'I still think the otters wave at me' - 15 Questions with Church of England director of technology Terry Willis

Willis sits in the '15 Questions' hotseat and discusses how he got into technology, the best piece of advice he was ever given, and sea otters

Terry Willis, director of technology at the Church of England, has taken the hotseat in Computing's '15 Questions' series.

Willis has been in his current post for just under three years, having previously spent five years as head of information systems at Age UK.

Previous CIOs in the series include Asda CIO Anna Barsby, Met Office CIO Charles Ewen and VMLY&R Global CIO Trevor Attridge.

What job did you want to do as a child?

When I was still very young we were fortunate enough to go abroad (not common then) on holiday. The excitement of travelling by plane meant I naturally wanted to be a pilot. The idea of commanding a flying machine was my dream for many years. In my late teens I even took some flying lessons.

What was your first ever job?

My first ever job was an assistant photographer. After a short spell of making coffee and running errands around Soho I decided that this wasn't the life for me and I became a commercial artist producing album covers and press adverts. Those long afternoons in Design/Technical drawing suddenly paid off.

How would you describe your current work to a 5-year-old?

I get paid to play with gadgets, loads of them!

How, why and when did you get into technology?

I bought a programmable Casio calculator and wrote a program (in basic) that helped me calculate advert sizes for press work. From that moment on I decided that I liked playing with computers more that creating artwork.

Who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to work/business?

I know it's a bit clichéd but Steve Jobs, he was the original visionary and disrupter. After being cast out from Apple he built Next Computers and that created the Operating System that resurrected Apple. Like it or loathe it the Apple eco-system now seamlessly integrates every part of the Apple platform.

What achievement makes you most proud?

A long marriage with two great children. It's what life is really about.

What's the best life and work advice you've ever been given?

Never assume, it makes as ‘Ass' of ‘U' and ‘Me'

What was the first band you ever saw?

Japan at the now long defunct Virgin Victoria.

What is your favourite book / film?

Office Space, now where are those TPS reports?

If you could speak to your teenage self, what advice would you give him?

Learn a language and touch type. In a connected world communication, is key in one or two languages at least.

What makes you laugh?

Anti-vaxxer's and Lee Mack

If you could solve one major problem, what would it be?

Poverty, it's just plain wrong that amount of food produced globally and yet millions starve while food ends up in landfill.

Think of your favourite place. Where are you thinking of?

Monterey Aquarium, my wife and I have travelled along Pacific Highway One a few times and we always stop and watch the Sea Otters here. It's a fantastic part of the coast and my favourite small furry mammal. I still think they wave at me…

What traits do you most like and dislike in others?

Like, honesty and respect. Dislike, failure to tell the truth and deceit.

Which technology of the near future are you most excited about?

Starlink, Elon Musk does networks in those hard to reach areas.

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