Pat Birgan

My career hasn’t followed a traditional, straight line, but that’s exactly what has made it interesting. While digital strategy has been the consistent thread throughout, I’ve always enjoyed stepping into roles that push me out of my comfort zone. This has led me to a wide range of experiences – from the regulatory side of creating government digital solutions to the high-pressure, fast-paced world of elite international sport.

Even in my current role I have multiple responsibilities. One moment, I am the voice for Maritime’s target-state for a digital future, the next I am a business analyst diving deep into our processes and current pain points.

The common thread through my entire career has always been making sure the person on the other end has a clear and positive experience. Whether I was working on digital solutions through my own agency, MCing athletics meets, or freelance writing from stadiums overseas, the user experience is always front and centre.

This diverse background that has taught me how to be adaptable, and it’s a perspective I bring to every project.

Here’s the path that got me where I am now. I’m looking forward to the next challenge and where it takes me.

Regulatory Owner – Transport for NSW (Maritime)
2022 to present

The opportunity to lead Maritime’s transition from the legacy Government Licensing System to the new State Digital Asset – Licence NSW – was an opportunity too good to miss, so I left my part-time role to take on the multi-year project in a diverse role often wearing multiple hats as Product Manager, Business Analyst, Scrum Master and Business Partner. Working with Digital NSW, Government Technology Platforms and Service NSW has been an exciting challenge as together we transition 1 million customer licences and 7 regulatory schemes to deliver improved digital customer experiences.
Gig Buddies Volunteer
2021 to present

One day during the COVID pandemic, I started thinking more about giving back in any meaningful way. Not long after that I began volunteering with Gig Buddies, a program pairing volunteers with individuals who have mild to moderate learning disability or autism, who want to make new friends and do fun stuff. I have always had an inherent belief of inclusion, influenced firstly by my mum as a nurse, and then both parents’ dedication to serving those in need through St. Vincent de Paul. With siblings in health, therapy and special ed, and a partner who has mentored young adults, I also wanted to play my part in ensuring no one is left behind.
Operational Policy & Projects Officer – Transport for NSW (Maritime)
2019 to 2022

I didn’t intentionally seek out a career in the maritime sector, but landing there felt right. As the son and nephew of boatbuilders and the great-grandson of a sailor, there’s plenty of family history on the waterways of Australia. It’s been incredibly rewarding to take the digital and procurement skills I honed in my digital career and in the elite sports environment in Italy and apply them to a world that my family has always been a part of.
Founded Staart Digital
2017 – present

Following my return from Italy, Staart Digital was the realisation of a long-held goal to have my own business. As Director, I delivered end-to-end digital solutions for national and international organisations. A highlight was leading Digital Communications for Athletics Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, rapidly assembling a creative team to deliver high-pressure event coverage. I’ve especially enjoyed working with not-for-profits, clients in arts and renewables sector and the pro-bono work. At various times I’ve ramped the business up and down depending on my commitments elsewhere.
A Side Gig on Three Wheels
2017 to 2019

Taking on a completely new venture was the perfect way to settle back into life in Australia. After years of cruising Sydney in my own sidecar, I launched a boutique tour business to share that magic. For 18 months, as Sydney Sidecar, I guided locals and tourists through the city’s best sights. I’m incredibly proud to have maintained a 100% five-star TripAdvisor record, thanks to my wonderful passengers.
Leading Australia’s Olympic Hub in Italy
2014 to 2017

My partner and I packed up and said goodbye to friends and familiy in Australia. For three years I managed Australia’s elite high-performance hub on the shores of Lago di Varese, Italy at the AIS European Training Centre. Overseeing daily operations and sports science and sports medicine support for Olympic teams including through the Rio 2016 campaign was a career pinnacle. Bridging the gap between Italian and Australian legislation was a regulatory challenge – and I loved every minute of it. Ensuring compliance across two distinct legal landscapes was as rewarding as it was demanding. This once-in-a-lifetime role was kind of all-in work wise, but my partner and I also explored Europe and made lifelong friendships.
The best laid plans…
2014

I made the move to Sydney for love and landed a role that felt less typical of government and more like a start-up. Service NSW was quickly becoming a world-leader in user experience and it was exciting to lead the digital content team in that period. Just nine months in, I got a phone call I never expected. It was one of those moments that completely changes your trajectory, and it ended up putting my journey with NSW Government digital projects on a five-year hold. It wasn’t what I had planned, but it led to a chapter I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Moving between Canberra and Europe
2005 to 2013

In 2005, I moved from Brisbane to Canberra to manage the Australian Sports Commission’s digital platforms. However, the opening of the AIS European Training Centre (ETC) sparked a desire to return to the front lines of high performance sport. Setting a clear intention to pivot from IT back to sport, I spent 2009 to 2013 criss-crossing between Australia and Europe, juggling sports operations and IT. In Canberra, I was the web guy. In Europe I managed logistics, administration, did some freelance writing and organised international competition tours for Australia’s best athletes. This period was the ultimate bridge, blending my operational expertise in elite sport before deciding to move back to Australia permanently and settle. Or so I thought.
Digital Foundations at Queensland Rail
1997 to 2005

My transition into technology began at Queensland Rail, joining the IT department (thanks to a friend to whom I am forever grateful) just as the internet was in its infancy. Over eight years, I managed the organisation’s first intranet and internet sites, navigating the unknowns of the Y2K bug era along the way. This chapter was pivotal; it fused my background in high-performance sport with digital infrastructure, forging a unique career path in technology and sport that would define the next 15 years.
Fresh out of Uni and in charge of a Paralympic campaign
1994 to 1996

Following university, I spent three years in disabled sports. Firstly at the Sporting Wheelies & Disabled and then as Head Coach for the Queensland Academy of Sport Paralympic Squad. Managing a diverse 20-athlete squad through their campaign into the Atlanta Games, I personally supervised the program of long jumper and 1992 Paralympic gold medallist in the F34-37 class, Darren Thrupp. He was already the world-record holder and went on to win in Atlanta, but our focus was his career-long ambition: the 6-metre barrier. Hitting a record 6.12m in the Australian summer, several months out from the Games, was a deeply rewarding milestone for both of us and for me personally the experience launched a career of diverse and rewarding roles.