What’s your name?

Cameron Hopkinson

What are your preferred pronouns?

They/Them

What’s your title?

Software developer

How long have you worked at Ackama?

2.5 years

What does your job entail?

Building and updating websites for clients, which involves working primarily with Rails. It involves looking at stories that need to be done, creating the code to implement those stories, and then confirming that it works (technically and for the client); rinse and repeat. 

I also get to chat with Clients to work out what they are looking for, and work with them so they know how we will be implementing that feature. 

What’s an area that you are passionate about and want to help change?

I am an advocate for accessibility, anywhere, but particularly in computer games. I am part of the Ackama accessibility guild and  I have been writing and speaking in this space for a few years now. 

For example, I recently gave a talk at an international conference (online)) about this. I really wanted to help event organisers understand how to make events more accessible to autistic attendees. 

What is a typical day like?

We always start with a team stand up where we chat with each other to discuss any problems we are encountering and how we could resolve them. It is great to feel part of a team. It is also fair to say that most of my day is sitting in front of the computer writing and testing code.

What do you like most about your job?

Getting really stuck into a complicated problem that I really have to think through! 

What do you like about working at Ackama

I like the projects and the social good that a lot of our projects involve.

Where are you from?

Wellington, born + bred.

Where did you go to school?

West Park School, Raroa Intermediate, Onslow College and Victoria University of Wellington.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

Write music (I have a degree in music composition), listen to music, make + play video games … and make food. 

What are your favorite computer games?

It is too hard to decide on just one, don’t make me choose!!

What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

I was blonde as a kid.