Chris Allan

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm a Learning Consultant which means I get to work with customers and hopefully share my enthusiasm for e-learning and collaboration.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? Shorts on, legs out. Hair bleached: being blond in the summer makes me happy. Get to a Greek island and hire a scooter.  Can't beat it.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? I hope, one day, to get to Tokyo. It just seems such a bizarre place. Full of ancient culture and electronic gadgets and gimmicks. It seems so alive. I will do it one day. Maybe when we open Learning Pool Japan.

Are you a morning or night person? Morning. No problem getting out of bed. I get up and get going quite easily. Afternoons kill me. I think it's my age. There should be a change in industrial law to allow all over 40s to have an hours nap.

What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike? If you have read my rants on the Learning Pool Blogs you will already know some of these but a particular one is the word "Glide". Glide hasn't got a good past tense. It is "Glided" which is just a horrible word to say. Why is it not like Slide and Slid (Glide and Glid) or Ride and Rode (Glide and Glode)? Don't get me started on the misuse of the word "Emotional"...
 
What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Stupidly, the answer to this, is glass. We were in a bar, alcohol had flowed and a bet was issued: "Bite into and eat part of a pint glass". The initial breaking of the glass with your teeth is the hardest but once you have it in your mouth, grinding it down is easy.

Kamm Bachu

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm a Business Development Executive.

My favourite day- Happy Friday!

Something happened when I was born? First running of the New York City marathon.
 
Let me tell you a secret- I have been told I am good cook
 
Something that makes me smile- Payslips and my children
 
Best childhood toy - Etch a sketch

Sam Barbee

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm Head of Sales. I love getting out there and talking with potential customers and letting them know about Learning Pool.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime?  Make as many people smile as possible.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? Go to Calif and actually experience a summer.
 
Are you a morning or night person?  Morning- have no other choice when you're out the door at 4am to get the red eye.
 
Name one of your favourite things about someone in your family- My great uncle was knighted by the king of Norway for his service during WWII - D-Day

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with- Sat next to Liam and Noel Gallagher, Rachel Hunter and Rebecca Ramijn-Stamos- all at a concert in the Hard Rock in Las Vegas .

Jason Bell

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I work alongside our team of excellent web developers. I'm currently developing some behind the scenes tools.

Where did you work before Learning Pool? In no particular order- The Press Association, Bridgehead Pharmalicensing, Obongo, Silktide Studios, Spikesource, SubscriberMail and various other companines and startups concentrating on business intelligence. Aside from that I spent some time as a press photographer.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? I'd like to complete a degree in statistics.  Any chances of further education were written off when I was at school.  Though a degree  is not the be all and end all, it would be an achievement. 

What are your favourite hobbies?There are only two hobbies in my life: photography and bass playing. Doing either of those two things make me happy.

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with? I've been blessed to be in the same room as His Holiness The Dalai Lama, King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and Nick Beggs from Kajagoogoo!  Not at the same time may I add...that would be verging on strange.

Mike Boxall

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What do you do at Learning Pool?  I'm a Learning Consultant at Learning Pool, developing and script e-learning materials.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why  Jamaica - cus it irie, n'man.

Are you a morning or night person?  Definately a morning person.

What are your favourite hobbies? Reading and playing the flute. But not at the same time.

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?  Hammerhead shark when I was working in Kuwait.

If someone made a movie of your life what would it be and why?  A romantic-comedy - with very little romance and not much comedy.

Aine Bradley

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm one of Learning Pools Web Developers.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? Would love to go skydiving and do a bungee jump.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? A BBQ with friends, a full afternoon of food, drink and of course, good weather.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? New York city. I love the thought of all the hustle and bustle of the big city life.

Are you a morning or night person? I'm a night person forced to deal with mornings.

What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike? I hate people who crack their knuckles, although I have a habit of cracking my jaw.

