Hi, I'm Ross.
My name is Ross Poulton. I'm 40-something, and I'm a problem solver.
I've got a pretty broad collection of interests: fatherhood, running, music, photography, barbecue, and craft beer. I've written a little about some of those things below.
In 2011 I became known as "Dad" for the first time. Being a dad has brought me more enjoyment (not to mention taught me more about time management and shown me what my real sleep requirements are) than I ever imagined possible. My boys are both a lot taller now, and - thankfully - the sleep situation has improved.
Also in 2011 I completed my Bachelor of Business at Swinburne University. I started working immediately after completing high school, and later decided a tertiary education was a good idea. Unlike many university students I wasn't there to get a job, but rather to broaden my horizons a little and expand my understanding of business theory. So far it seems to be working.
Latest blog posts
I don't write as regularly as I'd like to, but here are the last few things I've added to the site:
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My roadtrip cured my EV range anxiety • Wed 28 January 2026
Before an EV, I over-thought EV range. After my first road trip it's clear that range is mostly a non-issue. -
2025 - My Year in Running • Tue 06 January 2026
In which I remind myself to have fun out there! -
2026: What's out and what's in • Tue 06 January 2026
As we roll into 2026, I didn't want to set bold resolutions. Here's a different perspective on what I'd like out of my year to come. -
Recommendation: See more live music • Wed 24 December 2025
In the past few months I've been lucky enough to see some incredible Australian artists live. It's been a long time since I've seen much live music, so it's been a real treat and a reminder of how bloody good the Australian music scene is -
Moving to Macbook • Sat 13 December 2025
Thoughts on my first few weeks of working on a Mac, after decades of Windows laptops in the workplace. -
Watch recommendation: Listers • Wed 10 December 2025
Two brothers get high, have a laugh at their parents birdwatching book, then dive head-first into a "big year" of travelling the US to log as many bird species as they can find.
I like to run
I love to run, especially on trails.
With my local running club I do everything from 5km parkrun events each Saturday through to half marathons and ultramarathons, on road and on trail. I'm not much one for hippy dippy bullshit, but hitting the trails and being surrounded by trees is one of the most freeing and cleansing things I can do. It keeps me fit and healthy, and resets my head.
That photo is me midway through the 2026 Surf Coast Trail Marathon, my sixth running of the 42(ish)km Torquay-to-Fairhaven trail. I think that happy look on my face says it all, don't you?
I try to blog
Well, occasionally. I don't regularly write blog posts, but you can see everything that I have written in my blog archive that dates back to 2006. Most of my older posts are somewhat technical, but recently it's got more of a mix of personal, business, and technical.
I make a decent cocktail
I reckon a negroni is the perfect transition between the workday and weekend, but a gin sour (preferably with Naught's Sangiovese Gin) is probably my favourite.
I like other inconvenient hobbies, too
While I spend most of my life in a digital world of smartphones, electric vehicles, home automation, and laptops, I do love to slow down occasionally. Whether it's shooting black and white photos on film (using a camera that's older than I am) or listening to music on vinyl, I seem to be a sucker for expensive and inconvenient hobbies.
What I do when I'm not on a trail
For nearly two decades I have been in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 (nee Microsoft CRM) space. I'm a strong believer in helping organisations improve the relationships with their customers and other stakeholders.
At Fusion5 in Melbourne, I grew our Customer Engagement practice into one of the strongest in the country and, just as importantly, made it a genuinely good team to be a part of.
These days, as Engagement Manager, I get to focus on the part I love most: the strategic conversations with senior stakeholders, steering the big engagements through the moments that actually matter, and making sure customers get real value out of what we build together.
Along the way I've mentored junior consultants, built new software systems, run training for technophobes, sold software, and dabbled in low-code development. I've successfully used every methodology under the sun: from the older waterfall design-up-front-then-build-it-all process to newer agile processes, and all sorts of hybrids in between.
If growing great practices is something you're interested in, we should talk.
You: get in touch!
I want to help pay forward the success (and, let's be honest, luck) in my consulting career. There's a bunch of things I'd like to chat about so get in touch if I am able to help you out at all.