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Nykvist says he cannot recall ever being nerdy in his early years. "I probably tend to think of myself more as a geek working in research and education and managing projects. In my senior year of high school I recall being allowed to use the computers where we were introduced to BASIC programming.
"I can't say I was too thrilled with it and probably was not the best student in this class - playing football was much more fun at the time. Really why would I ever need a computer! However, I started my first degree in Home Economics and Mathematics education and through this course, I had to undertake quite a bit of programming and statistical work which led to developing my knowledge in the computing area."
He then spent several years living and teaching in outback Queensland (mid-90s) where he soon became the central resource for all IT problems and was soon
indoctrinated into the world of IT education.
"I would sometimes drive two hours to Charleville just to teach introductory computing programs or sometimes I would drive 120 kilometres or more between towns to fix a computer-related problem. I ended up placing networks in schools and was soon experimenting with Linux as a proxy server for school dial-up connections.
"I think it was during this time I grew to be a bit of a geek and decided to study a couple more degrees. After a lot more work and study - I eventually ended up as an ICT lecturer at the university where I also took on several related projects installing and administering a number of Debian/Red Hat Linux servers for various teaching and research projects to support educators both nationally and internationally (this still consumes a good chunk of my time)."
What influences have shaped him to make him what he is today? "I really think it is a culmination of many life experiences that have guided me to where I am now," says Nykvist. "Some I have sought out, while others I have stumbled across or grown into. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to be when I grew up, but am quite focused now."
