June 2025 Graduate - Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences from AUT, Specialising in Software Development, Networking & Cyber Security and Creative Technologies.
About Me
Kia ora, I'm Thomas Brears. I am a passionate individual with an interest in technology. I'm from Aotearoa New Zealand, and take pride in my Māori whakapapa. I am a recent graduate (June 2025) of a Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences, majoring in software development, minoring in networking and cybersecurity, and Creative Technologies from Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau - Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
I have been interested in technology since I was young, starting coding and creating basic HTML sites at age 11. My passion for technology has only grown since then, which drove me to pursue formal education and practical experience in the field. I am capable of quickly learning new concepts and technologies, and I succed in challenging environments.
My academic journey has provided me with a solid foundation in software development principles, networking protocols, cybersecurity measures, and innovative approaches to technology through my coursework. Along with my studies, I have been actively involved in various projects and extracurricular activities to further enhance my skills and broaden my understanding of the tech landscape.
I have excellent time management skills, allowing me to effectively balance academic commitments, personal projects, and professional development. I am highly motivated to contribute meaningfully to the tech industry and eager to apply my knowledge and expertise in a real-world work environment.
As I embark on my career journey, I seek opportunities to apply my technical skills and creative problem-solving abilities in a forward-thinking tech company. I am excited about collaborating with like-minded individuals and making a positive impact through innovative solutions.
I invite you to look around my portfolio to see some of my work. I would love to connect with you! Follow me on Linkedin or GitHub
Technologies & Tools I Work With
Languages, frameworks, and tools I use
Languages
HTML
Experienced
CSS
Experienced
JavaScript
Proficient
TypeScript
Familiar
Java
Proficient
PHP
Familiar
C#
Familiar
C++
Learning
Frameworks
React
Proficient
Next.js
Familiar
Node.js
Proficient
Express.js
Familiar
Tools
Git
Proficient
GitHub
Proficient
Figma
Proficient
Postman
Learning
Markdown
Experienced
Cloud Services
AWS
Learning
Google Cloud
Familiar
Firebase
Proficient
Miscellaneous
Tailwind
Proficient
Cloudflare
Familiar
WordPress
Learning
Auth0
Learning
Work Experience
Barista
March 2021 – Present
Fort Greene • Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
Responsible for preparing and serving coffee, serving customers and more.
Cafe All Rounder
July 2019 – Febuary 2024
Two Birds Cafe and Restaurant • Ruakākā, Aotearoa New Zealand
Responsible for preparing and serving coffee, serving customers, preparing food and more.
Work Expperience Placement
June 2019
Two Birds Cafe and Restaurant • Ruakākā, Aotearoa New Zealand
Five week work experience placement learning all aspects of the business.
Education
Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences
Auckland University of Technology • Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand • 2022 - June 2025
At AUT, I have recently completed a Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences, majoring in Software Development with minors in Creative Technology, Networking and Cybersecurity
Certificate in Science and Technology
Auckland University of Technology • Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand • 2021
Pathway course to my Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences.
High School
Bream Bay College • Ruakākā, New Zealand • 2014 - 2020
At Bream Bay College, I have gained several awards and certificates, including:
•(2020) Completed NCEA level three
•(2020) Prime Ministers Vocational Excellence Award
•(2020) Cup for Innovation in Technology (Level 3 Digital Technologies)
•(2020) Cup for First Equal in Level 3 Digital Technologies
•(2020) First in Level 3 Hospitality (via Farnet)
•(2020) Cup for best Male student in Gateway
•(2020) Certificate for outstanding citizen
•(2019) Completed NCEA level two.
•(2019) First in level 2 Trade Skills
•(2019) First in level 2 Vocational Pathways
•(2019) First Equal in level 2 Hospitality
•(2019) Cup for Innovation in Technology (Level 2 Digital Technologies)
•(2019) Cup for best Male student in Gateway
•(2018) Completed NCEA level one,
•(2018) First in level one hospitality.
•(2018) Cup for first equal in level one digital technology,
•(2018) First equal in level one trade skills,
•(2015) Cup for Year 8 Outstanding Citizen,
•(2015) Awarded a "Tumuaki" award/badge (for all-round excellence),
•(2015) Awarded a "Kia Mia" award/badge (for all-round excellence in homeroom)
Pinned Projects
AUT Events Induction Portal: Full stack Induction website
As part of my final year R&D project, we developed an induction website for our client, AUT Events + Venues. This is a full stack web application utlising React.js, Node.js, Express.js, Firebase AUTH, FireStore, Google Cloud Storage, Vercel and more.
This project has been completed from the group up by us and we have worked through this entire project with the clients best interest at the forefront. We have have utilised a XP/SCRUM hybrid methodology and development best practices
KoruFlicks: Full stack video website
**This project is currently in development**
KoruFlicks is a video searching website that allows users to search for videos from the Movie Database API and view them in a user-friendly interface. Users can also create an account to save their favorite videos and view their watch history.
This project is being developed as a personal project to further my skills in full stack
As a personal project, I have been creating the video searching website, KoruFlicks. This is a full stack web application utlising React.js, Node.js, Express.js, Firebase AUTH, FireStore, Vercel, the Movie Database API and more.
PriceHound: Price comparison website
PriceHound is a full-stack price comparison web application that uses a Pupeteer web scraper to get the current prices of products so users can view and compare prices for their favorite products. PriceHound was created by my team for our course, COMP602: Software Development Practices. It is created with a React.js Frontend and Node.js/Express.js backend with various APIs and libraries to get the best experiences possible. (Note: Search functionally does not currently work in online version due to issues with our web scraper)
Multi-Converter website
Introducing my Multi-Converter website – a versatile platform meticulously designed for seamless handling of various conversions. Built using a robust combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, this dynamic tool empowers users to effortlessly convert values across multiple domains. Experience the convenience of automatic completion as you enter values in any field, streamlining the conversion process for Number Bases, Weight, Percentage, Temperature, ASCII/Unicode, Time, Length, Area, Volume, Angle, and Speed. Each input field is equipped with a convenient copy function, allowing users to easily replicate results for immediate use. In addition to its functional prowess, the website offers a sleek and user-friendly interface, complemented by a Dark Mode for a comfortable and visually appealing experience.
Software Practice Empirical Evidence Database (SPEED)
This website was created for ENSE701 as a project for my course at AUT. It is a web application that uses a Next.js Frontend and Node.js/Express.js backend with MongoDB and Mongoose for article data. and various APIs and Librarys including MailJet for email notifications to get the best experiences possible for article submition, moderator and analyst review before public display.
Taxi Booking System
A simple real time full stack taxi booking stystem created with a HTML frontend and JS for server side rendering and PHP my Admin and MYSQL for story data. This was created as course work for COMP721: Web Development scoring A+ (This website is hosted on the internal AUT servers, so you will not be able to access it)
