About Dave

Dave Kinkead

I’m a military officer turned MBA, turned philosopher, turned software architect. I’ve led organisations with hundreds of staff, managed 8 figure P&Ls, and built large-scale commercial systems.

An unusual path but one that taught me to connect why to how and what.

When software becomes an anchor rather than an asset, it’s no longer a technical problem — it’s a business problem. And these problems can’t be fixed just by rewriting code, but by identifying what’s actually blocking your growth.

I work by developing a deep understanding of your organization’s software and technical processes, how your stakeholders actually use it, and where they align or don’t align. Then I deliver a roadmap of prioritized actions to remove obstacles blocking your growth.

Previous Adventures

  1. Software Architect

    2020 - Today

    I help organisations eliminate the technical obstacles to growth. I work with founders and leaders running Ruby on Rails systems to identify which technical constraints are creating strategic business drag and help their engineering teams eliminate them. This involves developing a deep understanding of their organization's software and technical processes, how their stakeholders actually use it, and mapping the alignment between business goals and software reality. Then I deliver a roadmap of prioritized actions to remove obstacles blocking your growth.

  2. Academic Philosopher

    2011 - 2020

    I studied, researched, and taught philosophy at the University of Queensland while undertaking an MA and PhD. My work centered around computational approaches to philosophy, understanding how large-scale data shapes decision-making and democracy, and building digital tools to improve critical thinking and reasoning. This period trained me to question assumptions, distinguish symptoms from causes, and reason clearly about complex systems — skills that now underpin every technical decision I make.

  3. General Manager

    2005 - 2010

    After completing an MBA and traveling extensively, I worked as a consultant, team leader, and manager with Flight Centre before becoming General Manager of Wicked Campers. I managed over 100 staff across multiple states and countries and grew a $20M P&L at more than 20% year-on-year. This role grounded me in commercial reality: cash flow, operational constraints, incentives, and the difference between theoretical improvements and changes that actually move the business.

  4. Military Officer

    1994 - 2001

    I served as a Maritime Warfare Officer in the Royal Australian Navy, specialising in navigation and diving. At sea, I was responsible for the safety and operation of a $250M vessel and 175 sailors, often operating under uncertainty and time pressure. Military service taught me disciplined decision-making, accountability for outcomes, and how to act decisively with incomplete information — lessons that still shape how I approach risk in software and business.

Ready to remove the obstacles blocking your growth?

Let’s take 30 mins so we can learn about your business, what’s slowing it down, and see if there is scope for help.

Book a Discovery call