Simon Budden

Creative, practical, experienced.

Simon is a junior software engineer with 10 years experience of interpreting the European Union and analysing maritime security. He has a track record of managing innovative projects and collaborating with diverse stakeholders. He is well placed to communicate complex concepts and has a technical mind. Coding brings together the different strands of his career and passions.

After completing an intensive 16-week bootcamp he is looking to join an innovative development team where he can use his software training and experience while adding depth and breadth to his engineering skills.

| Project | Description | Tech/tools | | ---------------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | | TutorMatch | A web app to connect volunteer tutors and students. | | | Job scraper | A web scraper to tell me when companies advertise jobs on their vancancies pages. | | | Acebook Mobile | An iOS frontend for a social media app. | |

Career & skills

Cyber security policy advisor

Dept. for Science, Innovation and Technology, London (April to Oct. 2023)

• Developed new UK internet of things cyber security legislation and collaborated on implementation of enforcement regime.

Maritime security policy advisor

Dept. for Transport, London (Sept. 2020 to April 2023)

• Documentation • security: Drafted and researched security instructions to ports, including updated cyber security policy.
• Stakeholder management: Established network of European counterparts.
• Industry engagement • analysis • compliance: Delivered review of maritime security legislation, including GDPR-compliant industry survey with 93% response increase on previous survey.
• Problem solving: Interpreted novel legislation and designed workflow for enforcement that generated national headlines.
• Time management • attention to detail: Drafted and shepherded frequent submissions to ministers on sensitive issues, ensuring accuracy of advice.
• Calls to tender: Evaluated public sector tenders, identifying value for money.

Communications officer

European Parliament, Brussels (June 2015 to Sept. 2020)

• Website development: Collaborated on the re-development of visitor website, defining requirements to showcase facilities.
• Customer focus • communication: Developed engaging B2C and B2B comms materials for website and newsletters, print materials, and visitor facilities; providing modern, compelling and clear information to audiences, and ensuring consistent voice across platforms.
• Public speaking: Presented to visitor groups, explaining and interpreting the parliament’s history, processes and impact.
• Leadership: Organised team-building day for 120 colleagues, empowering a six-person team to develop ideas and deliver meaningful activities for the launch of our new division.
• Project management • stakeholder management: Implemented and managed high-visibility initiatives to improve parliament campus.

Education

Makers Academy (Oct. 2023 to Feb. 2024)

• Coding foundations module covering basics of coding and programmes' structure and cloud deployment
• Software development module focusing on JavaScript and web applications, including RESTful APIs and agile group projects Acebook; Acebook Mobile; and TutorMatch;
• The course underscored the importance of modern software development practices such as using and , pair programming, test-driven development, object oriented programming, debugging processes/ problem solving, and agile methodologies.

M.A. European Political & Governance Studies, College of Europe, Belgium

B.A. Modern Languages & European Studies, University of Bath, UK