Resume
Creative-minded thinker prone to imaginative alternatives
User Experience Designer (October 2014 – Present)
Analytical Engine Interactive & Independent
User experience designer helping non-profits and businesses communicate their brand and their vision effectively. Support or run stakeholder interviews, user testing, brainstorming exercises, features refinement, and profile creation. Develop competitive analyses, analytics and Adwords reviews, wireframes,business requirements, communication briefs, content marketing plans and web content. Provide graphic design, photography, and website theme alterations (CSS). AEI website. Projects include Legal Clinic Resources (intranet), cjnews.com, thepeerproject.com, Smhtoronto.org, lucalex.ca and more.
Copywriter, Content Strategist and Communications Advisor (Dec. 2009 – Nov. 2016)
Buyandsell.gc.ca, OSME-SE, PWGSC, Government of Canada
Strategic communications and engagement advisor to Buyandsell.gc.ca — the Government of Canada’s electronic tendering service. Lead writer for site content, created and managed the web analytics reports for senior management, and provided UI/UX and graphic design support. Crafted communications plans, web requirements, content plans, search optimization strategies and engagement plans. Developed governing structures, style guides and research reports. Organized and ran a workshop on web engagement. Check out Buyandsell.gc.ca
Communications Consultant (Oct. 2014 – Feb. 2016)
The Peer Project
Communications consultant providing website content, blog updates, newsletter releases, press management, event promotion, graphics production, and social media management. The Peer Project website
Freelance Journalist (Dec. 2013 – Oct. 2014)
Desmog Canada, Toronto Star, Vancouver Observer
Freelance journalist covering Canadian energy issues and climate change. Read stories at Desmog Canada, the Toronto Star, and the Vancouver Observer.
Blogger (March 2013 – Aug. 2014)
The Huffington Post
Huffington Post Blogger as the founding editor of the Canadian Environment. Read blog posts or Check out radio interview
Founding Editor (May 2012 – Aug. 2014)
The Canadian Environment – thecaen.ca
I conceived, designed and built The Canadian Environment (thecaen.ca). Along with a team of volunteers, we curated and summarized the latest environmental news stories. Connect on Twitter
Video Editor (Sept. – Oct. 2012)
Cycling Silk
Edited movie trailer for Cycling Silk team – a 10-month, 10-country, 10,000-kilometre biking expedition along the Silk Road between Turkey and India by two women investigating transboundary conservation in mountain regions. Watch the trailer
Engagement Advisor (Jan. – March 2011)
The Pembina Institute
Delivered a comprehensive review of the Pembina Institute’s website, highlighting practical solutions to improve the user experience, engagement, search result and the Institute’s understanding of their web analytics.
Research Grant Recipient (March – Oct. 2009)
IDRC
With a grant from the IDRC, investigated the Venezuelan oil industry, focusing on the political economy of the oil-led development model. Final report examined the negative impact on oil production as a result of the politicized control over the state-run oil company by the Chavez government. Read final report
Freelance Video Journalist (July 2009)
CBC Newsworld
Producer, videographer & editor of a four-minute story on a Canadian coaching the Venezuelan national in-line hockey team in preparation for the World Championships in Italy. Watch
Freelance Journalist (July 2009)
The Ottawa Citizen
Writer and photographer of the back spread of the Citizen, featuring a 1000-word story and two photographs on a Canadian coaching the Venezuelan national in-line hockey team. Read
Field Producer (March – May 2009)
ABC News’ Over a Barrel
Venezuelan field producer for a one-hour documentary on the oil industry, produced by an independent company, Moose Productions, but hosted by ABC News. See film credit
Website Co-ordinator (Aug. 2008 – Feb. 2009)
The Big Wild
Creator and co-ordinator of the written and visual content highlighting issues around the science of large-landscape conservation for thebigwild.org; worked in tandem with colleagues and contractors to create and execute media, social media and web site development strategies; events planned; and, produced and edited a two-minute scratch-video remix of The Big Wild’s explainer video. Watch
Freelance Journalist (May 2008)
The Tyee
Writer of news stories for the Tyee one on a Downtown Eastside social enterprise. Read
Journalist (July 2006 – June 2008)
The North Shore News
Writer of over 150 articles and environmental features; North Vancouver council reporter; photojournalist; 2007 community newspaper award nominee; with stories picked up by Vancouver Sun. Read award nominee
Freelance Journalist (Oct. 2007)
The Georgia Straight
Author of a news story about Mark Jaccard and Jeffrey Simpson’s book Hot Air: Meeting Canada’s Climate Change Challenge. Read
Journalist (May – Sept. 2007)
Wilburforce, Woodcock, and Kendall Foundations
Canadian researcher and co-writer of a journalism report on a proposed Yellowstone to Yukon conservation corridor. Responsible for four 2,000 word features on energy exploitation in British Columbia, inter-agency policy co-ordination, animal corridors of connectivity and the impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems. Read
Intern / Freelance Video Journalist (May – June 2006)
CBC News: Sunday
Fronted two stories testing the expert-like abilities of ‘streeters’; produced media panel on climate change; shot two interviews; post-internship produced, co-shot and edited five-minute profile on a Vancouver comic/Dr. Watch Streeters / Watch Dr. Comic
Freelance Journalist (Feb. 2006)
The Tyee
Writer of a news story for the Tyee on the World Peace Forum. Read
Office Co-ordinator (June – Oct 2005)
Environment Canada
Administered and organized sustainability office, including scheduling, corresponding, liaising, and financial managing.
Copy Editor (Nov. 2003 – Sept. 2004)
Correctional Service of Canada, Inmate Affairs
Copy edited offender grievance responses, reports, memorandums, and other documents for senior-level review.
Education
Master’s of Journalism (2005-2007)
School of Journalism, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Climate change
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (1999-2003)
Queen’s University, Kingston
American and environmental history
Awards
2008 IDRC grant for international journalism
2007 UBC School of Journalism Rafe Mair Award
2007 B.C. & Yukon Community Newspaper award for Environmental Reporting nominee
2006 UBC School of Journalism David Baines scholarship
Languages
French – Immersion from primary through high school. Office experience.
Spanish – Seven months in Venezuela working and studying & two months intensive study at the University of Havana, Cuba
A collaborative, forward-thinking policy and strategy professional with a track record of driving change. A climate change expert with a passion for human-centered design.
