Sharing Entrepreneurial Experiences with the Canberra Community

Brand Hoff, founder of TOWER Software (1985) will speak on "Sharing Entrepreneurial Experiences with the Canberra Community", at NICTA, Canberra, 14th September 2010.

Meet the Founder Series
Sharing Entrepreneurial Experiences with the Canberra Community
Mr Brand Hoff
“The TOWER Software Story from Micro to Multi”
Brand Hoff founded TOWER Software in 1985, he grew the company from two people to 240 people worldwide. In 2008, the company was successfully sold to
by Thursday 8th September Hewlett Packard.

When: 5.30pm for canapes Tuesday 14th September
NICTA Seminar Room, Ground Floor, 7 London Circuit, Canberra
RSVP: crlevents@nicta.com.au

Mr Brand Hoff brings significant expertise to NICTA in the areas of information technology, package software research and development, Web applications research, small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs), and commercialisation.

Mr Hoff has 40 years in the IT industry. In the early 1970s he developed a private data entry LAN and data entry equipment for the Commonwealth Treasury.

Mr Hoff also designed and developed one of the first national, and later international, communications networks for Treasury.

He was responsible for the purchase of the first IBM plug-compatible mainframe for the Commonwealth Government .

As Director Computer Services was responsible for the development of the Australian Bibliographic Network for the National Library of Australia.

Between 1981 and 1985 Mr Hoff established the Canberra Consulting Division of CSC, a large US systems consulting company.

Until 2001 he was Managing Director of TOWER Software Engineering, a business he founded in 1985 and which he grew to be a Canberra-based multi national. TOWER Software, famous for its TRIM product, is a leading enterprise content management firm with overseas subsidiary companies in the United States and United Kingdom and offices in Canada, New Zealand, Northern Ireland and Holland.

TOWER has achieved outstanding success in the development of the TRIM product, including three prestigious AIIA iAwards. Other awards include NSW Emerging Exporter of the Year 1997, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Small Business of the Year 1998 and National Winner AusIndustry Innovation Award 1998.

TOWER was sold to Hewlett Packard in May 2008 after a formal takeover offer was tabled by HP.

Mr Hoff has a BA degree in Computer Studies from the University of Canberra and is fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He has served as Chairman of the Information Industry Development Board and as Chairman of the Knowledge Based Economy Board which advises the ACT Chief Minister and ACT Treasurer. Mr Hoff was a Member of the University of Canberra Council and holds a number of additional Board positions on ICT based SME Companies.