Summary
Derek Keats is a seasoned technology and payments entrepreneur with over 25 years in higher education and 14 years of direct industry experience, blending academic rigor with startup grit. He has held senior IT leadership roles including deputy vice-chancellor and executive director of university IT, then transitioned to founding and scaling payment-tech ventures such as thumbzup, ExiPay and Finimo while running his consulting firm Kenga Solutions. Derek combines expertise in IT strategy, regulatory compliance and business development with practical delivery of open-source solutions, eLearning and publishing. He also authors children’s nature books, co-founded a birding community and lives on a wildlife estate, reflecting a sustained commitment to conservation and nature photography. Not obvious from titles alone, he repeatedly moves between governance roles and hands-on technical work—bridging board-level strategy and day-to-day product and printing workflows.
14 years of coding experience
16 years of employment as a software developer
B.Sc. Hons, Biology, B.Sc. Hons, Biology at Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Biology/Biological Sciences, General at Memorial University of Newfoundland