Dave Briggs

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm involved in anything to do with social media and community building. The plan is to make Learning Pool the place to go to discuss anything related to e-learning. It's all about the power of the network. Also, when councils want to do some innovative stuff with the web, I'm here to help them.

Where did you work before you joined Learning Pool? I've been spreading the good word of digital engagement throughout government: from Number 10 and a number of Whitehall departments to the IDeA and several individual Councils.

Favourite weekend activity? This year, one of the best things I did at the weekend was organise LocalGovCamp - where over 120 people from across local government got together on a Saturday in Birmingham to share stories and ideas - and to enjoy a few drinks in the evening.

Love or hate marmite? Hate it. With a passion. But I do like Twiglets, which my wife tells me is just one of a number of my inconsistencies.

Unsung hero - B.S. Johnson. A little known modernist British author who tried to turn the novel on its head, and nearly managed it. His books are almost unreadable at times, but at least he tried to do something different. He failed better than everyone else.

Ruth Cassidy

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm a Graphic Designer at Learning Pool.  My role involves creating graphics and interactive flash based movies for a number of projects. 

What are your favourite hobbies? To  have a game of tennis with my sister, whenever the sun's out, which isn't that often.

If you were an ice cream flavour, which one would you be and why? It would be the blue bubblegum flavour with marshmallows in it from Joe Jacksons as it's unique and surprising!

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours. I don't know if it's unique or quirky, but when tired I have a habit of holding my hands and twisting my arms to stretch.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? I've always wanted to visit Italy, to start at the top and work my way down to Naples,  stopping off at Florence, Venice,  Rome etc along the way.

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with. Does Tigger count?  I got a big hug from him in Disneyland, Orlando in 2006.

Dan Danowski

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm a front-end web developer. My focus is how information is presented and delivered to the user.

Where did you work before Learning Pool? For the better part of the last year I was working as an independent contractor for web design and development. Prior to that I spent 9 years working as a web designer/developer at various places within Cornell University in the States.

Are you a morning or night person? I'd have to say I'm a morning person. Quiet, early mornings are a good time to get some work done and it gives a good feeling of accomplishment for the rest of the day.

What are your favourite hobbies? When I am not in the office, I still spend time learning and developing my skills by creating websites for friends and family. When I am not on the computer I enjoy running and reading.

What's the hardest thing you've ever done? Moving over to Northern Ireland with my wife and son to be closer to my wife's family. Having never lived more than a few hours drive from my family, it was incredibly hard to leave.It has, however, been well worth it

Breda Doherty

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I am currently a Project Manager getting more involved with the social media and community building side of the business. But as anyone at Learning Pool will tell you every day can be a new surprise which keeps it interesting!

What's next for Learning Pool? Taking over the world!

Name one of your favourite things about someone in your family-My niece Aine is extremely perceptive for a 12 year old; she is also blatantly honest and is already developing a sarcastic wit-wait, that's three things...!

Favourite book? Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (Before the BBC adaptation and Colin Firth - well maybe this has a tiny bit to do with it!)

Person from your childhood you'd most like to meet again? Myself. I would copy Back to the Future (2) and give myself the scores on all future sporting events. Then I could buy even more dresses!  

Clare Doherty

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm the Executive Assistant, which means I do a little bit of everything from customer service/support to co-ordinating travel and accounts.  It's a good mix to keep me on my toes!

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with - Bonnie Tyler (she was a big star in the 80's for you young ones out there! Still is a star in Europe).  I met her back stage at the Forum last year and even got her autograph.  She is so tiny, but big voice and big hair!

Are you a morning or night person? Definitely a morning person!  I annoy people with my cheeriness, especially if they're not morning people.  My favourite time of day is first thing when it is really quiet outside and not much life is about - especially in Autumn. Nothing beats a fresh crisp morning.
 
If you were an ice cream flavour, which one would you be and why? Mint choc chip with sprinkles - because I'm always fresh and colourful!
 
Two things you consider yourself to be very good at -Laughing loudly (seriously I can't help it) and... cleaning the house. Yes-I am Monica from Friends!
 
