Executive Team and Divisional Directors

Chris Carter

Managing Director

Chris is the founder of Planit and a respected figure in software testing internationally. As a Board Member of the ISTQB and ANZTB, Chris has been a major driver in advancing the Australian and New Zealand testing industries. His industry knowledge and management skills have been key to Planit’s continued growth, firmly establishing the company’s reputation for integrity and quality.

Mike Weale

Chief Operating Officer

Mike has been Planit’s Chief Operating Officer since 2004. With senior management experience in the IT industry including Managing Director of Sapphire Technologies, he is responsible for ensuring best-in-class service and training delivery, and maintaining a 400+ strong workforce of the very best people in software testing and business analysis in Australia and New Zealand.

Winnie Gu

Finance Manager

Winnie has been the head of Planit’s finance department since 2008, being responsible for providing Finance and Accounting support functions across the organisation. She has been a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) for over 15 years with over 20 years’ experience in accounting and finance, accumulated from various industries including manufacturing, business services and IT.

Lauren Johnson

Human Resources Manager

As the Human Resources Manager across Planit’s Australian & New Zealand operations, Lauren is responsible for the recruitment, on-boarding and engagement of all Planit employees. Lauren’s work in employee development and relations is key to the strategic direction of the organisation, as is her work to reinforce Planit’s profile as an employer of choice in the software testing and training arena. Lauren holds a Masters of Commerce, majoring in Human Resources & Industrial Relations, and is a Certified Professional of the Australian Human Resources Institute.

Graham Davis

Director of Testing Services – Sydney

Graham is an experienced tester and Director of Planit’s Sydney Testing Services division, employing in excess of 180+ full-time consultants. He is involved in business and strategic development, client management, recruitment and staff management. Graham has been instrumental in the growth of Planit’s Testing Services and Training divisions over the past decade and takes an active role in providing leadership across the business.

Darren Dalla Riva

Director of Testing Services – Melbourne

As Director of Testing Service Melbourne, Darren is responsible for the successful operation and delivery of Planit’s Melbourne Testing Services division. With over 15 years Test Management experience in some of Australia’s largest companies, Darren has played key roles in the delivery of business-critical projects and development of organisational testing competencies. His experience includes National Test Management, Project Management, Program Test Management of complex transformation programs and hands-on consultancy.

Alex Edwards

Director of Technical Testing Services

As Director of Technical Testing Services, Alex is responsible for all Planit’s Technical Testing across Australia. Alex is an accomplished Technical Test Practitioner, bringing 15 years’ experience from a diverse range of industries including Defence, Retail, Construction and Public Services, working in Performance Testing, Test Automation, Operational Testing and Security. His previous roles include National Test Strategist, Non-functional Test Manager and Technical Project Manager.

Simon Farrant

Director of Testing Services – New Zealand

As Director of Testing Services in New Zealand, Simon is the head of a strong local team and with their help, has overseen the the growth of the Planit business in New Zealand and manages operations, accounts and relationships for our public and private sector clients. Simon brings a wealth of experience from his nearly 2 decades in Information Technology field from working as Business Analyst, Test Analyst, Programme Test Manager, Test Services Manager, Technical Writer, Developer, Project Manager, Trainer and Consultant across the Finance, Government and Utilities industry sectors.

James Pennefather

Director of Training

James has extensive management experience, enjoying success in a large cross-section of industries and locations around the world, following growth industries in emerging markets. James utilises his strong sales and people skills to effectively run Planit’s training division. Additionally, James holds a Masters in Marketing and works at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) as an assistant lecturer, teaching students business planning and strategy.

Mike Crawford

Director of Business Analysis Services

Mike has more than thirty years of experience in IT and business systems change. He has worked with a huge range of commercial, governmental and not-for-profit organisations to build and enhance business analysis capability. Mike is a regular speaker at industry events for institutions such as the IEEE, BA World and the Australian Computer Society. He is an accomplished communicator and trainer whose passion for the BA profession is reflected in his course results. Mike is also a British Computer Society examiner, a certified assessor for the Australian Institute of Business Analysis, a trained mediator and NLP master practitioner.