A Day in the Life of Justin Dawson
1. Thank you for joining me for this month’s edition of the “Tech Manager Spotlight.” Start by telling us a little about what you do and a little about your background.
Thanks for having me. I’m currently employed as an AV Technician with the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems in UCD. I’ve been with them for 5 years. I provide AV Support to live events with the school, producing real learning objective videos for students, AV Support for the Clinical Simulation Labs and for the past 12 months during this COVID Pandemic I’ve become Mr Zoom, supporting virtual orientation days, webinars, virtual graduations, virtual interviews for new staff… Yeah I spend a lot of time on Zoom lately!
2. Have you always worked in AV? What did the path look like for you to get where you are now?
No, I always thought I’d be the next up and coming radio presenter. I studied media in University. I worked in National Radio during my undergraduate diploma and into my 1st degree. Mainly behind the scenes than in front of a microphone I was a weekend sound technician. Then left Newstalk Radio and went on to do my Masters in TV & Radio Production at 25 years of age. Recession hit and I couldn’t get a job!
I re-studied a diploma in Web Design and that helped me get employed with PWC as an IT Helpdesk Technician and thankfully a role came up in the AV Team with Simon Lang, who I talk about in my article. Simon and I went to University together. So we ended up working together as a team for several years doing live events and AV Support for PWC which was an extremely busy role of live events morning, noon and night then repeat.
I saw an advert for an AV Technician in Higher Education with UCD and I applied not thinking I would be accepted for the role. When I was I had to tell Simon I was going for a bottle of milk. That conversation felt like I was walking to the electric chair. I really didn’t want to leave the comradery that we had as an AV Team but it was a promotional role that I had to grasp.
In my first year with UCD I took my CTS exam and passed. It also gave me time to explore tradeshows like ISE. Then over a beer Simon in Amsterdam Simon and I talked through creating the All Things TechIE podcast.
I feel that’s my touch with the passion I love, radio and mixing it with another one of my passions, technology. So, in essence I always tell people keep studying, always study. Nothing you study is a waste of time, its money well spent and the education you get will be useful in some way in your career path.
3. You are very active in our higher ed vertical. Talk a little about your roles and the impact you see our trade organizations and media outlets having for the bettering of our tech/AV community?
I’m so grateful to be given the opportunity to write for Higher Ed Media. Sometimes Jimmie sends me the monthly topic and I need to go for a walk, or maybe have a drink before I can even think of what to write or place the Irish spin on the article.
I honestly think it has helped working in AV in the Private Sector and then entering Higher Education vertical. Its different but my previous experience has provided me with the professional approach to the end user, in this case the faculty, staff and students.
It’s so important to have trade associations like HETMA, SCHOMS and LTSMG. There have been times I have walked the floors of ISE with Simon and you are treated differently when you tell the salesperson you work in Higher Ed versus you work for PWC a global financial firm. The trade organisations that have been established in UK/Ireland and now US with HETMA – it breaks down the barriers. It invites manufacturers to talk to us properly in an audio visual for education vertical. Yes we may not always have the budget to spend on all the fancy new toys. Though as AV Professionals we still have the same standards as AV Professionals in the private sector and our objectives is the same to provide the top support for the end users.
4. I also know that you are very passionate about podcasting. Talk a little about that the impact that has on both you and the industry.
Podcasting and broadcasting is very close to my heart. I’ve been an internet broadcaster since 2005, my degree year with Scouting Radio which also had a previous shows podcast segment covering jamborees and Scouting events.
Simon and I talked about the podcast idea in Amsterdam one night after a few drinks… well ok I was drinking, he was listening to me ranting and being my minder (thanks Simon! – he’s never finished his Best Man duties!). It wasn’t until near St Patricks weekend where my late Dad was quiet ill and I was waiting in a hospital ward, bored, playing with my phone trying to come up with a catchy name for a technology podcast. That’s where All Things TechIE with the domain AllThingsTech.IE was born. Its grown and grown since then. My Dad was an electrician for over 50 years. I owe a lot to him for introducing me to the interests of electronics and technology. I can even see the same interests in my young 3 year old son when he enters my home office and wants to play with all the buttons on my mixing desk.
When I create a podcast I really try not to talk directly to the AV professional. Theres more to each episode than that. I aim the show to all adults, the tech novices along with the tech professionals. For example I have an ongoing series called “Under the Spotlight” where I talk to AV Professionals on how they entered the world of AV. Every story is different and it always ends with the question of “what advice would you give to anyone entering AV”. Separate to this our past few episodes has talked about working from home, educating from home as a parent or as a teacher / lecturer and the tools, to tech toys which I think are cool and getting in touch with the company for interviews, whether this is drones, or toonies.
5. What is your morning routine?
What a question! Currently I’m Daddy Day care with the COVID-19 Level 5 restrictions and no creche or pre-montessori open. So I take it in turns with my wife to work /child mind / repeat.
Before COVID-19 I was dropping Ciarán off to creche at 7pm and only getting a few hours with him when I returned from work. So I do enjoy the new life of seeing my young family on a daily basis – but I could do with pre-montessori being open to give me a few hours off to work instead of late at night.
Somehow I still find time to answer these questions!
6. What does an average week-day look like for you?
When I’m not minding two lil monsters under the age of 4 in a COVID-19 Lockdown its into my office, the box bedroom of my house for Zoom Calls, Zoom Calls planning Zoom calls that should be emails. Then answer tech support emails, a bit of Web design and repeat.
