Background

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Picture of Gary Thomas
Gary Thomas
Head of Technology and Architecture
https://mgarythomas.com
Gary is originally from the UK, but has lived in Australia and New Zealand for the last 20 years. He originally studied Computer Science at Stafforshire University (or North Staffs Polytechnic as it was known back then) before starting his first job as a technologist (software engineer) at GPT in Liverpool, UK. Since then he has primarily worked in engineering, architecture and data in lots of different technologies with a focus on financial services and payments.
Sydney
AU
New South Wales

Experience

Principal Solutions Designer
2025-06-01 - present
ASX — Digital at the Australian Securities Exchange
Sydney, NSW

The Australian Securities Exchange is the primary market operator in Australia. Critical to the national economy.

  • Working on the transformation taking place in the digial domain at the ASX.
  • Work in progress...
Head of Technology
2020-04-01 - 2025-01-30
Lab49 — Technology consultancy specialising in Financial Services
Sydney, NSW

Lab49 is a technology consultancy specialising in Financial Services specialising in Digital, Blockchain, Product innovation and Simplification. Gary Led the technology architecture and engineering practice for Lab49 across Australia, New Zealand, UAE, and the wider Asia Pacific region. Developed a technology practice, driving technology strategy and guiding high-performing teams.

  • Led the design and delivery of an end-to-end digital transformation for a major corporate and institutional bank, leveraging an event-driven microservices architecture and cloud native technologies.
  • Developed a technology roadmap and architecture framework for a major Australian bank, aligning with modern architecture and strategic goals
  • Built a data strategy to support the creation of a bank-wide analytics capability for an Australian Bank.
  • Delivered a technology strategy and merger plan for a digital asset and investment company.
  • Built and led a multi-region team of over 20 architects and principal engineers across solution, integration, security, and data disciplines.
Global Systems Architect
2013-11-01 - 2020-03-30
Verifone — Payment Services and products
Sydney, NSW

Verifone are a global payment company with a long history of point-of-sale innovation and payment services.

  • Led the design and development of payment architectures globally with a focus on the architecture of a new global platform for payment processing to be deployed across multiple regions in a hybrid model.
  • Architected a multi-region, cloud native, event-driven payment data processing platform using Kafka and microservices on AWS
  • Established API-first architecture patterns for customer onboarding and integration working with Kong for API Management
  • Designed and led the execution of cloud migration strategies for critical payment processing systems
  • Designed and coded payment gateways to support ISO20022, ISO8583, AS2805 and other local requirements
Development Manager
2011-05-01 - 2013-10-31
Allianz — Insurance
Sydney, NSW

Allianz is a global insurance company with a long history of insurance innovation and insurance services.

  • Led the implementation of a new insurance rating engine and pricing services used across the business.
  • Defined new standards for external services based on industry standards - ACORD, ISO, etc.
  • Implemented new Claims processing services

Education

Computer Science (Higher Diploma)
1986-09-01 - 1988-07-01
Stafforshire University (North Staffs Polytechnic)