If someone made a movie of your life, what would it be and why?  It would have to be a drama as people are always telling me that I am sooooooo dramatic with a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure!

Andrew Fenwick

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm a Customer Service Executive. One week is never the same as the next. I generally help with any customer queries and issues.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? To qualify for the Olympics.

If you were an ice cream flavour, which one would you be and why? Ben and Jerry's chocolate fudge brownie. No real reason, just love the stuff!

Are you a morning or night person? Definitely a morning person.

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with? I went clubbing with Amir Khan and the Irish boxing team in Sicily.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? Cuba. I've  never been there and I think it would be a great trip.

Joanne Frew

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm an Executive Assistant,(EA-Everyone's Assistant)! I help the team with a little bit of everything, including customer service, accounts and co-ordination of customer workshops.

Where did you work before Learning Pool? I was an Office Manager at a local fuel company.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? Although I have a wide taste in  music, I grew up listening to Elvis Presley/Rock 'n Roll. I've watched all of his movies and read his biography. I would love to go to Graceland and visit his hometown.

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours- Generally the first thing I notice about people are their shoes. I hate seeing someone dress well and then have dirty shoes.

What's the hardest thing you've ever done? I lived in South Africa for 24 years, and in February 2009 my daughter Killain and myself returned to Northern Ireland. Leaving my family and friends has been the hardest emotional thing I've ever done.

Kevin Gallagher

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Michelle Gallen

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm a Consultant and Instructional Designer.

What's the best thing about your job? Learning new things so I can teach other people new things. I just love how much I can learn in this role - it keeps every day interesting.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? Contentment in big and little things.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? Surf on a deserted beach while someone lovely is laying out a delicious picnic and barbecue...

If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you? Title would be 'Use. Real. Butter.', starring Uma Thurman as a ice-cool SuperHero who uses her special powers to blast knowledge into human brains to help rid the world of badly-made chocolate cake.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why?Greenland. Before global warming actually turns the place green, instead of ice-white.

Janet Harkin

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm Head of Marketing which means I look after the marketing activity we do to get ourselves known in the public sector world. On a typical day I can be writing a press release, designing a new leaflet, looking at how the website can be improved and organising an event.  I also write News Splash and lots of the other emails that our customers receive from us.

Where did you work before you joined Learning Pool? I did the marketing for a small internet and catalogue clothing company in Ireland and, before that, I worked as a Communications Advisor for DoH's Mental Health team in London. 

However, I've spent most of my career working for Royal Mail, in the philately department, which was fab.  I still can't pass a British pictoral stamp without admiring the beauty of the design - they're mini works of art.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? North America - a land of extremes and of huge natural beauty. I'd take a road trip down Route 66 and then up the West coast, detouring to take in The Grand Canyon and Las Vegas along the way.   In a monster Winnebago with the coolest sounds on the stereo.

Are you a morning or night person? Definitely a morning person, to the annoyance of my husband who's the opposite.

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours. I can make my fingers curl up at the ends and I can touch the inside of my wrist with the tip of my thumb.  Double jointed freakiness.  But don't crack your knuckles near me - argh!
 

Rachael Harkin

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I work within the Technical team as a Web Developer. My role involves providing both technical support and product development, as well as developing graphics and flash content for our e-learning courses.  
 
What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? To be successful in my running my own business. 

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? I would go to Italy, because of its vast culture, amazing scenery, beautiful food and some of my most idolised artists have made their mark there. Barcelona is a very close second as well, it's so beautiful with all its unique architecture from Gaudi.

Name one of your favourite things about someone in your family I can name one about my whole family - our creativeness.

What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike? My pet peeves are teabags left in the sink, and people's feet (I know it's weird!)

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? BBQs with the family.

Jon Hayes

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm one of Learning Pool's Web Developers

When I win the lottery I will...   Start up and run a formula one team.  Oh that's after I've bought Bournemouth and steered them to premiership victory.  However, starting a Tiger sanctuary is job number one.

