Shawn Hearn: The Pathway to Digital Infrastructure

“(Technology) is my sandbox. I’ve always been intrigued by it. The most rewarding part is that I’m presented with a problem and given the opportunity to architect a solution using technology.”

Growing up in a small town in Nova Scotia, Shawn Hearn learned a lot from his childhood friend’s tech-savvy military dad. On Sundays, his friend’s father would set up a stand at the local flea market and people would drop off their computers for repair. Shawn remembers visiting his friend’s house and seeing the process of fixing those computers— panels removed, wires exposed, and all the intricate connections to the motherboard in full view.

Since then, Shawn has spent nearly two decades working in technology. It’s an ever-changing field, but it keeps him consistently engaged. From IT support at the Banff Centre to assisting investigators with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), to positions focused on critical infrastructure and operational technology (OT), Shawn’s career has been filled with exciting challenges. Since October 2019, his challenge has been to lead True North Solutions’ recently formed Digital Infrastructure team. He’s enjoying every minute of it.

“(Technology) is my sandbox,” he says. “I’ve always been intrigued by it. The most rewarding part is that I’m presented with a problem and given the opportunity to architect a solution using technology.”

True North originally recruited Shawn for an internal IT position, but True North’s leadership team quickly identified that he could help build something new — that was the genesis of True North’s Digital Infrastructure offering.

Digital infrastructure are the foundational services necessary for information technology (IT). For industry, the evolution of digital infrastructure and the convergence of IT/OT has resulted in a host of improvements like better equipment efficiency, less maintenance, safer workplaces, lower cost of ownership…you name it. But there’s a catch: creating a digital infrastructure is a complex, multidisciplinary process.

For someone like Shawn, that complexity is part of the draw to this work. It holds opportunity and excitement. Over the past year and a half, he’s been hard at work with his team designing robust digital infrastructure solutions for True North’s clients.

These days, security is a key element of digital infrastructure. Numerous, high-profile security breaches in the energy sector have put the spotlight on cybersecurity. Businesses are becoming increasingly aware that it’s just as important to protect their operational assets as it is to guard their corporate IT.

“There’s a lot of technology involved in getting data from a wellsite back to someone’s tablet in Calgary. And it’s one thing to get the data there, it’s another thing to get it there safely,” says Shawn. 

True North’s Digital Infrastructure team offers a full suite of services encompassing five main categories related to technology: industrial telecommunication, industrial networking, cybersecurity, systems infrastructure, and fiber. Managing a team of experts and staying on top of leading-edge technology is a tall order. But that’s just the type of pressure Shawn thrives on. 

He also thrives in a supportive environment that makes room for ambition, innovative ideas, and collaboration. “True North was willing to make an investment in the right people to bring this team to fruition,” says Shawn. “They believe in the value of having digital infrastructure as part of their core offerings and I’m honoured to be part of spearheading these initiatives.”