In our series of spotlight interviews, we introduce you to some of our colleagues working across the Parliamentary Digital Service.
Gerardo Garzon is the Head of Digital Infrastructure and has worked for PDS for eight years.
How would you explain your job to a ten-year-old?
My role is to make sure all the different people working in Parliament (in our buildings or working from wherever they are) can easily connect to our networks, so they can communicate with each other and can get the information they need to do their job well. I think about the ways our networks could break and the things that my team could do to stop this from happening or fix it if it does.
What’s your favourite thing about your role?
Bringing new technology to Parliament. An important part of my role is to keep pace with the latest industry developments, and to consider which new technologies can help Parliament, meeting the needs of our users, while also providing value for money.
What’s your favourite thing about working in Parliament?
Working in a place that’s unique and famous across the world. Whenever I’m in the Palace of Westminster I think about the history that both chambers have witnessed over the centuries. It’s an amazing environment to work in.
What has been your proudest moment at PDS?
I would say redesigning the backbone network which operates across different buildings on the Parliamentary estate. The estate has some very ancient buildings so it’s quite a complex environment, but we aligned the whole network to industry standards and we did it to very tight timescales. This work has improved the user experience for the many people – Members, their staff, visitors – who need to connect to our networks. For example, Parliament can be a busy place with lots of movement, and people sometimes work on the move, and WI-FI is now much more reliable when moving between buildings.
Which of PDS’s values resonates most with you and why?
Curiosity. I like to learn new things that technology brings to our lives. I like to understand the foundations of the new ideas and technology so I that I can translate them to our users in Parliament, to help make their lives easier and get the best outcomes for Parliament.
What inspires you outside of work?
I love sports, both playing and watching. I like going for long walks whilst listening to any interesting podcast about history, science or keeping updated with tech podcasts like Packet Pushers.
What are you excited about outside of work this year?
Spending time with my family and playing with my little daughter who is two years old. I like teaching her what I know. I also learn from her – from her curiosity about the little things many of us take for granted, and her eagerness to learn.
Find out more about working at PDS and our latest vacancies.