My name means- A gift from God...

My favourite thing about Learning Pool- Has to be the people.  We've a great team here.  There's such a can do attitude about the place - it empowers and motivates you to give to the best of your ability.

Best way to relax- We take the dog and disappear.  The scenery in this part of the world is simply stunning - beaches, rivers, mountains, waterfalls, forests, parks  all just on the doorstep, and you're never that far away from a pub either.  What can I say - the dog likes a drink!

Favourite sound- Being at Eau Rouge for the first lap of the Belgian Grand Prix...

Andy Houghton

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What do you do at Learning Pool?  I'm a Training Consultant.  When I'm not doing that I work on the instructional design side of e-learning projects.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? BBQ.

Are you a morning or night person? Morning and night - not afternoon.

Name one of your favourite things about someone in your family  My niece is gorgeous, open and has a wicked sense of humour.

What's the worst habit of a co-worker? Eating at a desk.

What's the hardest thing you've ever done? Given up smoking.

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with? Heydar Aliev (former head of KGB and president of Azerbaijan).

Lynn Jennings

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What do you do at Learning Pool? Business Development - spreading the gospel of Learning Pool and converting the unconverted.

What is the one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? Enjoy the moment.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? Avoid the rain - not easy in Derry!  If it's not raining - BBQs and festivals.
 
What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?  I regularly cooked with a fish called 'Flake' when living in Sydney - until I found out it was shark (with high levels of mercury) - I really miss those Thai shark curries! I've also eaten kangaroo, ostrich, alegator, kid (baby goat variety), octopus - it was a time of experimentation.

If you had to describe yourself using three words, it would be... Happy with life

Two things you consider yourself to be very good at? Juggling (balls) and appreciating red wine.

Ben Jones

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm Learning Pool's Product Manager for the Dynamic Learning Environment (DLE). This means that I look after all things DLE related and have a close relationship with all of our DLE customers, so that I'm the key resource for helping make best use the service.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? To become a fighter in the UFC (ultimate fighting championships) but this may have passed me by!!

If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you? Life of Brian 2 - He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!!

If you had to describe yourself using three words, it would be -  Awesome, Awesome, and um... Awesome!

Two things you consider yourself to be very good at - Eating and buying trainers

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with - Met Frank Lampard (Chelsea and England Midfielder) in Harrods and had photo taken with him. Nice Guy

Anna Karas

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm one of Learning Pools Graphic Designers.

Two things you consider yourself to be very good at? Graphic Design and chocolate consuming!

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? Tokyo, Japan. This country traditions and culture are so unique that it'd be a great adventure to experience their way of life for at least a week.

Are you a morning or night person? Definitely an early riser. There are so many things that need to be done in the morning!

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? A sea hedgehog! I have no idea why people actually put these poor creatures on their plates at all!

Wendy Kay

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Deborah Limb

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I am an E-learning Consultant and an Instructional Designer. I help offer a range of flexible services to support our customers with authoring, designing and developing e-learning content.

Are you a morning or night person?  A morning person definately although sometimes I wish I wasn't. I can get a days work done by 10.30 if I put my mind to it!

What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike? I love my online banking - but when I go into the my Bank it's because I want to speak to someone. In my Bank they employ the staff to open the door for you and point you to a phone to ring a help line. Customer Services training anyone? Sure there is something in the catalogue...

If I could be anybody besides myself, I would be -  Darcy Bussell - in my dreams!

What's the worst habit of a co-worker? Chewing the carpet. No,  it's not Ben having a bad day, I share my home office with my puppy dog and he is still getting used to the house rules!

Two things you consider yourself to be very good at - Keeping my promises; Making Spaghetti Bolognaise
 
 
  

Kenny McCormack

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What do you do at Learning Pool? Technical Delivery Manager

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? Go on a motorcycle road trip across America-that would be great. Mind, you would need to actually know how to ride a motor bike first...

