Damien Hill

Summary

Product designer and engineer with 20+ years’ experience creating and delivering web and mobile products from concept through to launch. I’ve led product development at scale — from founding ZipID (acquired by Equifax) to shaping user experience at Wotif.com (acquired by Expedia) — leveraging both design and engineering to solve complex problems.

Experience

2019—

Product & Engineering Lead at Fallon Solutions (acquired by Lighthouse Service Partners 2025)

Led the end-to-end design, development, and delivery of a trade services platform, covering booking, scheduling, field operations, invoicing, and reporting. I combined product ownership with hands-on UX and software engineering, managed a small cross-functional team, and partnered closely with operations to translate real-world processes into scalable digital solutions, driving business growth and supporting a successful private equity exit.

• Owned and delivered an end-to-end trade services platform from concept through launch, covering customer booking, scheduling, dispatch, field workflows, invoicing, reporting, and more.
• Led product strategy and delivery while remaining hands-on across UX design, software architecture, and mobile and web development.
• Designed and built a multi-part platform including an office/admin application, mobile field app, and supporting data and reporting systems.
• Managed and mentored a small cross-functional team, setting technical direction and ensuring high-quality delivery.
• Acted as a key operational partner to the business, translating real-world trade and field processes into scalable digital systems.
• Implemented a modern, serverless AWS-based architecture to improve reliability, scalability, and development velocity.
• Enabled ~20% revenue growth while improving margins through operational efficiency and better utilisation of field resources.
• Contributed to a successful private equity exit by modernising core systems and strengthening the company’s operational platform.

2013—2019

Tech Co-Founder at ZipID (acquired by Equifax 2015)

Co-founded ZipID, an identity verification platform for banks, brokers and conveyancers responding to new government regulation. I led product and engineering end to end, combining hands-on UX design and software development with platform ownership through to acquisition by Veda (now Equifax).

• Co-founded ZipID and led the product and technology function end to end, taking the platform from initial concept through to commercial launch and scale.
• Built an identity verification platform for banks and financial institutions in response to new government regulatory requirements.
• Delivered a secure, AWS-hosted system spanning customer booking, mobile field verification, internal QA, and client reporting.
• Combined product leadership with hands-on UX design and software engineering across web, iOS, and backend systems.
• Bootstrapped the business and gained initial traction including securing major banking customers Macquarie and ING which led to acquisition by Veda (now Equifax) in 2015.

2009—2015

Principal UX/Product Lead at Wotif.com (acquired by Expedia 2014)

Delivered user experience and product leadership across web and mobile platforms, improving usability, engagement, and conversion. Partnered closely with engineering and design teams to implement UX strategy and drive measurable results within a high-growth travel technology environment acquired by Expedia.

• Pitched, designed and developed the first Wotif.com mobile app with one other engineer in 2009 which quickly became the highest converting channel with strong repeat use
• Instrumental role in the unique design and front-end development of the Wotif.com flights product launched in 2010
• Led the end-to-end redesign of Wotif.com in 2012 to a responsive layout including A/B testing to achieve improvements across hotel search and booking flows
• [TODO: multi-brand projects]
• [TODO: helping driving move to agile]
• [TODO: bridging gap between UX team and engineering]
• [TODO: presenting roadmap and vision to executive team]

2007—2009

Senior Designer at Bullseye

Lead design/consulting role in large projects for both government and corporate clients throughout Australia. Responsibilities and achievements include:

• Designing websites and web applications from wireframes through to HTML/CSS development for numerous high-profile clients
• Presenting design concepts to CEO’s and executive teams
• Facilitating stakeholder and user workshops to gather requirements
• Conducting user research utilising a variety of methods
• Developing internal standards and practice for design, information architecture and HTML/CSS
• Mentoring 5 team members in HTML/CSS development
• Mentoring 2 team members in interaction and visual design principles
• Contributing to business development directly by writing proposals and quotes
• Creating concept designs for marketing pitches
• Rated by management as best performing team member for 2006—2007 in a company of approximately 40 staff

2006

User Interface Designer at Dept. of Child Safety

Engaged for a 7 month sub-contract though iFocus to design the user interface for a large-scale client management system. Responsibilities and achievements include:

• Created screen flows, wireframes and concept designs for complex interactions
• Worked with business analysts to understand business and user requirements
• Presented concepts to client project team for review and approval
• Liaised with development team to provide advice on HTML/CSS implementation
• Initial training survey results showed high levels of user satisfaction with the new interface

2004—2007

Web Designer at iFocus

Initially hired as an analyst/programmer but quickly moved to become the first permanent designer employed at iFocus. Responsibilities and achievements include:

• Designed and developed websites for QR, Department of Primary Industries and Griffith University and other clients
• Rated by management as second best performing team member for 2005—2006 in a company of approximately 35 staff
• Established and evolved interaction/visual design and HTML/CSS methodologies and standards
• Contributed to the success of growing the Brisbane office from 4 to 20 people over 3 years

2000—2004

Web Designer (self-employed)

Self-employed while at university to gain experience in web design and development.

Education

2001—2004

Bachelor of Information Technology (E-commerce)

QUT University, Brisbane, Australia

Skills

Recommendations

[TODO: Mark D recommendation from Fallon]

[TODO: Sean S recommendation from ZipID]

[TODO: Scott M recommendation from Wotif]

Damien's skills in the user experience design field is second to none. His ability to workshop with clients from Marketing Managers, CEOs and IT in generating user centred, innovative and fresh designs that consistently hits the mark is outstanding.

His breadth of skills and experience allows for Damien to work with clients at the research and definition level all the way through to CSS/HTML and CMS integration at the highest standards. The clients he has worked with include Australian Sports Commission, Queensland Rail, Main Roads and Griffith University to name a few.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Damien for any role in his space.

—Mark Nicklin, Managing Director - Digital Strategy, Bullseye Digital

“I hired Damien as a user interface designer with a focus on the visual design aspects of the project - I also wanted him to support anticipated front-end development activities. He was able to achieve these tasks easily and quickly moved on to significantly more value-adding work. Damien worked closely with Business Analysts, preparing low and high-fidelity wireframes, helping them to articulate requirements more effectively. He provided essential input into the functional design process in areas of significantly complex user interaction. Damien possesses a superior work ethic, sets realistic timeframes for himself and delivers to expectations. He projects a maturity beyond his years and, through a humble and honest approach, quickly earns the respect of his peers and stakeholders. If I could hire him again tomorrow, I would.”

—Matt Morphett, User Interface Architect, Department of Child Safety

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