Neale Blackwood has been using spreadsheets since the late 1980s, starting with Lotus and moving to Excel in the mid-1990s. He graduated with Na bachelor of business degree in accounting in 1983 and took his i rst accounting job at the University of Western Australia the next year. He achieved his certified practicing accountant (CPA) status in 1992. Neale's job roles have included accountant, project accountant, financial controller, management accountant, and senior consultant. He has worked in many industries, including resources, building and construction products, government, and electrical and engineering services. His most recent experience has been in Excel consulting and training with organisations. He now runs his own business, A4 Accounting, which he established in 2001. Neale achieved the Microsoft Office Specialist Expert certification in Excel in 2006. Since 2002 he has written for CPA Australia's monthly magazine, INTHEBLACKK, to which he has contributed more than 120 "Excel Yourself" articles and 8 feature articles. He has freely answered Excel questions for Australian CPAs from many different countries for over nine years. Neale has presented at numerous CPA Australia events around Australia, from one-hour sessions to half-day master classes. He writes and presents his own XL@Lunch Excel webinars to people from around the world. Neale lives in Perth, Western Australia, with Jan, his wife of 28 years. He has two children and spends his spare time with his family, playing sports, ballroom dancing, and reading and writing.