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? Play as much golf as possible - great way of getting away from it all - that and the beer and char grilled steak at the 19th hole makes it all worth the walk round the course.

If you were an ice cream flavour, which one would you be and why? Before about two weeks ago it was vanilla ice cream from an old ice cream shop in Moville, Country Donegal which probably isn't there anymore. My parents used to take the family all the time to Kinnego bay beach near Moville and stop off on the way.However, I was introduced to Ben & Jerry's cheese cake brownie recently- say no more.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? The pyramids in Egypt.I just find them fascinating - got to wonder how they managed to build them.

Paul McElvaney

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I look after the technical side of the business which covers things like the DLE, Authoring Tool and new technologies.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? I kite buggy on the beach in Donegal - young kids and a growing business have tended to get in the way of this lately but I'm still clinging to the romantic memory and I'll get back to it soon

Name one of your favourite things about someone in your family. The way my (nearly) 2 year old tells everyone who'll listen that she's Daddy's girl!

If you had to describe yourself using three words, it would be... 3 words?... you've clearly never met me if you think I can manage that!

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? I'd go to Red Square in Moscow - don't really know why

Lisa McGonigle

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What do you do at LP? Senior Marketing Executive

Where did you work before LP? It has been a real mixed bag from marketing IT products to timber to central vacuum systems!

If you were an ice cream flavour, which one would you be and why? Honeycomb without a doubt. Sweet but with a surprise crunch whenever you least expect it.

What are your favourite hobbies? Out of practice now - but I do hold a 1st dan black belt in freestyle karate. Try to catch an odd salmon now and again on the old fishing rod.

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours. I suck my thumb - and have done for the last 3 decades! Only when I'm really tired though. Unsurprisingly, one thumb is shorter than the other....

Mary McKenna

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Are you a morning or night person? I'm so much a morning person -which is the complete opposite of when I was in my teens and 20s.  When I'm travelling to England (at least once every week) I usually get up at 3.30am and on the other days I have a lie in until 5.45am.  I have a theory that people that are serious about achieving anything in this life will all be morning people - as they just can't bear to let that time slip past without making the best possible use of it.  Anyone that's reading this and thinking of applying for a job at Learning Pool - there's a serious side to this answer - you've been warned!

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? I'd love to visit the Pyramids and go on a trip down the Nile in a felucca Hercule Poirot style.  (I know - the Luxor in Vegas doesn't really count!) However, I know I'd feel really frustrated to be there and not already understand more about ancient Egyptian culture, artefacts, lifestyle, etc.  When I lived in London, I would never pass the British Museum without a quick detour through the Egyptian rooms and I even have a favourite mummy there.

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Space dust - wasted on kids - we used to love it when we were students - you can imagine why ;-)

Two things you consider yourself to be very good at? Spinning plates - in my experience you don't need to have a second if you're able to do that one well
 

Maeve McLaughlin

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm Head of Customer Services, which means that I'm responsible for the delivery of our products and the ongoing service our customers receive.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? I'd like to build my own house, I have an obsession with Grand Designs.  Not only have I designed the property but devised the order of works and picked my fittings and fixtures.  Does anyone have a space site and a few hundred grand they could owe me?

If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you? Jessica Stevenson (Daisy from Spaced)  It would be comedy about a calamitous girl who can't to right for doing wrong.  Bridget Jones meets Die Hard.

What are your favourite hobbies? An un-coordinated version of Surfing which mainly involves falling lots and the swallowing of sand and sea water, it's very fulfilling.  I also enjoy reading, mostly from the front seat of the car when parked on the beach on the days I can't be bothered to suit up or get the board off the roof rack

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? A crocodile burger, and very nice it was too.

Joe Meehan

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm part of the customer support team at Learning Pool. I also look after the internal IT support.

What did you work before Learning Pool? I was studying at university.

What's one goal you'd like to accomplish in life? To get my full science degree and do research into cancer treatments.

