / 02

Selected impact

$2.4M+

Annual IT budget owned across 8 branches in Australia & New Zealand

50%

Performance & stability improvement delivered by the virtualisation overhaul

$100K+

Annual savings from cutting third-party ICT reliance

99.9%

Network uptime maintained through every transformation program

Zero

Infrastructure single points of failure after the DR rebuild

8

Branches unified under one IT strategy and security posture

Manifest / 03

Transformations

Infrastructure / Resilience

Infrastructure modernisation

Challenge

Aging on-prem server and storage infrastructure with no real disaster recovery.

Approach

Replaced with Dell modular servers and EMC storage, new L3 Cisco switching, repurposed legacy hardware into a DR site, deployed VEEAM backup.

Result

Eliminated single points of hardware failure and stood up working disaster recovery for the first time.

Security / Risk

Cybersecurity uplift

Challenge

Fragmented security tooling and inconsistent access control across a distributed workforce.

Approach

Deployed Fortinet NGFW, client VPN, org-wide MFA, password management, and moved email security to a cloud platform.

Result

Consolidated the security stack and gave the business real-time vulnerability visibility for the first time.

Cloud / Collaboration

Cloud & collaboration migration

Challenge

On-prem Exchange was a single point of failure with no modern collaboration tooling.

Approach

Migrated to Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint), rolled out Azure AD and hybrid cloud storage.

Result

Modernised collaboration company-wide and removed dependency on aging on-prem mail infrastructure.

Data / Continuity

Cloud backup & disaster recovery

Challenge

Backup and recovery was manual, slow, and not cloud-resilient.

Approach

Implemented cloud-based backup integrated with AWS, plus SaaS backup for Office 365 data.

Result

Cost-efficient, compliance-ready data protection with far faster, more reliable recovery.

Network / Connectivity

Network & WAN redesign

Challenge

Legacy managed WAN limited flexibility and reliability across branch sites.

Approach

Directed upgrade to fibre connectivity across all sites and transition to a cloud-managed gateway.

Result

Higher availability and simpler, centrally managed network operations across every branch.

Infrastructure / Performance

Virtualisation overhaul

Challenge

Aging server hardware and legacy virtualisation platform were constraining performance.

Approach

Replaced with Tier 1 hardware, migrated to Hyper-V, upgraded server OS and mail platform.

Result

Improved performance and stability by up to 50%.

Manifest / 04

Expertise

Cloud & identity

Design and manage secure, scalable cloud environments.

AzureAWSMicrosoft 365 IntuneEntra IDMFA

Network & security

Architect resilient, zero-trust network infrastructure.

Fortinet SASECiscoAruba MerakiPalo Alto

Cybersecurity

Build layered defence and real-time threat visibility.

CrowdStrikeDefenderSentinel Essential 8DLP

Data, AI & automation

Turn operational data into decision-ready insight.

CopilotSnowflakePower BI CargoWise

Virtualisation & DR

Engineer resilient infrastructure with proven recovery.

VMwareHyper-VCitrix Azure BackupDruva

Leadership

Lead distributed teams and multi-million dollar budgets.

Team leadershipBudget ownershipVendor management
Manifest / 05

Experience

IT Systems Manager
// PIL Australia, Melbourne
Jan 2024 — Present
  • Own a $2.4M+ annual IT budget and end-to-end responsibility for infrastructure, networks, cloud, cybersecurity, applications and devices across 8 branches in Australia and New Zealand
  • Led the shift from legacy MPLS to Fortinet SASE, and directed a full Azure cloud migration (compute, AVD, identity, Intune)
  • Built a group-wide cybersecurity program aligned to Essential 8, consolidating tooling while cutting licensing cost
  • Established ITIL-aligned incident, change and problem management across the group
Senior Systems Analyst
// PIL Australia, Melbourne
May 2019 — Jan 2024
Led IT operations across Australia and New Zealand branches and offshore teams in India and the Philippines, working closely with PIL Singapore Head Office. Strengthened cybersecurity and led the transition to cloud infrastructure. Promoted to IT Systems Manager.
ICT Coordinator
// Shire of Ashburton, WA
Jul 2018 — May 2019
Headed an IT team and a $1.8M annual budget, maintaining 99.9% network/system uptime while reducing costs through project-managed upgrades.
Information Systems Administrator
// Shire of Ashburton, WA
Oct 2014 — Jul 2018
Headed the IT Service Desk supporting 250+ users across 14 locations, cutting third-party ICT reliance and delivering annual savings over $100K. Promoted to ICT Coordinator.
IT Support Officer
// Shire of Murray, WA
Oct 2012 — Sep 2014
Provided 2nd/3rd-line technical support and led continuous improvement of IT processes, policies and documentation, including disaster recovery planning and SharePoint administration.
Computer Engineer
// Leading Edge Computers, WA
Jan 2011 — Oct 2012
Managed network and IT infrastructure design projects for SME and corporate clients — from business analysis through to delivery — the client-facing consulting foundation everything since has built on.
Manifest / 06

Qualifications & certifications

Education

  • Master of Information Technology — Edith Cowan University
  • Grad. Dip. Internet Computing — Edith Cowan University
  • Diploma of Management — Challenger Institute
  • Bachelor of Computer Application — Bangalore University

Certifications

  • ACS Certified Technologist
  • Certified Cisco Meraki Network Operator
  • Cisco ICND1/ICND2 (CCNA) · Exinda ECNA
  • Palo Alto Next-Gen Firewall (PAN-OS)
Manifest / 07

Let's connect.

Reach out about IT leadership, cloud & network modernisation, cybersecurity, or logistics tech.