Andrew has been using mind maps and software since 1995. He read Tony Buzan's book "Use Your Head" whilst moving from Unilever (margarine) to a competitor Anchor Foods (butter), when he was given a few weeks "garden leave". He used mind maps to plan a complex move from The Netherlands to the UK and to understand his new organisation. He mapped all his induction meetings and started using software to develop and manage projects in his role as chief engineer. At his next business he created the first recruitment and induction processes for the company using mind maps. The maps were used to visualise the process and link the maps to all relevant documents.

From 2001 Andrew worked as independent management consultant using mind maps extensively for recording meetings and planning. He worked as a trainer for other companies but soon created his own brand for supplying MindManager training and services. In 2007 he formed Cabre Limited which works at several levels. The business supplies software and trains users at public, private and on-line courses. It helps organisations at the early stages of projects collecting knowledge with maps and publishing it as project plans, requirements document etc. He has created maps to enhance business plans and produce web sites to provide the backdrop to transatlantic telephone conversations.

From 2007 Andrew has been developing a service for recording and publishing events on the web called ConferenceREACTION.co.uk. The distinguishing feature is speeches and discussions are summarised in mind maps linked to additional sources of information: web pages, PowerPoint slide shows, video, sound bites etc. MindManager is used to plan the recording, collect the data and create the web site. ConferenceREACTION covers events from 1 hour speeches through to 2 day multi-stream conference with a crew of mind pampers, photographers, video and sound recordists. He has also worked with facilitators creating records of boardroom and weekend strategy meetings. Andrew has been using Tablet PCs to record in maps without the intrusion of the keyboard and screen on the meeting table for several years.

Andrew is now looking forward to making use of the new "palette" that iMindMap offers and its direct links to Tony Buzan's process. He says "I think they are big opportunities to bring more colour and life to maps of events and business or project strategy maps. Tony Buzan's original concepts of using maps to help memory and understanding will come to foreground. Businesses and organisations will find it easier to keep the agreed plan on track".

It's been obvious to him for many years that software is often underutilised and/or used in frustrating and ineffective ways by the users. People leave his courses with understanding about the best practise for creating good looking maps quickly and with awareness of how they could apply them in their business in a variety of applications. Andrew looks forward to assisting iMindMap users in their journey to making this fantastic software the place where they start and develop all their work, leaving publication in MS Office applications to the final stage only if required.