What do data centres and fresh bread have in common? For Omar Hussein, it’s all about building from scratch. As Dicker Data’s Data Centre Practice Manager, he’s spent more than a decade helping partners bring complex IT environments together, applying the same practical, hands-on mindset he once used running a bakery on the Central Coast.
His path into IT wasn’t traditional. After studying economics and agriculture, an opportunity at IBM set him on a different course, eventually leading to distribution and to Dicker Data. Today, his role spans data centre infrastructure, networking and edge technologies, evolving alongside both the industry and his own career.
“My role has evolved over the years from a focus on storage into a broader scope that includes networking and end-to-end infrastructure. Today, I’m involved in everything from data centres to campus environments and edge technologies like Wi-Fi. At its core, my role is about bridging sales and technical, helping design and configure solutions that bring the whole environment together.”
As environments become more complex, that ability to connect technologies has only grown in importance.
“Everything is more interconnected than ever. Storage, servers, networking, Wi-Fi and cabling all need to work together seamlessly, so having that end-to-end view is critical when designing solutions.”
Within that, Omar plays a key role in helping partners navigate complexity with confidence, drawing on Dicker Data’s breadth of vendors and expertise.
“What makes Dicker Data stand out is the ability to bring together a wide range of vendors, technologies and services in one place. It gives us the flexibility to shape solutions around what the partner and customer actually need. When partners are faced with a lot of choice, our job is to simplify that. We work closely with them to narrow down the options and design a solution that delivers the best outcome.”
Whether it’s collaborating across Business Units or combining complementary technologies, the focus is always on making things easier for partners.
“It’s about bringing everything together so it’s ready to go. When a solution is designed, configured and aligned from the start, it makes it much easier for partners to procure, deploy and deliver for their customers.”
That same thinking applies as conversations shift towards AI, where many partners are still working out where to start.
“Our advice is to start with the outcome. Once you understand what the customer is trying to achieve, we can help map the right combination of hardware and software to support that. AI solutions rely on multiple components coming together, including compute, storage and networking. With access to leading vendors across all of these areas, we’re in a strong position to help partners bring those pieces together in a practical way.”
It’s this ability to connect people, technology and expertise that Omar believes sets Dicker Data apart.
“We work across a broad ecosystem, and that means we can pull in the right expertise at the right time. It’s less about individual silos and more about delivering a complete solution for the partner.”
Outside of work, that mindset of building and creating continues. A father of twins, Omar enjoys exploring rural Australia and maintaining a connection to his agricultural roots, growing his own vegetables and embracing a farm-to-plate approach.
“At one stage, my wife and I ran a bakery on the Central Coast, making fresh bread and sandwiches every day. It’s something I’d love to revisit down the track.”
From building infrastructure to baking bread, Omar’s approach is grounded in bringing the right elements together to create something that works and works well.
Connect with the Dicker Data team to see how we can help you design and deliver your next solution.
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