Our company

IFA Systems was started in June 1997 by Gary Baker, joined by Diana Baker a few months later. Although the firm has gone through various changes, it is still headed by up Gary (now Technical Director) and Diana (now Managing Director), and retains a strong family feel.

We use expert professional graphic and technical designers and programmers as needed, calling on the same firms over the years as we have built up a good relationship with them, and they have an understanding of our approach and our products.

Our core staff are as follows:

Diana Baker - Managing Director
The overseer, ensuring Gary's visions happen! Diana originally trained and worked as an architect in Sheffield for some years, but switched in 1985 to become more involved in administration before joining Standard Life in 1989 for 4+ years in their regional office in London.  From there she moved to an IFA practice in South West London, transferring to their Bristol branch a year later when she married their IT Manager, Gary. 

Diana joined Gary to run IFA Systems in October 1997, and became Managing Director in 2000.  She has been pleased to see the company grow steadily since then, both in terms of clients, staff and services.

When not working she enjoys walking (with the office dog very often), photography, weekends away in the caravan, being involved with the local Baptist church, and spending time with the grandsons.

Gary Baker - Technical Director
The visionary of the firm!  Gary worked as an IFA for many years before becoming an IT Manager at an IFA practice in Bristol.  From there he started IFA Systems in 1997, and now pursues his vision of enabling Advisers to work more effectively using the web-based technology.

Over the years he has conceived and developed a wide range of features which can be used in any website which will help the adviser communicate effectively and securely with his clients, and which use technology to save time and money.

When not sitting in front of a screen Gary enjoys walking Jorge (see below), and maintaining and showing off his 1964 Daimler Ferret at various events.

Dave Preece - Systems Manager
Dave has written the majority of our programming, seems to be able to plug into Gary's brain and produce a programme with the required outcome!  His background includes working as a Senior Systems Engineer with a national company as well as a Perl/CGI scripter, and he is Microsoft certified.

When away from his laptop Dave enjoys football and supporting his two sons who play with local teams, and walking their dogs.

Matthew Gilder - Client Development Manager
Matthew joined IFA Systems in January 2002, following several years in the delightful world of bancassurance and direct sales. He is responsible for sales and client support within the company.  Outside of work Matthew runs an unpaid and largely unappreciated taxi service for his three children, plays either piano or bass guitar in a church music group, and endures the ongoing frustration and humiliation of being a West Ham supporter.

Matthew often cycles to work in the morning, and has usually recovered from the trauma of this in time to be able to cycle back home again in the evening.

Denise Carr - Web Developer
Denise is a computer graduate with 15 years of programming experience and has returned to work after a career break.  She joined IFA Systems in April 2007 and her current role is to keep the website files in order and up-to-date,  to assist in building and customising websites, and to maintain a rolling programme of new designs.  Outside of work Denise enjoys spending time with the family, painting and running.

Sandra Gunton - Senior Project Manager
Sandra joined us in September 2007, and comes with a background of technical support and customer care.  Her organisational abilities (honed not least as a mother of 4 small boys!) qualify her admirably to oversee and manage the setting up of new websites.

Sarah Needham - Project Manager (on Maternity leave until October 2010)
Sarah joined IFA systems in November 2005. Sarah spent 4 years in New Zealand after she left school working on a large station (farm) and then studying Zoology at Otago university. We discovered she also had a hidden talent for website design and all its technicalities!  Sarah lives on the family farm with her husband, her son (to be joined shortly by number two), their two dogs, and her horse.

Ute Christopher - Project Manager
Ute joined us in January 2010 to stand in for Sarah during her Maternity leave. She has experience in print and image work, and has set up a run and number of sites related to the business she and her husband run on all things Airship.

Rachel Hamer - Office Manager
Working quietly in the background, Rachel has been with us since 2001.  She sees that the office runs smoothly and everything gets filed/ dealt with/ ordered as it should.  Every office should have a Rachel!

Christine Jones - Book-keeper
Christine comes in to keep our books in order - totally invaluable, never misses a trick, and is kept busy working out the new Sage and HMRC updates!

Jorge - Head of Security
Jorge (pronounced George) joined IFA Systems in December 2005 as our friendly receptionist.  He loves swimming in the local streams, playing ball and eating biscuits, but mostly he sleeps in his bed next to Gary's desk.  And if you've not guessed by now - he's a black labrador! Follow him on Twitter for a different view of IFA Systems