My photo is of my untidy home office and before some upgrades. Apple Mac, Mixing Desk, rhode microphone. Under the desk I have a compressor/limiter for my podcasts. 2 monitor setup and Logitech webcam.
The black shelves are IKEA and they’ve been driving me mad, so I’m in the process of replacing them and changing the layout a bit. Oh and the photo does not show my green screen and my shelf full of AVIXA study notes!
7. What does your busiest day look like? What are the challenges your role faces, and how do you overcome those?
Busiest days are usually on campus during pre-examinations and exam practicals. Setting up of camera equipment in our simulation labs then processing all the videos, sometimes 300+ short videos for students and the examiner.
There’s ongoing talks of upgrading the equipment in our clinical simulation labs in the not so distant future.
8. What energizes you and inspires you?
Trade Shows, Training events, LTSMG, ISE and talking with AV Professionals online whether this is in a zoom call or on social media. I get energy and motivation from end users being grateful and appreciating me providing them with a solution no matter how small or large this may be.
9. If another tech manager were to follow you around all day, what would they most be surprised by? What would they learn?
That I get frustrated with people that can’t role cable correctly! I also have a system of how I do things, such as AV maintenance or setting up of cameras. I usually don’t do room by room. I may layout tripods and cables first, then cameras, then test. Where I have had helpers before who don’t understand why I don’t do room by room. I’ve been working solo in this role for quite some time and just find it more efficient to do things this way.
Or when I’ve edited a load of video and its uploading to the cloud is when I take a break and I like knowing I’ve completed the task to a point that all I can do is wait for the upload of the videos so why sit and watch. Use my time wisely.
10. Comparing your career path over time, what are some of the moments, accomplishments, or projects that you’re most proud of?
Gaining my CTS, being finalist twice in the AV Awards in London especially the first AV Awards where I had Ciarán on the red carpet and staying in the Grosvenor Park Hotel, a 5 star hotel and he was only a month old!
Loved being selected as a European remote invigilator for AVIXA CTS exams. Spent 2 days over in AVIXA Europes HQ in Munich doing training and being involved with AVIXA on a European level for me was special.
Then winning AV Professional of the Year in 2019 just before my Dad passed and for him to have known I won was something I’ll never forget.
11. What do you enjoy doing on weekends? How do you spend your time outside of work?
Before COVID lock downs, weekends were very busy times with my 2 kids and a mix of swimming, toddler football, Church and trips to our local park. Now its mainly trips to the local park and thankfully premiership football is still taking place in England. I’m a big Liverpool Supporter.
12. It seems that you stay quite busy and have a demanding job, how do you maintain work-life balance?
It’s incredibly difficult at the moment with the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. I’ve just learnt to work out of hours and thankfully my work place are very understanding of every employees predicaments of working from home, minding kids, homeschooling kids during this pandemic and trying to get work completed.
13. You seem to be nominated for every AV award out there, including winning AV Nation’s AV Professional of the Year. So what’s your secret to success?
Secret to success? Become every one of Chris Neto’s friends and then add your own network! I’m joking!
I honestly don’t know what is the secret to success, is it because I’m the Irish AV guy that talks a lot on social media or created the Irish AV/Tech podcast? I don’t know!
One thing I’m constantly doing is up-skilling. I’m constantly studying to better myself. Im always looking for answers and learn skills in AV areas Im not familiar with and trust me there are hundreds of areas to tap into.
Guess one secret is networking. Talk to the AV professionals, get involved in groups. We don’t bite!
14. What is your life motto?
There are no limits to what you can accomplish except the limits you place on your own thinking.
This Month’s Manager: Justin Dawson
Justin is an award winning AV Professional and broadcasting specialist, with over 15 years’ experience in Audio Visual, videoconferencing and tech support.
Justin has held various roles throughout his career from Broadcast Technician, Producer, Station Manager, IT Support and Senior Audio Visual Technologist.
Currently, Justin is employed as an Audio Visual Technician in the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems in University College Dublin.
He is responsible for the installation and maintenance of Audio Visual equipment within the school, production of learning objective videos and technical support to faculty with video conferencing and webinar requirements.
Prior to joining UCD, Justin was responsible for Audio Visual support at PwC Ireland. While there, he was responsible for live events, providing audio visual support to 1,800 customers throughout the firm and maintaining and running of the AV service to over 30 meeting rooms with in-built projectors, TV screens, including a 10 room hospitality suite and 11 training rooms.
Justin regularly attends Audio Visual Conferences and trade shows including Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), Learning Technology Space Management Group (LTSMG) and SCHOMS. He has presented at AV conferences and partakes in several AV discussions both as a panellist and online webinars.
2019 was an incredibly successful year for Justin as he was awarded the accolade of AV Professional of the Year for 2018 in the AV Nation Reader’s Choice Awards.
In 2018 after returning from Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), Justin launched All Things TechIE , an Irish Podcast dedicated to Audio Visual and IT with his co-host Simon Lang.
Justin was shortlisted in the 2018 AV Technology Europe Awards for the category “Emerging AV Professional of the Year” and “AV Professional of the Year” in the 20th AV Awards in Grosvenor Park Hotel, London.
Previous to this in 2017 Justin was a finalist in the AV Awards under the category of “European CTS Holder of the Year”
When not hard at work doing Audio Visual roles and responsibilities, Justin enjoys time with his young son and daughter, Scouting, broadcasting and football.