Meet the Team: Amer Harfoush, KTP Associate & AI Specialist

At HF, our strength has always been our people and our willingness to embrace next-generation technology. As we continue to innovate and future-proof our digital infrastructure, we are delighted to introduce a unique new addition to our team: Amer Harfoush, our new AI Software Development specialist.

Amer joins us through a prestigious Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). He is employed alongside a leading university to transfer cutting-edge AI knowledge directly into HF Group, integrating advanced, centric AI systems into our day-to-day operations over the next 33 months. With a background in Mechatronics and a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence, Amer is perfectly placed to help drive our digital transformation.

We sat down with Amer to discuss his journey from academic research to practical industry application, and why “Dedication, Consistency, and Discipline” are the core principles driving his work.

The Q&A: A Focus on AI & Software Development

So Amer, what do you do at HF Group? I am here as an AI Software Development member through a KTP framework. My role is to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application by integrating centric AI technologies directly into HF’s existing systems. I will be embedded with the HF team for the next 33 months, and I am incredibly excited to get stuck in and make a tangible impact on how the company leverages automation.

I know it is early days, but what are your first impressions of working here? The people here are amazing. I think everyone expects a reasonably warm welcome when starting a new job, but the team at HF has gone above and beyond. From both a professional standpoint and a social point of view, it has been an incredibly welcoming and positive experience.

What does your ideal workday look like? In software development, details matter immensely, so I rely on a structured, linear process. I like to start my day by spending the first 30 minutes catching up on exactly where I left off, reviewing my notes, and setting a clear plan for the hours ahead.

A perfect day for me involves minimal distractions and ideally just one meeting, with two-thirds of the day dedicated to making uninterrupted progress on development. The final third of the day is spent wrapping things up and documenting my progress so I can hit the ground running the next morning.

What led you to this career? Programming is a genuine hobby of mine; I am incredibly passionate about it, which naturally led me to complete a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence. My university work is heavily rooted in Mechatronics, which is essentially the intersection of electrical and mechanical automation programming.

Looking at what HF Group does, especially the incredible work done by the HF Controls division, I saw immediate similarities between my academic field and HF’s industrial operations. The opportunity to implement real-world AI solutions in this environment is what drew me here.

What energises you at work? The people around me. It is a fantastic, highly productive working environment. Seeing how hard everyone else across the various HF divisions works naturally motivates me. It makes me want to push myself and ensure I am a highly productive, contributing part of the team.

What advice would you give to your teenage self? It would be a simple message: “Keep going, it will pay off.” I am still young and I am learning every day, but so far in my journey, that mindset is exactly what has kept me moving forward.

What is something about yourself that you’re most proud of? Professionally and personally, I am most proud of sticking rigidly to three words: Dedication, Consistency, and Discipline. If you asked my teenage self back in the day, he would probably be completely shocked to hear me say that! But those three values are what allowed me to progress through my degrees and ultimately brought me to this position with HF.

An Automated Future for Building Services

Amer’s specialised background in Mechatronics makes him a seamless fit for the HF Group ecosystem. By combining advanced software programming with our traditional strengths in everything from electrical to telecommunications and automated control systems, his work will help optimise our internal workflows and ultimately deliver a sharper, smarter service to our clients.

Bridging Academia and Industry

Amer’s 33-month placement highlights HF’s commitment to continuous learning, social value, and technical innovation. By partnering with universities on KTP initiatives, we aren’t just adapting to the future of technology, we are actively helping to build it.

Welcome to the team, Amer! We look forward to seeing our systems evolve under your technical expertise.