Global software testing company Inspired Testing has appointed Bas Dijkstra, an industry renowned test automation consultant, to the new position of Director: International Academy.

Based in the Netherlands, Bas joins the Inspired Testing team with 15 years of experience in improving software testing efforts through the smart application of tools. Over the past 5 years, Bas has focused on helping others become better test automation engineers through his corporate training courses and workshops. Bas builds and delivers industry relevant, technical and engaging courses that incorporate many of his own learnings from his career as a test automation consultant. Bas is also a ‘teaching and learning’ enthusiast who puts time and energy into upskilling engineers, helping companies remain relevant and competitive. As a result, he is well respected in the industry and his courses are lauded for their professional excellence.

“I’ve known the Inspired Testing team for some years and have watched the company’s growth and success with great interest,” says Bas. “Leading the Inspired Testing International Academy is like a dream job for me. I get to work with people and help them learn things that make them better at what they do, I get to fiddle with code and tools, AND I get to build a globally renowned, best practice, industry relevant software testing training institute from the ground up.”

Bas begins his new role on 1 September 2021 and will be responsible for developing and delivering a portfolio of courses designed to provide the Inspired Testing customer base with a well-rounded test automation education offering. Currently, the Inspired Testing Academy attracts companies and engineers from mainly South Africa. Bas will lead a team to expand the Inspired Testing Academy into new markets with a mission to provide comprehensive training that keeps up with global software development trends and business demands.

“To become a good test engineer, you need more than a couple of two or three week standalone courses,” says Bas. “There are a number of scattergun approaches to test automation training out there and in my view, they simply aren’t good enough. The software testing world needs a reputable, gold standard training academy that offers a comprehensive series of courses that combines fundamental principles with practical, technical know-how. And that’s exactly what we aim to deliver with the Inspired Testing International Academy.”

Nadine du Toit, Chief Services & Innovation Officer at Inspired Testing, says notwithstanding all the pressures of 2020, the company pushed forward on its mission to create an innovative, future-geared international Testing Academy. The academy is a key part of the company’s global growth strategy and will be steered by Bas towards growing knowledge and expertise in software quality engineering for the global future.

“Knowledge, experience and skilled capabilities are invaluable commodities within today’s global technology industries,” says Nadine. “As industry specialists, it is imperative that we lead the way in harnessing the latest technology trends and preparing skilled software testers to go above and beyond market requirements. As part of our senior management team, Bas will help us achieve Inspired Testing’s vision of remaining relevant in the ever-changing software testing industry. Under his leadership, our International Testing Academy will shape the software engineers of the future for their and our clients’ ongoing success.”

Bas lives in the Netherlands with his wife and two sons. When he’s not at work, he loves to get outdoors and go for a trail run, a bike ride or a swim, or sit down and relax with a good book.