Maria Shaikh
Summary
Practice Lead with a strong track record in leading integration and digital transformation projects in the IT sector. Skilled in strategic system migrations and optimizing operations through advanced tech solutions. Proven success in enhancing business operations, driving digital innovation, and managing complex projects from start to finish. Committed to leveraging experience to deliver impactful tech advancements and drive operational excellence in a forward-thinking organization.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Practice Lead – Integration Platforms
icare - Insurance & Care NSW
03.2022 - Current
- Successfully managed end-to-end delivery of multiple multi-million dollar projects critical to the business, ensuring they were completed within defined budgets and timelines. Delivered high-quality outcomes that reduced the occurrence of P1 and P2 incidents.
- Developed and executed strategic plans and roadmaps for the practice, managing and monitoring their delivery to ensure alignment with organizational goals and future business needs.
- Created and implemented a comprehensive practice framework covering ways of working, software assurance, quality control, and all roles and processes involved in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
- Recruited and mentored top talent, maintaining high team performance and velocity. Focused on building a cohesive team culture that emphasized collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation.
- Managed intellectual property for the practice, ensuring high-quality documentation and adherence to best practices in knowledge management.
- Led risk management efforts, ensuring incidents were reported, analyzed, and resolved according to company policies. Implemented preventive measures to mitigate future risks and improve system resilience.
- Successfully delivered the upgrade of the integration platform from Mule 3.x to Mule 4.x (60+ APIs), enhancing system performance, scalability, and maintainability.
- Executed complex migrations including DSL Plugin, SES resources, and AWS resources from non-prod to prod accounts, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations and seamless transitions.
- Managed vendor engagement, including contract negotiations, performance evaluations, and extensions. Provided critical feedback on RFPs to select and maintain a high-quality vendor panel aligned with business objectives.
- Planned and executed resource management across multiple portfolios, balancing workload distribution and ensuring optimal use of resources to meet project demands.
- Established and led Centers of Practice (CoP) and Centers of Excellence (CoE), fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across internal and external teams.
- Managed and delivered the practice backlog, covering BAU, enhancement, and production incident items. Prioritized tasks effectively to ensure timely delivery of high-impact projects.
- Played a pivotal role in strategic decision-making processes, contributing insights and recommendations that shaped the direction of the integration platforms and overall IT strategy.
Delivery Manager – Platform Engineering
Deloitte Australia - Consulting
11.2018 - 03.2020
- Directed the migration of insurance systems to cloud infrastructure, significantly enhancing system resilience and operational flexibility.
- Led multiple projects focusing on the digital transformation and systems integration for core insurance processes, achieving streamlined operations and improved customer service.
- Coordinated across various technical and business teams to ensure the delivery of projects aligned with strategic business goals.
- Managed critical stakeholder relationships, facilitating communication and project transparency to drive decision-making processes.
- Implemented Agile practices to improve project delivery timelines and product quality, leading to increased stakeholder satisfaction.
Project Manager
Australian Opal Cutters
08.2018 - 10.2018
- Oversaw the complete digital transformation of the business's legacy E-commerce platform, transitioning to a modern cloud-based system on Google Cloud. This migration involved strategic planning, rigorous testing, and execution to minimize downtime and maintain data integrity.
- Automated critical business processes, transitioning from manual operations to an integrated cloud-based system, which enhanced operational efficiency and reduced error rates.
- Implemented new CRM systems to improve customer interaction and workflow management, significantly improving response times and customer satisfaction.
- Trained the internal team on the new systems, ensuring a smooth transition and immediate productivity following the system change.
Project Manager
Boardroom Media
09.2017 - 07.2018
- Spearheaded the development of a state-of-the-art news publishing platform with advanced content management system capabilities, significantly enhancing the company's digital presence and content distribution efficiency.
- Managed the revamp of an existing webcasting platform, incorporating features for live content updating, moderation, and synchronization during broadcasts, which significantly improved viewer engagement and operational control during live events.
- Facilitated cross-functional team collaboration, ensuring the seamless integration of technological solutions with editorial content, leading to a more dynamic and interactive user experience.
- Oversaw the strategic deployment of digital marketing campaigns and analytics tools, enabling precise tracking of user engagement and content performance, which informed content strategy and boosted audience reach.
Project Manager
Thred Ltd
06.2015 - 10.2017
- Led the launch of the Thred App, integrating AI to enhance user interaction and engagement.
- Directed the development of Sweep, a messaging app using geo-location and augmented reality for contextual communication.
Project Manager
TBST
08.2015 - 10.2015
- Managed digital marketing projects, including website and email campaign design. Worked closely with clients to understand their needs and delivered projects on time and within budget, ensuring client satisfaction.
Software Developer
Clixpert
05.2015 - 06.2015
- Developed custom WordPress websites using PHP and MySQL
- Delivered scalable solutions for diverse business needs, and worked closely with clients to align projects with their goals.
Entrepreneur
Alvo Technologies
02.2009 - 01.2015
- Founded and led a software house delivering custom digital solutions across industries.
- Managed all aspects of the business, including product development, client relations, and financial management.
- Led a team to develop innovative software products, expanding the client base and achieving sustained growth through effective marketing and strong customer relationships.
Software Engineer
Gulf Bridge Switchgear
06.2008 - 10.2009
Software Engineer
Smart Solutions
11.2009 - 02.2009
Intern
Excel Technologies
03.2008 - 05.2008
Intern
Pakistan International Airlines
06.2005
Education
Bachelors of Engineering (Software Engineering) -
Mehran University of Engineering And Technology
05.2008
Higher Secondary School -
Beacon House Public School
06.2003
Skills
- Large Scale Project Management
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Team Leadership
- Program Delivery
- Agile Methodologies
- Change Management
- Resource Management
- Platform Migration
- Digital Transformation
- Quick Learner
Certifications
- CSM - Certified Scrum Master
- SAFe Certified
- SNIA Certified
- AWS Essentials
- Project Management Fundamentals
- Net Framework
Trainings & Courses
- Project Management in Practice
- Change Management
- Influencing without authority
- Emerging Leaders
- Risk Management
- ITILv4
- Human Centric Design
Achievements
- 3rd position among 104 students in Software Engineering Department at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology
- Nominated for the award of “Ownership” at icare People Awards
- Awarded by Deloitte for my contributions at client engagement
- Nominated as part of team for “Passionate” at icare People Award
Timeline
Practice Lead – Integration Platforms
icare - Insurance & Care NSW
03.2022 - Current
Delivery Manager – Platform Engineering
Deloitte Australia - Consulting
11.2018 - 03.2020
Project Manager
Australian Opal Cutters
08.2018 - 10.2018
Project Manager
Boardroom Media
09.2017 - 07.2018
Project Manager
TBST
08.2015 - 10.2015
Project Manager
Thred Ltd
06.2015 - 10.2017
Software Developer
Clixpert
05.2015 - 06.2015
Software Engineer
Smart Solutions
11.2009 - 02.2009
Entrepreneur
Alvo Technologies
02.2009 - 01.2015
Software Engineer
Gulf Bridge Switchgear
06.2008 - 10.2009
Intern
Excel Technologies
03.2008 - 05.2008
Intern
Pakistan International Airlines
06.2005
Bachelors of Engineering (Software Engineering) -
Mehran University of Engineering And Technology
Higher Secondary School -
Beacon House Public School
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