Bernard Chia

Bernard Chia is a self-confessed geek with ambition. He taught himself computer programming by the age of 15, and started his own business, Alyka, at 27. Mr Chia describes Alyka as a complete digital agency with an all-star in-house team providing expert services on digital marketing and strategies, website development, website applications and database development. The company began in a shared office in 2008, during the GFC. Mr Chia worked 90 hours a week to get the company off the ground, which has grown from just three directors to 26 staff members. He said that being competitive, listening to staff ideas and keeping up with new technologies had helped the company succeed. Alyka is preparing for a global expansion and is focusing on hosting, maintenance and ongoing contracts as well as developing an IP division. Alyka provides services to a number of large corporations, education bodies and government agencies, including the Department of Transport and local governments. Mr Chia and Alyka have worked pro-bono with organisations such as the Samaritans-Crisis-Line, YMCA and CHILD Australia. Alyka is also a gold sponsor of the Badminton Association.