About

Hi! GirlGerms here. In the real world I go by Jess Dodson. I’m a Security/Identity architect with approximately 20ish years of experience, based in sunny Queensland, Australia. Mad keen Microsoft fangirl (unsurprisingly) an ex-Microsoft MVP (2016-2019), and a Microsoft CSA! I’m big on passing on information to others that’s technically relevant, as well as passing on information that, while not technical, is useful for those in system administration. Core skills (not soft skills!) for the win!

I’m also the mum to a tiny human who is constantly evolving – Lil’ GirlGerms (as she’s not a baby anymore!) was born in 2017! Now running after an energetic 5yo who’s in Prep, loves to move all the time and is only still when she’s sleeping.

In whatever spare time I manage to wrangle for myself, I play video games, read fantasy and sci-fi novels, collect and build *far* too much Lego (no, really, it’s becoming a problem, I’m running out of room for it all!) and I’m also a keen crafter of all sorts of things – current craze is chainmaille jewellery. I’m a genuine crazy cat lady with a Siberian cat & three chickens that cause no end of terror…plus a hive of bees >.>

When speaking with me, please refer to me as Jess – I also respond to GirlGerms, GG and “Oi, you!”. I’m not a fan of Jesse/Jessie/Jessy and will not respond to being called any of them. Jessica is only for use when I’m in trouble…which doesn’t happen that often because I’m an angel 😇

<arse-covering>All opinions/thoughts/ideas/rants/general snarkiness presented on this blog and on the following social media/gaming sites are purely individual to lil’ ol’ me. They definitely do not represent my current or previous employers or any associations I’m a member of, unless explicitly stated. </arse-covering>

Email/Messenger/Skype: [email protected]


Social

The following social network accounts are my personal accounts – best chance of getting me to respond is to hit me up on Twitter or Discord, both of which are public. My Facebook is locked down – you need to work your way to the “inner circle” to get into that one and I don’t accept random friend requests unless I do actually know you.

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/girlgerms 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/girlgerms (public)
Mastodon: https://infosec.exchange/@girlgerms (public)
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/girlgerms.wtf (public)
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jess_girlgerms (public)
Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/user/girlgerms/ (public)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jess.r.dodson (close friends and family only)
Instagramhttp://instagram.com/jess_girlgerms/ (public)
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/geekgirlgerms/ (public)
Ask.fm: http://ask.fm/jess_girlgerms (public)
Discord: GirlGerms#4019 (does require us to be connected via a mutual server – ping me elsewhere and I might invite you to NerdFest…don’t know what NerdFest is? Ask me about it!)


Professional

The following are my professional social media accounts and include my professional accomplishments. Please be aware that unless I’ve worked with you or have interacted with you in some professional way I will not accept your LinkedIn request – don’t be dismayed, speaking with me online via Twitter/Reddit, speaking with me at a conference etc. all counts!

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn:
 au.linkedin.com/in/jrdodson/
GitHub: https://github.com/girlgerms
Microsoft Tech Community: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/141499
STEM Women: https://www.stemwomen.org.au/profile/jess-dodson
About.Me: http://about.me/jessdodson
BrandYourself: http://jessdodson.brandyourself.com/
Experts Exchange: https://www.experts-exchange.com/members/Jess-Dodson.html
Slack: https://slack.com/ – I lurk in a number of professional Slack channels. If you can see a ‘girlgerms’ in your Slack, it’s most likely me.

Other professional things

For a list of my work history and how I got to where I currently am in IT & system administration, feel free to read the whole story!


Gaming

You’ll usually be able to find me in most games as either GirlGerms/Girl-Germs or as Katalysta – modified, depending on how many characters I have. Just keep adding extra characters…you’ll find me eventually.

Always happy for friend invites or friend requests!

Battle.Net: girlgerms#6448 –  WoWDiablo III
(Playing WoW on Nagrand in “Magnanimous”. Main: Katalysta (Troll Mage – Arcane)
Alts: Katalyssta (Undead Priest – Shadow); Katalystaa (Orc Shaman – Elemental); Kataalysta (Blood Elf Demon Hunter – Havoc))
Steam: girl-germs – http://steamcommunity.com/id/girl-germs
Enjin: GirlGerms – http://www.enjin.com/profile/4811116
Twitch: GirlGerms – http://www.twitch.tv/girlgerms/profile
BrickSet: GirlGerms – http://brickset.com/profile/girlgerms (not really “gaming” related, but best place to put it!)


IRC

I deid use to previously lurk on snoonet.org, oz.org & freenode.net as ‘girlgerms’. I do not anymore. But yes – that was me.

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