Sinclair joined BT’s Belfast Software Engineering Centre in 1981, after studying mathematics at Oxford and obtaining a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, having studied at the University of Pennsylvania in the US and Queens University, Belfast.

After several early career highs, including the development of one of the first formally certified software quality management systems in the world, the first operational Integrated Project Support Environment and the software development for the award winning Keyboard Business System, in 1986 he moved to BT’s research laboratories in Suffolk where he built a highly successful software engineering research programme. From there, he built and led BT’s Ipswich and Glasgow engineering centres, which subsequently grew into key centres of software engineering for the BT Group.

By 1992, he had taken on programme management of BT’s customer services system (CSS) – the Group’s largest IT system – and from there was given overall responsibility for BT’s software programmes. The transformation of the capability of the CSS system laid the foundation for many years of successful business operations in BT, during a period of intense competitive pressure.

In 1997 he joined BT’s French joint-venture, Cegetel, initially as IT director and subsequently as director general of Cegetel Systemes d’Information. There, he led the effort to ensure Cegetel had the full range of system capabilities needed to be a successful operator across the mobile, fixed, business and internet markets through its start up phase and subsequent rapid growth.

He rejoined BT in early 2000 to take on responsibility for BT’s UK systems, and by August had been appointed to the newly created post of BT Group’s Chief Information Officer, with overall responsibility for leading BT’s transformation and information systems strategy across the business. From 2000-2004, he was responsible for transforming BT’s systems capability during a period of considerable market and technological change. This included the delivery of BT’s broadband systems, again laying the foundations for the turnaround and growth of BT’s broadband service capability, and the implementation of ebusiness capabilities across the business, which has resulted in BT having one of the world’s most extensive intranet and flexible working infrastructures.

Sinclair joined the BT Global Services executive, as President Technology and Operations, where he was BT’s global business’s chief information officer, responsible for the transformation and the operation of the platforms that underpin BT’s global networking capability and create the digital networked economy, and also the transformation of the the global legacy network into the world leading MPLS network. In addition he led a number of global initiatives, which demonstrated the potential of technology as a social transformation engine.

In 2006, Sinclair took on the post of Chief Scientist for BT, with the joint goal of increasing BT’s innovative capability in the field of Networked IT platforms, services and products. His role includes influencing the development of future leaders by working closely with the world’s most technology focused universities, attracting world class talent to BT’s technology teams, developing relations with key the centres of innovation and accelerating the pace of innovation exploitation, which will be a key differentiator in the digital economy. He will also be working on a number of global initiatives. These will be aimed at both extending the benefits of technology across all levels of the global economy, and leading BT’ participation in the Microsoft Imagine Cup Challenge and the Accelerator Cup, to harness innovation from across the globe.

In 2007, Sinclair left BT to develop independent advisory activities in application of technology to developing communities, and also the development of innovative technologies for connected world platforms