08 PEOPLE, PLACES & PRODUCTS
MAGEDATA
The IT Wizard for Professionals
“I think the balance is important.
N
estled amidst exquisite natural beauty in
the hills surrounding Nightcap National
Both places are unique and
Park lies the current headquarters for one
powerfully magical – that makes
of Australia’s most creative IT companies – MAGE-
them a bit extreme to live in.
DATA. “We can stay away from cities, work our
Rather than sit comfortably in the
own hours and breathe properly while focusing.
middle I prefer to switch between
one extreme and the other. That’s
Gazing upon the forest is a brilliant source of
one of the benefi ts of working
inspiration when faced with tricky problems.”
with computers – 90% of the time
When Network Engineer and founder Noven
it doesn’t matter where I am.
Purnell-Webb was chaining himself to trees and
learning HTML he had no idea how strongly his
passion for the environment and human rights The web development arm of the business fol-
would infl uence his future professional career in lowed a similar trajectory. “Building websites
the IT industry. “I started out writing web pages started out as a hobby. Some community groups
about the Goolengook blockade. Then I was recy- needed one; so I gave them a basic site they could
cling PCs to sell to other students. Now I can take manage and update themselves. Then the local
a month out each year to volunteer on IT projects “It’s just a magical place that is so hard to leave. business owners heard and started asking. A few
in developing countries.” Sitting in the Quandong Cafe in Copley I made months later I was working on a website for a
Noven’s overseas projects in countries such as mention that if I could fi nd a job I’d happily live major laser distributor based in Adelaide.”
Laos and Indonesia have been invaluable experi- there. The next day I was offered a Community Then in 2008 they expanded into Northern
ences. “It makes you feel like your skills are actually Development role that took me travelling across NSW. “I’ve always loved this region. Protesters
achieving worthwhile goals.” In Laos he developed the entire region. But it was only part time so I did Falls in particular holds a special place in my heart
the curriculum and trained the teachers for the what I always do when I have time on my hands – and I wanted to be near it.” These two contrasting
National University Faculty of Fine Arts to launch start a new project.” environments could not be more different – from
the country’s fi rst web design course. In Indone- Identifying a lack of qualifi ed, experienced and arid, rocky open spaces to fertile lush rainforest.
sia he has completely revamped the network and professional IT services across the region, Noven “I think the balance is important. Both places are
designed a custom knowledge management system and Ngatina rapidly established a viable business. unique and powerfully magical – that makes them
for USC Satunama, a human rights and community “The fi rst time I went to Marree I had one minor a bit extreme to live in. Rather than sit comfort-
development organisation. “Keeping corporate job to do. Word of mouth spread so rapidly that the ably in the middle I prefer to switch between one
email fl owing doesn’t really compare”, he says. next time I visited I had to stay overnight in order extreme and the other. That’s one of the benefi ts
MAGEDATA began in 2005 when Noven and his to see everyone. Before long I was redesigning the of working with computers – 90% of the time it
wife Ngatina visited the Northern Flinders Ranges. Marree Rural Transaction Centre’s entire network.” doesn’t matter where I am.
Ripple ISSUE 001 / 2009
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