For the past 17 years I have worked in various roles on risk modelling problems in the reinsurance industry. Throughout this time I have been building systems and doing data analysis with open source tools.
Prior to working in risk modelling I was employed by the British Government and worked on communications security, including a three year tour of duty in Ottawa, Canada.
I have been using open source software for over twenty-five years and have watched as it has slowly become the tool of choice in so many areas.
Whilst I have made some peripheral contributions to a number of open source projects and created some hobby projects of my own, most of my work has been within the coorporate environment in companies which are heavy users of proprietary software and catastrophe models. I have considerable experience of integrating open source solutions in these environments.
Proprietary software and risk modelling platforms are struggling to keep pace with the work that is going on in open source, open data and open science communities.
As such, it is my belief that if you want to take advantage of the latest ideas and knowledge you need to be part of that community.
It is in this environment that I am starting the Peak Risk project.
For my full CV, see John Gill, curriculum vitae.