Derrick's passion for live music began in high school and has taken him from jazz festivals with big bands to solo piano sets at diners, and eventually into a reggae band after moving to Melbourne.

That same instinct for showing up and doing the work carried into his early career in urban planning and infrastructure finance consulting, a field that may look unglamorous on paper but turned out to be full of genuinely interesting data problems. He's driven by curiosity and a practical focus on finding solutions that actually fit the people they're meant to serve.

Outside of work, Derrick keeps a similar rhythm, going for long runs, producing electronic ambient music, and staying on a mostly serious hunt for the best fried chicken shop around.