Are you a morning or night person? definitely a night person-it takes me that long to wake up!

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why? The pyramids at Giza. I love Egyptian and Greek mythology.

Robert Moore

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What do you do at Learning Pool? Web Developer.  My main focus at the moment is developing new functionality for the Learning Pool DLE. As this usually involves pushing beyond the usual limits of MOODLE this can be quite frightening at times.  But never boring!

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? There have been some fantastic oddities from snails to kangaroo.  However the weirdest thing I have eaten was in the bento box I ate on the Shinkansen. Still to this day I have no idea what it was or what it was called, which is a shame because although it looked very questionable it tasted great.

Are you a morning or night person? Although i don't mind getting up early, I find it easier to push on through the night especially to see a thought through or finish a project. I enjoy the peace and quiet that descends later in the night, unless of course I am out with friends.

If I could be anybody besides myself, I would be- Tony Stark (aka Iron Man). Although a fictional character I share his love of technology, and would love to move in the world of fancy he does. Also a sophisticated AI house would make life so much easier, and be the ultimate gadget toy.
 
What's the worst habit of a co-worker? During my first year at Learning Pool I worked on developing the Authoring Tool and LPTV but I was working remotely from home and would only visit the office every couple of weeks.  Since I've moved to Derry and now work in the office with everyone each day I can't think of a single person with any bad habits.  Although what the others might say about me is a different matter!

Siobhain O'Reilly

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What do you do at LP? I'm the Executive Assistant, which basically means that my finger is in a lot of pies to help and support everyone at Learning Pool.

Where did you work before LP? I used to manage a Cosmetic Dental Practice.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? I would love to learn how to drive, everywhere I've lived I have always lived in the city so I have never had a need to learn but I am getting a bit long in the tooth now and would love to learn.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? I would love to go back to Australia, I was born in Perth, W.A. but we left when I was young. I have promised myself that I will go back in the next couple of years - so when I do I'll let you know!

What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike? I hate men's feet, I know it sounds really weird but I think they are so ugly (especially my boyfriends).

Eleanor ONeill

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm an Instructional Designer.I do my best to offer Learning Pool customers a range of flexible services to support with Developing, designing and authoring e-learning content.
 
What's the best thing about your job?  Working with a great team to deliver top-class products to satisfied customers.
 
Name the most famous person you've had a face-to-face encounter with - I met Geena Davis on the set of Commander in Chief - my cousin works as her nanny so I got a personal introduction.

Are you a morning or night person? Definitely a night person - I rarely go to bed before 12.

If I could be anybody besides myself, I would be...A millionaire.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? I'd love to travel by steam train from Calgary to Vancouver in Canada to see the Rocky Mountains and Lake Louise - the scenery is supposed to be amazing!

John Roughley

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What do you do at LP? I'm a Learning & Development Consultant which means I get to meet lots of our customers which I love! I offer advice on implementation and how to get the most out of the Learning Pool subscription.

What is one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime? I've always wanted to run a marathon, but never seem to have the time to put the training in.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? A couple of weeks on a Greek island.

Are you a morning or night person? Morning.

What are your favourite hobbies? Technology, photography and eating. Not necessarily in that order!

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with- I met Sir Ranulph Fiennes at a book signing in Manchester.  A really nice guy.

Dawn Stacey

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What do you do at Learning Pool?  I help induct new customers with the full range of great tools and support Learning Pool provides, as well as help guide them in getting started to achieve their goals.
 
Where did you work before you joined Learning Pool? I worked for a company who specialised in developing bespoke e-learning solutions and worked on a number of projects for the public sector, including the IDeA.

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer?  Go to the seaside.

If someone made a movie of your life what would it be? The early years would be mainly drama- with elements of a horror film, but the later years definitely a romantic comedy.

What's the hardest thing you've ever done?   Abseiling - I was so frightened.

