It only takes a moment. A lift that isn’t delayed. A bus that arrives on time. A lecturer walking down the same corridor at exactly the right second.
For Christopher Collins, that moment happened during his Masters of IT at QUT — and it quietly shaped the next 20+ years of his life. “If my lift had been delayed, if my bus to the uni had been delayed, I wouldn’t have seen him and I probably wouldn’t be doing SAP administrator work now.”
He often compares it to Sliding Doors. One small moment. Two completely different futures. He chose the one that led to SAP — and he’s never stopped learning since.
From London to Brisbane — and a Change of Direction
Chris didn’t begin in IT. He studied maths for management, thinking he’d pursue accountancy, until he realised it simply wasn’t for him. “I didn’t want to touch accountancy.”
He moved into instrumentation engineering and spent seven years there, discovering that what he loved most wasn’t the technical work — it was the people.
When close colleagues began leaving, something shifted. So he travelled. A year in New Zealand. A year in Australia. Somewhere along the way, Australia felt like home. Back in England briefly and searching for direction, he heard friends speak passionately about IT. That spark was enough.
He returned to Brisbane to complete his Masters at QUT, initially intending to pursue networking. Then came enterprise systems — and SAP. “It just was so much more interesting than networking.”
One semester later, he was studying SAP administration. One hallway conversation later, he had a job offer. “It was a no brainer. It was like, yes please.”
Falling Into SAP — and Choosing to Stay
That “yes” became two decades of growth — from R/3 to ECC to S/4HANA private and public cloud. From hands-on BASIS administrator to architecture and leadership roles. What keeps him here isn’t comfort. It’s curiosity.
“SAP are always releasing new products… I’m one of those people that loves learning.”
On Christmas Day he revised for certification. On Boxing Day, he passed. LeanIX. Public Cloud. Studying BTP Admin. Exploring Cloud ALM. If anything, he says he enjoys SAP more now than when he first started. The ecosystem keeps expanding — and so does he.
When the Industry Shifted
There was a moment of uncertainty when offshoring reshaped the SAP landscape. Chris questioned whether this was still where he wanted to stay. But instead of resisting, he leaned in. He stepped into leadership. Into architecture. Into guiding offshore teams and designing solutions.
“Once I accepted the change and I embraced the change, it was refreshing.”
It’s a pattern in his story: don’t narrow your world — expand it. That’s the message he now shares with graduates entering the industry.
“You don’t have to limit yourself to just one thing… even when you narrow it down into SAP, you’re still not narrow.”
The Power of Mentorship
Mentorship matters deeply to Chris because someone once did that for him. He speaks of his mentor, Peter Troeger, with genuine gratitude. “He’s probably one of the best SAP BASIS administrators I’ve ever met… he always made time for me.”
Peter didn’t just answer technical questions. He checked in weekly. He encouraged him through certifications. He demonstrated patience and kindness. That blueprint now shapes how Chris leads and mentors others.
As experienced professionals retire and the skills gap grows, he wants to be the steady voice helping newcomers navigate SAP’s vastness without feeling overwhelmed.
Beyond ERP: Football, Cars, and VR Worlds
Beyond ERP, family is his anchor. Three generations of Chelsea supporters — grandfather, father, son. He remembers his dad standing on frozen sidelines in the snow, never missing a football match.
Now his own son, 18, talks about one day taking his children to Stamford Bridge. “It’s something you can’t really put into words… it’s just special.”
That bond extends to their shared love of cars — car meets, modifications, go-karting, hours spent talking engines — and even virtual reality escape rooms. What began as watching his son play turned into something they now do together.
“If ERP disappeared tomorrow, I would chase my dream of creating AI-generated VR worlds.”
Even after 20 years of expertise, he’s still willing to be a beginner again. “I need someone with patience to teach me all about AI… the world of AI is so vast and varied.”
And that humility may be his greatest strength.
The Legacy He Hopes to Leave
Chris’s son isn’t pursuing SAP. His passion lies in becoming an electrician — working with his hands, building tangible skills. But what Chris hopes to pass on isn’t technical knowledge. It’s mindset. Hard work. Dedication. Openness. Resilience. “He’s been knocked back a few times… but he keeps going.”
Whether it’s SAP, electrical engineering, football, or AI-generated VR worlds, the principle remains the same: Never give up. Keep learning. Take the chance.
And if the lift arrives on time? Say yes.
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
