Opinion
Barty back to IT business
FORMER Premier David Bartlett is going back to his roots and working in IT.
Mr Bartlett, who was in information technology before entering politics, has accepted an invitation to chair the board of a software start-up company.
The Hobart company, called Asgard Labs, aims to produce the world’s first software that would give employees’ iPads safe access to highly secure corporate communication.
Mr Bartlett said yesterday this was his first post since quitting politics a month ago. He stood down from public life in May and said he had enjoyed spending more time with his family and had not missed politics.
“I’ve been catching the bus to school with my kids and cooking dinners,” Mr Bartlett said.
He said he had enjoyed the break and was now ready to go back to work.
“I feel really refreshed and buoyant and optimistic about the future.”
He said part of that optimism was linked to the new IT venture.
“I think Tasmania can be a global leader in IT in many spaces,” he said.
“There is nothing in the market like this at the moment – this is a major emerging market”.
The start-up company was launched last year by Mike Nermut, just after he left the position as Mr Bartlett’s senior IT adviser within the Premier’s office.
Mr Nermut, an IT entrepreneur who has developed and sold other start-up companies, said he and Mr Bartlett first thought up the idea while working together when Mr Bartlett was premier.