Course Presenters

Paul Coenraats

Paul Coenraats has worked in the data communications industry for 37 years, initially in signalling circuit design and testing as a Railway Signalling Technician and a Senior Technical Officer.

Paul gained his experience in data communications with Racal Milgo installing and maintaining modems and multiplexers. From there he moved on to ITT Business Systems installing and maintaining terminals, cluster controllers and front end processors for IBM main frames.

Paul then moved to Micom Communications Systems, U.K., at Micom Borer, Reading, initially as a Technical Support Engineer, moving on to the role of Product Support Manager for the Micom multiplexer range. 

Since 1991 Paul has been working with Fastlink encompassing a broad spectrum of activities. Planning, installing and commissioning structured wiring, installation and configuration of many types of active equipment from broadband modems and routers to Wi Fi and VoIP equipment, as well as the supply and installation of telephone systems, analogue and digital hybrid.

Neil Maidment

Neil Maidment, with 34 years of electronics and software industry experience, started off in a test environment.

After obtaining a degree in Electronics Design, Neil progressed to programming Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) systems and the design of ‘specific to type’ test equpment. During this time, Neil also obtained a second degree in Software and Microsystems, through the home study, Open University program.

As this industry faded and became more ‘system on a chip’ based, Neil made the successful transition into a sales role.

Progressing through Recruitment, to compiler and debug tools, to selling embedded Operating Systems with WindRiver Systems. Neil finally made UK Sales Manager for Taiwanese based industrial computer company Advantech, before moving into a marketing role.

Having known Allan Oakes for some 18 years, Neil is now part of the Marketing team at Fastlink and has been for the last two years.