Bio
A builder of tools, fighting to balance performance and code clarity.
Rory has been passionate about computing for as long as he can remember — starting with writing games in BASIC far too many years ago. Over a 30+ year career, he has worked across a vast range of systems at every scale, from embedded systems to distributed internet-scale bidding engines. His experience spans industries, company sizes (from two-person startups to multinational corporations), and programming paradigms.
A long-time advocate of Scala, Rory has contributed to numerous open-source projects, including performance optimizations in the Scala compiler. Today, he works in a hybrid role supporting applied AI and ML research while continuing to mentor developers and share knowledge through public speaking.
Outside of software, Rory is a martial artist, a windmill tour guide, and a passionate mentor of programming and public speaking.