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with-Tiger Woods

Michaela Temple

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm in charge of the travel arrangements for all of the 'poolies' and help with other administration and support duties

Where did you work before Learning Pool? I worked for an engineering firm, dealing with travel and customer invoices.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why? I think I would like to go to Monaco for the weekend of the formula one grand prix. I would love to spend some time on a yacht and watch the qualifying and the race. I'd then spend some time sunbathing, before going to meet all the drivers (Kimi Raikkonen in particular)

What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? I love to celebrate my July birthday by going somewhere nice for lunch, having a party at home-a BBQ and a few drinks before heading out!

What are your favourite hobbies? Would have to be Irish dancing! I've been dancing since the age of two and four years ago I achieved one of my life goals and  became an Irish dancing teacher. I now have my own school with lots of little European and World champions!

Alan Thorburn

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What do you do at Learning Pool?  I'm a LMS/ SCORM Consultant with a special interest in MOODLE.  I'm also part of the team that oversees the development of the Authoring Tool.

If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you? A rollicking rollercoaster ride: thrills, spills, a little romance, intrigue, double-crosses, triple-crosses, a little sadness, car chases, irresponsible gun play, some marginal behaviour... and probably a zombie or two. If a British production then I would like to request the London actor Steve Sweeney... if a US production then nobody but Luis Guzman could possible do me justice.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? Arizona in the 1880s.  To hunt down the Red Ghost...

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Humble pie.  It was horrible... I won't be doing that again!

What's the hardest thing you've ever done? I refuse to answer any SCORM related questions...

Name the most famous person you've had a face to face encounter with- Does living next door to Kevin Keegan when I was a child count?  I was once in an easyjet queue with Alan Sugar and he was really dull.  We were all kept waiting for ages so that the plane could be prepared for Shirley Bassey who seemed much more interesting ... though a lot less approachable.

Elaine Walton

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I look after our Modern Governor customers, working with them to find the best way to roll-out the programme to their schools and helping them to get the most out of e-learning.

Where did you work before Modern Governor? I was a pub restaurant manager in a former life, and moved into e-learning in 2003 after falling in love with it at first sight.  Since then I've worked in commercial e-learning in sales, Project Management and Learning Support, across industries like hospitality, healthcare and telecommunications and with a couple of public-sector contracts along the way.

What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike? Rude drivers - if I let you out at a junction, say 'thanks', and don't tailgate me!  I’ve also recently developed a tendency to say "Do you know what I mean?" rather a lot, which is irritating everybody I know.  Do you know what I mean?

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Kangaroo and crocodile.  Both were rather tasty! I couldn't eat insects or anything like that though -ugh!

Two things you consider yourself to be very good at? Looking after people and keeping my promises.

Emma Whiteside

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What do you do at Learning Pool? Senior Marketing Executive.

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? I tried haggis at a friend's wedding in Scotland. Surprisingly nice, although I don't want to know what it's actually made of...

Name one of your favourite things about someone in your family - My daughter is almost one and really makes me laugh! Her newest trick is trying to escape from the cot. Funny now, but not so much at 2am...

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours - Not really a habit but I sneeze when I eat mints-it's weird but true!

What are your favourite hobbies? I've recently started Polercise (pole dancing as exercise) which is great fun. Strictly for fitness of course, although I hear the tips are good...

What are your pet peeves or interesting things about you that you dislike? I have serious road rage. Other drivers not using their indicators, drivers pulling out in front of you and then going really slow- what was the rush in the first place? I could go on, but you get the idea...

Michal Wronka

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What do you do at Learning Pool? I'm one of Learning Pool's Web Developers.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why? Australia. Just to compare my imagination with the real thing.

Are you a morning or night person? While at school and university, I loved staying up late, working on crazy project and ideas.Then came the work, nights lost it's appeal and mornings took lead.

What are your favourite hobbies? Rock Climbing on the sporty side. Open Source on the geeky side!

What's the hardest thing you've ever done? Climbing traditional style. You load yourself with kilograms of gear, tie into the rope and venture into the unknown.