James Penn-Dunnett is the owner of Dynnocht Computer Services and the Secretary
and Web Administrator of the Glasgow Branch of The British Computer Society. He
is a software architect, who has spent more than 20 years in information systems
engineering trying to keep pace with a rapidly changing industry.
He has a BA Hons (2.1) in Mathematics and Computer Science and an MSc in Applied Computing
from the Open University. At postgraduate level he studied the modelling of complex
systems using discrete mathematics, knowledge engineering and artificial
intelligence. His higher degree project and dissertation researched the practical
use of Z formal notation in the development of M Technology (MUMPS) based
clinical laboratory information management systems. He is a Chartered
Mathematician and corporate member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and The British Computer
Society. His professional interests are discrete mathematics and Z notation, safety
critical systems, medical informatics and the MUMPS programming language.
In 2001 James founded Dynnocht Computer Services, an information systems
engineering company that focuses on cost-effective and extensible business
solutions using Free/OpenSource software.
In 1989 after academic studies and some computer programming he joined the
Pathology Computing Service of NHS in Scotland as a systems designer and analyst
programmer covering acute hospitals in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. After five
years of successfully developing EDI interfaces for on-line clinical laboratory
analysers in a number of major NHS hospitals he moved to the John Radcliffe
Hospital in Oxford as a Senior Analyst Programmer in the Clinical Laboratory
Service with responsibility for software support and development. During his 3
years in pathology computing at the John Radcliffe he was a member of the
national award winning team for the Deloitte Touch Best Information Management
Project of 1998. Later that year he returned to the Scottish NHS as IT
Manager in charge of Unix Systems and outsourced IT Operations for Lothian Health
Board.
From 1969 to 1982 James was the managing director of Dunnett Electrical
Company, a family owned business of electrical engineers and contractors where he
had responsibility for specialist electrical installation work in the commercial
and public sectors. He was a licensed NICEIC electrical inspector and an active
member of the Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland (Now called SELECT)
and a member of the SJIB.
In the 1970 General Election he was the Election Agent for Robert Oliver Campbell,
Scottish National Party candidate in West Dunbartonshire. He also stood for the SNP in
the 1970 District Council elections.
He is co-author of 'The 1851 Census Index for the Parish of Ardersier, Invernessshire'
published by Highland Family History Society (2006).
When not working he can be found digging up the odd ancestor or two in
Caithness.
