SX

Chapter Four · The Living CV

Sam Oluwadare

Software Engineer | AI & Digital Systems | Technology & Governance

MSc Information Technology graduate with Distinction and over four years of experience delivering full-stack applications, AI-enabled systems and data-driven digital products across commercial, academic and innovation environments. I combine hands-on software engineering with systems thinking, stakeholder engagement and board-level governance experience, building technology that is reliable, useful and centred on people.

Selected evidence

Impact before chronology.

MBCS

Professional membership

Professional member of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

1st runner-up

Virgin Media O2 Hackathon

Analysed broadband performance data with Python and presented customer-impact findings to a senior panel.

EMIZ

AI-powered Digital Twin

Contributed to a first-phase prototype supporting decision-making across manufacturing, engineering, logistics and construction.

MSc Distinction

Secure LLM research platform

Designed a private, offline proposal-assessment platform using React, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Docker and locally hosted LLMs.

34,000+ students

University governance

Serve as a University Governor, contributing to strategic oversight, organisational performance and digital transformation.

470 representatives

Elected education leadership

Served as Vice President (Education) and Trustee Member, representing students and shaping education policy and engagement.

Experience

Engineering, leadership and governance in one journey.

Jul 2025 - Present

governance

University Governor / Director

University of Derby

Derby, United Kingdom

Contribute to the strategic oversight of a university serving more than 34,000 students and 2,000 staff.

  • Participate in board-level discussions covering institutional strategy, risk, organisational performance and digital transformation.
  • Review complex reports and executive proposals, providing independent challenge and supporting evidence-based decision-making.
  • Represented the University at a House of Lords policy and industry event marking the launch of the Institute of Carbonomics.
GovernanceStrategyRisk awarenessDigital transformation

Jul 2025 - Jul 2026

leadership

Vice President (Education) & Trustee Member

University of Derby Students' Union

Derby, United Kingdom

Elected to lead on education strategy and represent the academic interests of more than 34,000 students.

  • Coordinated engagement across approximately 470 student representatives and presented recommendations to senior stakeholders.
  • Led initiatives spanning student voice, academic representation, AI in education and service improvement.
  • Contributed as a charity trustee to governance, accountability and organisational decision-making.
LeadershipPolicyStakeholder engagementTrusteeship

Jan 2025 - Mar 2025

engineering

Software Developer (Contract)

East Midlands Combined County Authority / University of Derby / Bloc Digital

Derby, United Kingdom

Developed frontend capabilities for an AI-powered Digital Twin prototype delivered under the East Midlands Investment Zone initiative.

  • Built a responsive interface integrating with an AI-powered backend and real-time digital representations of physical assets.
  • Worked within a graph-based, edge-enabled Retrieval-Augmented Generation architecture supporting causal analysis and domain-specific learning.
  • Collaborated with developers, researchers and industry specialists to align technical delivery with real-world operational needs.
ReactDigital TwinsRAGLLMsCausal analysis
Explore related case study →

Jun 2025

teaching

Computer Science Teaching Intern

Department for Education / George Spencer Teaching School Hub

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Completed a competitive secondary teaching placement focused on computing, data science and learner development.

  • Delivered interactive Year 8 data science lessons and translated technical concepts into accessible learning experiences.
  • Marked Year 11 GCSE Computing preparatory scripts and participated in safeguarding, SEND and adaptive-teaching development.
TeachingData scienceCommunicationAssessment

Oct 2022 - Sep 2024

engineering

Full-Stack Software Developer

Sunej Global Ventures

Lagos, Nigeria

Designed, developed and supported user-centred web applications, APIs and database-backed business systems.

  • Developed an enterprise sales analytics platform supporting operations generating more than $10 million annually.
  • Led the end-to-end development of Blue Kollars, a service marketplace connecting users with verified providers.
  • Implemented REST APIs, secure authentication, database solutions and third-party integrations across multiple applications.
ReactNode.jsExpressPythonPHPMySQLMongoDB

Feb 2022 - Jun 2022

engineering

Web Developer Intern

Tech Studio Academy

Lagos, Nigeria

Built responsive full-stack applications in a structured software-development programme and ranked among the cohort's top performers.

  • Recognised as a top 2% performer for high-quality technical delivery.
  • Developed responsive interfaces and backend features using JavaScript, Node.js, Express, MongoDB and WordPress.
JavaScriptNode.jsExpressMongoDBWordPress

Education & research

Built across technology and the humanities.

Sep 2024 - Aug 2025

Distinction

MSc Information Technology

University of Derby

  • Dissertation: LLM-Assisted Project Proposal Assessment and Improvement Platform.
  • Designed a secure multi-container system with React, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Docker and locally hosted LLMs.
  • Modules included IT Project Management, Database Development, Web Technologies, OOP Analysis & Design and Business Analytics.

Sep 2019 - Aug 2021

Distinction (4.76/5.00) | Best Graduating Student

MA English Literature

University of Lagos

  • Dissertation: Patterns of Female Representation in Nollywood.
  • Served as Class Governor and developed advanced research, analysis and communication capabilities.

Sep 2013 - Aug 2017

Second Class Upper Honours

BA English & International Studies

Osun State University

  • Served as Departmental Financial Secretary and represented the university in a regional oratory competition.

Capabilities

A full-stack toolkit shaped by systems thinking.

Frontend Engineering

JavaScriptTypeScriptReactNext.jsHTML5CSS3Tailwind CSSResponsive UI

Backend & APIs

Node.jsExpressPythonFastAPIDjangoPHPREST APIsAuthentication

AI, Data & Databases

LLMsRAGDigital TwinsPostgreSQLMySQLMongoDBData modellingBusiness analytics

Architecture & Delivery

System designRequirements analysisDockerGitLinuxAgileTechnical documentationTesting

Leadership & Governance

Strategic oversightStakeholder engagementPolicy developmentBoard governanceRisk awarenessPublic speaking

Professional development

Learning remains part of the work.

Governor Development Programme

Advance HE

Governance, strategic oversight, risk management and regulatory responsibilities.

Jan 2026

Back-End Web Development

ALX Africa / Mastercard Foundation

Python, Django, backend architecture, APIs, data structures, Git and secure application development.

Jun 2024 - Dec 2024

Node.js, Express, MongoDB & More

Udemy

REST APIs, authentication, authorisation, MongoDB and scalable backend development.

2023 - 2024

Future Proof with Python

Kibo School of Technology

Python programming, OOP, data structures, error handling and problem-solving.

2022

JavaScript Full-Stack Web Development

Tech Studio Academy

JavaScript, Node.js, Express, MongoDB, authentication and full-stack application development.

2022

Continue the evidence

The CV tells you where I have been. The work shows how I build.