Profile: Michael Hysen

Position: Senior Systems Engineer

Working within the Technology Infrastructure section, I provide the supporting services for a lot of our business area applications. Along with a couple of colleagues, I'm responsible for all aspects of messaging, Active Directory and security for the desktop and server environment. In fact, I designed and built the BIS messaging infrastructure, and now I'm in charge of keeping it running. This end-to-end perspective was really valuable, as it enabled me to see the consequences of my design decisions and how they impacted on the end user. That simply wouldn't have happened in a larger, more hierarchical organisation.

Round here, the lines of communication to management are open, so if you have a good idea and can convince people of its benefits, you will be encouraged to pursue it. I've been working with Microsoft technologies for about 14 years now and, while the BIS doesn't take risks with unproven software, we're very up-to-date in our approach, which helps to keep me stimulated.

I moved to Basel four and a half years ago, with two small children: one who had just started school and the other just about to start. We came all the way from Australia, but it wasn't as difficult as you might imagine: for one thing, the international schools here provide true continuity of education, and I love the fact that my children can experience other cultures and travel all around Europe. In short, it's been fantastic - if somebody said to me that they were hesitating to move to Basel because they had children, I'd tell them to get on with it!

Of course, when we arrived here none of us spoke a word of German. The Sports Club was a real haven for us - it's a place where you can relax and unwind with people in a similar situation. We still go there regularly, and always have a good time. With all the facilities it offers, I think you'd be mad not to!