I am a senior creative communicator with over 15 years of graphic design and web development experience. Born and bred in the Scottish Hebrides I have called Australia home for 10 years and live with my young family in Newcastle, NSW.
As a designer who can code - combined with a knack for problem solving, a perceptive attitude and passion for user centric design - I am uniquely positioned to understand the full scope of a project and guide it appropriately.
Having fulfilled a variety of creative roles for clients in a myriad of industries I have developed a diverse set of skills and experience. As a result I am adept at identifying stakeholder requirements and developing acute solutions with a keen eye for detail.
Outside of work I am a family man and keen ameature athlete. Everyday I make time to play and create with my kids and train, either running or cycling. I love black coffee and a good podcast.
Education
BA(Hons) Graphic Communication (2005) Cumbria Institute of the Arts (UK)
Diploma Art & Design (2001) Cumbria Institute of the Arts (UK)
Skills
UX Design and Information Architecture
Years of experience in delivering: CMS’s, e-commerce, booking systems, blogs, online magazines, online sponsorship/donations, email marketing, online subscriptions, event calendars/event, membership accounts and much more.
Front-end Development
Strong HTML, CSS. Some understanding of JavaScript and PHP.
Best practices in design, development and content delivery
including understanding of W3C guidelines.
Graphic Design
Including branding/identity and art direction.
Project management
Copywriting
Product Development and Event Development
Digital Strategy and Marketing Strategy
Content management, Social Media Management and EDM (Electronic Direct Marketing)
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and SMO (Social Media Optimisation)
Google Analytics, Webmaster Tools, Adwords and Tag Manager
Proficient in Adobe Suite
Experience
Marketing & Advertising Manager - The Boat Club Group
April 2017 - present. Full-time.
Part of the senior management team at the Hervey Bay Boat Club Inc, a unique hospitality group comprising 10 seperate businesses and venues (including restaurants, bars, cinema, cruise vessel, tourist park, boat hire, marina and fuel station), with more than 200 staff and over 20,000 members.
Key points
Produced or commissioned all the groups marketing including a wide variety of traditional and digital mediums.
Selected, briefed and art directed external agencies to complete campaign materials. 
Assessed the groups marketing activities to identify strengths/weaknesses and adapt strategies to maximise the relatively small marketing budget. This required a flexible, modular approach given the diverse nature of the group and target demographics.
Outlined the groups marketing spend adhering to the annual budget set-out by the general manager. Reported on marketing activities to the board and attended senior management strategy and review meetings.
Played a key role in product, event, promotion and business development. Responsible for developing the content to bring these to market.
Targeted and cultivated key relationships with business and community partners to develop joint events and create mutual marketing opportunities. Key point of contact for public relations and tourism bodies. 
Regularly represented group interests at key meetings and events. 
Implemented a number of new business systems to optimise efficiency.
Key role in briefing staff on products and events and brand representation.
Saved the group over $100k by reducing annual television, radio and press advertising and replacing with consistent, relevant social and web presence.
Responsibility in ensuring staff and venues adhere to the groups values of excellent customer service and presentability.

Owner/Operator - Australian Online Tour Bookings
April 2015 - present. Part-time.
Management, business development and web development of successful online travel agency (OTA) employing one booking agent, with a turnover of approx. $350pa.
Key points
Performed pre-purchase due diligence (including significant audit of web systems and analytics), negotiated purchase and lead transition of ownership and operation.
Optimised digital presence including SEO and AdWords overhaul.
Quickly learned the ins-and-outs of a completely new industry [tourism].
Ensured provision of uninterrupted service to clients and business partners.
Oversaw and implemented a complete overhaul of booking management and web presence.
Responsible for all book keeping and contract agreements.

Partner & Lead Designer - DelaneyDavidson
September 2013 - March 2017. Full-time.
Design lead and business owner at DelaneyDavidson an agency focused on reliable web development that grew a sound base of clients and continues to operate.
Key points
Played a joint leadership role in founding the business and building the client base which includes major tourism organisations and national charities.
Lead architect and UX designer.
Jointly responsible for front-end development ensuring deliverables were user friendly and adhered to best practices including W3C.
Played a key role in developing online strategies. Identified weaknesses strengths and opportunities in new or existing systems. Including the use of reporting systems such as Google Analytics.
Wrote and delivered pitches. Met with clients and evaluated their requirements - to do so successfully required a deep understanding of their businesses and goals.
Developed in depth proposals/scopes often outlining - in layman’s terms - the conversion of complex business systems into optimised web based platforms.
Outlined design and development costs. Organised bookkeeping.
Project managed development projects involving multiple client stakeholders, staff and third party organisations.
Key point of contact for business development and client liaisons.

Senior Designer - Nimbler Digital
April 2010 - September 2013. Full-time.
Played a key role as Senior Designer in developing the full service agency from  start-up to defining it as one of Newcastle's leading digital agencies.
Key points
Lead in information architecture and UI (user interface) design.
Responsible for concept development and creative direction of all design projects - from graphic design (brand development, print ads, magazines, signage etc) to web design (including highly functional online membership registration and e-commerce systems).
Played a key role in project strategy and scoping.
Responsible for ensuring deliverables met usability, accessibility and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) standards and best practices.
Played a primary role in front-end development and CMS integration. 
Lead testing and client training.

Graphic Designer - CorporatePRM (Edinburgh, Scotland)
July 2007 - March 2010. Full-time.
In-house Designer - Agilent Technologies
Feb 2006 - June 2007. Full-time.
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