On-demand technology leadership for organisations that need expert guidance without the cost of a full-time CTO.

With over 20 years in software, cloud, and security, including building secure platforms for government and private sectors, Pop-Up CTO offers flexible, hands-on expertise to drive your business forward with clarity and confidence.

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The Pop-up CTO Model

A Pop-Up CTO is a flexible, embedded executive who provides senior-level technology leadership on a temporary, part-time, or project basis.

This model is particularly suited to organisations that:

  • Do not yet require a full-time CTO
  • Are undergoing growth or transformation
  • Need to stabilise or remediate technical issues
  • Require experienced oversight for critical projects
  • Must meet compliance or regulatory obligations

The Pop-Up CTO engages quickly, establishes direction, resolves key risks, and builds capability within the organisation before transitioning or scaling back as required.

Core Services

Strategic Technology Leadership

Translate business objectives into clear, actionable technology roadmaps.
Define architecture, platform strategy, and technology stack.
Align technology investment with commercial outcomes.

Delivery & Execution Oversight

Lead and stabilise software delivery.
Resolve technical debt and performance bottlenecks.
Implement scalable development practices and governance.

Cyber Security & Compliance

Establish and uplift cyber security posture.
Drive compliance with ISO27001, SOC2, Essential Eight and other frameworks.
Develop and implement security policies, controls, and monitoring.

Infrastructure & Cloud Strategy

Design and optimise cloud infrastructure.
Improve resilience, scalability, and cost efficiency.
Ensure alignment with data sovereignty and regulatory requirements.

Team Building & Leadership

Recruit and structure engineering teams.
Establish engineering culture, standards, and processes.
Mentor technical staff and emerging leaders.

Stakeholder & Investor Engagement

Represent technology strategy to boards, investors, and partners.
Provide credibility and assurance around technical direction.
Support due diligence and investment readiness.

Technical Translation

Bridge the gap between business stakeholders and technical teams.
Convert business requirements into clear technical specifications.
Ensure alignment across product, delivery, and operations.
Engagement

Pop-Up CTO offers flexible engagement structures tailored to client needs:

  • Advisory (Part-Time) Ongoing strategic guidance and oversight
  • Project-Based Focused delivery of a defined initiative or remediation
  • Interim CTO Full executive role coverage during transition periods
  • On-Demand As-needed support for critical decisions or issues
About
Three colleagues in casual office setting having a conversation around a laptop, one holding a coffee cup.

Terry Down is a seasoned technology executive with over 20 years of experience in IT,
software development, and executive leadership.

As Founder and CEO of finao (established 2008), Terry has built and scaled a secure, enterprise-grade platform used by government and private sector organisations. Under his leadership, finao became a NSW Government-approved provider of high-risk ICT services and achieved compliance with standards such as ISO27001, ISO9001, NIST, and SOC2.

Terry brings a unique combination of deep technical expertise and board-level governance experience, underpinned by his qualification as a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Key Experience

  • Over 20 years in IT and software delivery
  • Founder and CEO of a government-approved software provider
  • Extensive experience in cloud architecture and scalable platforms
  • Proven track record in cyber security and compliance frameworks
  • Strong background in integrating systems and managing complex environments
  • Experience working with both government and private sector clients

Leadership Achievements

  • Founded and scaled finao into a globally recognised software provider
  • Achieved ISO27001, ISO9001, SOC2 and NIST compliance standards
  • Delivered secure, cloud-hosted applications for high-risk environments
  • Built long-term client relationships across government and enterprise sectors
  • Established a strong engineering culture focused on quality and security

Education & Certifications

  • Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) – 2024
  • Sustainability Strategies, University of Cambridge – 2024
  • Cyber Security Diploma, RMIT – 2023
  • AWS Cloud Practitioner – 2021
  • ISO27001 Lead Auditor (PWC) – 2019
  • TOGAF 9 Enterprise Architecture – 2018
  • Masters in Business and Technology (UNSW) – 2007
Why Pop-Up CTO

Organisations engage Pop-Up CTO for one reason - To get it right.

  • Immediate access to proven CTO-level capability
  • Independent, pragmatic, and commercially grounded advice
  • Deep experience across compliance, security, and government environments
  • Ability to quickly diagnose issues and implement solutions
  • Flexible engagement without long-term overhead

Pop-Up CTO is not theoretical. It is hands-on, accountable, and focused on outcomes.

Typical Outcomes
  • Clear and executable technology roadmap
  • Stabilised and scalable delivery capability
  • Improved cyber security posture and compliance alignment
  • Reduced technical risk and operational inefficiencies
  • Stronger alignment between business and technology
Contact

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