Our Key People

Colin Tankard

Managing Director

I have over 30 years experience within the IT industry starting with selling the humble Microcom MNP modem! Those were the days.

Over the years I have established a number of US companies within the European market such as Axent, Whittman, Aventail Europe, LogRythm and Vormetric. Each of these companies have introduced me to some truly interesting people, many of whom are now friends.

Taking leading-edge technologies into new markets is always a challenge but by careful marketing and in-depth support, I have managed to develop a strong business brand throughout Europe working closely with trusted partners to deliver total satisfaction to clients at all levels of business maturity.

I take a business approach to data security and strive to ensure the technology meets my clients internal or compliance needs but not at the cost of business efficiency. So by taking a practical approach, the outcome is more cost effective and better secured as the client's organisation uses the technology rather than fight against it.

I continue to enjoy the challenge of building successful businesses and of bringing new products to market.

Personally, I enjoy cooking, especially Japanese, would love to own some classic cars and I enjoy flying and hold a private pilot’s licence.

A little-known fact is I was a DJ in my ‘younger’ years. I worked many nightclubs and bars and had my own mobile disco which I named Tracer 8, why I haven’t a clue! Let me know if I did a party for you back in the day….

Jacqueline Wilkinson

Head of Business Development & Marketing

I started my marketing career over 8 years ago, coming from a sales & business development background, which I have been involved in for most of my business life.

I am now firmly engrossed in cybersecurity as part of my role at Digital Pathways; which involves business development & marketing of our products and services, as well as working with suppliers and partners for all the best of breed solutions that we can offer our diverse range of customers at both SMB & Enterprise level.

As part of my role as Marketing Manager, I have grown the brand to become a recognisable and well-respected company. We now have an array of prestigious awards and some pretty impressive leading industry partners that we work with, adding value to our portfolio of products and solutions. In addition to this, we have recently launched our own range of Managed Security services to the SMB market, providing enterprise-level security products at affordable pricing, without the need of draining already valuable internal resources for our customers.

The world of cybersecurity & data protection is fascinating to me and is a constant learning curve, new products, new ways of hacking our sensitive data and new regulations & legislation all make it an interesting industry to work in. Because of this, I continue to study and improve my skillsets and continue to utilise these skills within my varied roles at Digital Pathways.

When work isn’t at the forefront of my mind; which isn’t very often, my time is spent with my family and partner enjoying our love of food, music, (one of my daughters is a singer), travel, movies, reading and sporting activities including running, clay pigeon shooting (which I tried for the first time this year & apparently I’m a natural), I have recently taken up sword fencing and skiing, which I love & I've recently started riding my first motorbike after taking my CBT and theory test. Next step my full motorbike licence as well as attempting snowboarding.

Little Know Fact about me: I was in the well known TV programme ‘Men Behaving Badly’

Paul Smith

Security Architect

I joined Digital Pathways in 2016 bringing 29 years’ experience in Information Technology, in various roles and organisations including Government, finance, retail, telcos, training, hardware and software service delivery, providing solutions and services to varying levels in an organisation up to board level in an ever-evolving industry.

Working on mainframes/mini’s through to cloud computing, covering the complete spectrum of technologies deployed as technology has developed. Operating in support, maintenance, management and delivery of solutions in most sectors over my career and currently a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH); gained through experience in my roles.

As the world wide web has evolved I have worked hand in hand with major providers offering solutions as both customer and service delivery using a Public Private Key Infrastructure (PKI), web-based solutions; all best of breed.

I started out working for Crown Agents in various environments such as The Lord Chancellors Department, Crown Investments, through to overseas development. After progressing within the organisation I moved on to provide new solutions and support to a market leader in industrial laundries, reporting to the group finance director in all IT matters. My next venture was within the retail cash management sector. This involved building a new team and mentoring new staff in all areas delivering support to a business 24 x 7 and 365 days.

Following a successful corporate career, I decided to venture into consultancy and began providing services to a large housing organisation with a brief direct from the finance director covering all services and infrastructure deployed in the organisation.

After being headhunted to provide pre and post support working with large telcos around EMEA and N.America, which involved extensive travelling within these regions in a pre and post sales capacity, I then took a change in direction into writing and delivering training to small organisations. After this, I joined a venture capitalist company who were delivering solutions to large organisations using the Internet of Things (IOT) in a research, development (R&D) and rollout capacity using the internet and services as the solution. I designed and applied a PKI infrastructure to the organisation, integrating with external parties and deploying all the associated requirements and technologies in areas such as encryption, security, risk analysis and remediation.

I joined Digital Pathways to head up the delivery and support for encryption services to existing and new customers in, for want of a better word “the cyber environment”. Digital Pathways provides longevity of experience with the proven ability to be flexible and able to deliver solutions to organisations. With the onset of GDPR, I think we are well placed and have the experience to provide help and advice to organisations of any size in any sector. I enjoy sport but being from Wales; rugby is the game I frequently play and due to the nature of the sport, enjoy the social side, which has taken me to see a lot of the UK and Ireland playing the fantastic game, alas not being paid for it!

Little known fact, I was once set alight in a pub in Croydon, as I was the only Welsh man in a pub after Scott Gibbs scored under the post to beat England... not a good idea to be wearing a red top! But I survived… just.