DeskActive - About Us
DeskActive's mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of all those 'tied to a desk' as part of their day-to-day working lives. DeskActive aims to alleviate chronic health problems by connecting you with expert healthcare advice for remote, ongoing, training and treatment.
DeskActive believes the sedentary nature of the office work environment negatively contributes to health, both physically and psychologically. We strive to develop practical solutions to this problem using technology, communication and psychology to help you stay active and healthy at work.
The DeskActive Story
The DeskActive concept was created by our founder Josh Swinnerton, as a response to his ten year struggle with chronic back pain, largely caused by his career as a deskbound software engineer.
Despite frequent visits to expert physios, osteos and specialist back surgeons, Josh continued to suffer from debilitating pain and eventually came to the conclusion that his problems were related to the static nature of his working day. Based on this insight, he realized that the solution involved increasing physical activity during his working day.
Like many of us, Josh found reminding and motivating himself to keep active during long days at his desk easier said than done. The assistance of his physiotherapist was simply too infrequent and too disconnected from his day-to-day life to help him make the changes required to overcome his back pain problems.
As a result of this physical distance between patient and health practitioner, the concept of using technology to connect himself with his physio for ongoing advice and encouragement was born – DeskActive.
In conjunction with experienced technology entrepreneur Michael Terry (MD and chairman of call-centre technology company Advatel), the DeskActive business model was developed along side the DeskActive technology system.
The entire DeskActive team uses DeskActive many times a day to maintain their health and avoid recurring health problems. Josh, Michael and the rest of the team now maintain greatly improved health with the assistance of DeskActive and their health providers.
Management Team
Josh Swinnerton, CEO and Founder
BSc., BEng. (hons), MEI
Ten years experience in the IT industry, as a software engineer and technical manager, have given Josh extensive skills at technical direction and leadership. His industry experience as a technical leader covers a range of industries from web development for SMEs to multi-million dollar infrastructure projects in the telecommunications, utilities, industrial, banking and retail sectors. Furthermore Josh's Masters degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation brings a wealth of management and strategic capability to the company.
Michael Terry, CMO
Accounting and Marketing (RMIT)
Michael has been in the Telecommunication and software IT industry since 1968. After management positions with Standard Telephone & Cables (STC) and NEC he started Telecost Pty Ltd in 1980. He sold that company to Ascom in 1987 and remained as MD for two years. He founded Advatel in 1990 where he remains Chairman and MD and is also a non-executive director of a number of private companies. Michael’s highly successful telecommunications and IT backgrounds bring important experience to the DeskActive board.
Jamie Mitchell, Sales & Marketing Manager
Jamie has over 12 years experience as a Sales & Marketing Manager in ICT industries. He has been an integral part of bringing some of the most popular names in computer gaming and audio hardware into the Australian market, including Altec Lancing and Saitek. More recently he has introduced Tenzeng's online mobile phone tracking technology to the world.
Technical Team
Craig Schnuriger, Senior Software Developer and Trainer
Bachelor of Business Systems, MCSD.Net, and Kinect Australia Certified Trainer (VicFit)
Craig is a senior Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and architect who has worked developing technology solutions across the government, financial, oil, retail and education sectors, with a particular focus on real-time .NET solutions.
He is also a VICFIT certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, with a focus on injury prevention and rehabilitation. As both a technology expert and an active member of the allied health industry, Craig is uniquely suited to DeskActive and his highly skilled role encompasses both software development and support & training on DeskActive usage.
John Gratton, Senior Software Developer
Cert III in Software Development, Qualified Flash, VB Script and JavaScript developer
John has been working in IT since 1998, developing software for the department of defence, utilities and web industries. He has recently focused on systems engineering of n-tiered systems under .NET, with a broad skillset from database architecture through to user-interface design for both Web and MS Windows. John brings a wealth of technical know-how to DeskActive, covering software architecture, development, deployment and support.
Adrian Watkins, Animator
Bachelor of Arts (Digital Art), Bachelor of Music (Honours)
Having worked professionally at the upper echelons of animation and music both here and abroad, Adrian brings great knowledge, experience and creativity to the DeskActive team. In order to fulfill the requirements of the DeskActive animation pipeline Adrian uses Maya, (character animation, setup, deformations, modeling, lighting) Photoshop (textures, 2d art) and Premier. (video referencing)
Content Team
Linda Dohnt, Activity Content Author
Diploma of Health Science, Remedial Masseuse, Soft Tissue Therapist and Kinect Australia Certified Trainer (VicFit)
Linda has extensive experience with corporate clients as well as elite sports groups. She's also worked with corporate wellness professionals in areas of exercise protocols and massage. Her clients include the ANZ Bank, MGC and she works as the remedial masseuse to the Australian Davis Cup team.
Kate O'Keeffe, Advice Content Author
MEI, Certified NLP Practitioner, Certified Hypnotherapist
Devoted to human and business performance excellence, Kate is a professional success and wellness coach. With a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a number of successful businesses under her belt, Kate is a certified NLP practitioner and a Certified Hypnotherapist.
