Biographies

Don Murray
President and Co-founder
Don has been leading the direction of Safe Software and guiding its product strategy for more than 17 years. During this time, he has built strategic alliances with leading GIS vendors and integrated FME technology into their products to help them address their clients’ complex data interoperability challenges. In addition to his considerable professional experience, Don is a Masters recipient in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University and has taught at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. In his spare time, Don can often be found at a rink or a baseball diamond, coaching his daughter’s hockey and baseball teams. Don also enjoys keeping up-to-date on the latest in electronics, especially anything related to home theatre.

Follow Don on Twitter – @donatsafe
 
Dale Lutz
Vice President of Development and Co-founder
Dale has been leading the core development of FME since Safe Software’s inception more than 17 years ago. Much of Dale’s time is spent refining and optimizing the user experience in the graphical user interfaces (GUIs) of the FME platform, as well as leading the integration of FME technology into third-party GIS applications. He is a Computer Science Honors graduate and a Masters recipient with specialty in Usability for Software Technology from the University of Alberta. When not in the office, Dale enjoys spending time with his two sons, which can involve anything from disassembling and reassembling electronics to bicycling through the park. In addition to being a big football fan, he’s also a true multi-tasker which would explain why he can sometimes be found playing Madden football on his Nintendo Wii while at the same time working out on his elliptical trainer.

Follow Dale on Twitter – @DaleAtSafe
 
Paul Nalos
Database Team Lead
Paul oversees Safe Software’s Database team of developers. He joined Safe in 2006 as a member of the Core (FME Engine) development team, which he describes as probably the best introduction to FME internals that he could have been given. While spending most of his time these days on the relationship between FME and spatial databases, Paul is also heavily involved in the company’s coordinate systems and computer-aided design initiatives. Paul is a Masters recipient in Computing Science from the University of Alberta and has an undergraduate degree in Physics and Computing Science. He brings considerable experience to Safe Software from his time working in the telecommunications and semiconductor industries. Outside the office, Paul can be found enjoying a myriad of activities, from snowshoeing up a local mountain to playing a rousing game of the Settlers of Catan with family and friends. He is also kept busy by his Boston Terrier named Triggs.
 
Stewart Harper
FME Server Support Manager
Stewart manages the FME Server Support team. He joined Safe in 2008 and spends most of his time helping customers with their FME Server support issues, writing training materials and support articles, and building web demos to demonstrate FME Server’s capabilities. Stewart has an undergraduate degree in Physical Geography from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and is a Masters recipient in GIS from the University of Leeds. He brings experience from his time as a consultant in the UK in the design and implementation of spatial software stacks, web mapping API’s and middle-end technologies. When not in the office, Stewart uses any excuse to get onto the mountains whether it be skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking or hiking.