Experience

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  Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG)

  • Australia
  • Defense & Space
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Assistant Director, Design + Production

    • Oct 2023 - Present

    –

  • a/ Director, Defence Science Communications

    • Feb 2023 - Oct 2023

    Drinking from the firehose, acting in the Director of Communications role was a great experience in understanding the bigger picture of communication strategy, business operations, team dynamics, workforce planning, and the need to deliver tangible and measurable benefits to the organisation.– Contributed to the rapid stand-up of ASCA by connecting and guiding various Defence teams, external experts and providing internal communications material– Delivered urgent recruitment and projects during reduced staffing (<50%) and significant org change– Developed team updates into comms products that are now planning resources for Defence– Started and restarted major foundational communication platform projects– Provided comms advice and material for national strategic projects and proposals– Stabilised the team through leadership support and creating a safe space mindset for the team– Worked on changing team outlook to continual improvement delivering tangible change– Progressed business management goals such as budget, SOPsAlthough I wasn't able to achieve all that I had hoped, I've learnt a lot about myself, the team, and the organisation. Our projects are continuing and the team has welcomed and supported our new Director with enthusiasm.I was awarded an Australia Day Award in Jan '24 in recognition of my work through this period.

  • Assistant Director, Design + Production

    • Sep 2020 - Feb 2023

    DSTG is the innovation, science and technology (IS&T) arm of Defence, focusing on on programs to support Defence capability, increasing scale through partnerships, and delivering impact through our innovation programs. My role is an interesting one, blending traditional creative work with content planning and development. I work with internal specialist teams and in partnership with clients to tell our story in support of programs and projects, and I translate highly technical information into audience-ready material: helping translate content (eg. talking points) into high-level presentations, video stories, event marketing, and other online content. From a business perspective, I work to develop my team of creatives and content creators into critical and independent thinkers who are empowered to make decisions and get work done. We’re working to rebuild relationships across the organisation and resetting the how and why of our work to get the most out of limited resources. Together we’re standing up new platforms that help DSTG work in more efficient and connected ways. Experience and achievements:
- Creative direction of, and support to, ADSTAR 2022, the nation’s leading Defence IS&T event- Professionalisation of the communications team through commercial processes and systems- Rebuilding of cross-organisational relationships in the media and creative space- Starting the transition form organisationally aligned communications to client/reader first- Planning deep content to tell our story in more connected ways - Development of fundamental communication products to support the communication process- Building a contemporary look and feel for DSTG that respects and supports Defencewww.dst.defence.gov.au

  • Art Director

    • Feb 2019 - Sep 2020

  • Graphic Designer (print, digital, motion)

    • Jul 2016 - Feb 2019

    DSTG is the science and technology arm of Defence with locations around Australia and work spanning across many media platforms.My role as a creative is ever expanding and shifting. Working on corporate reports and initiatives in Canberra, wayfinding signage and huge feature walls in Sydney and Perth; and videos, digital content, exhibitions and intranet redevelopment with Melbourne and Adelaide staff.In addition to creative work I'm also working on the training of design staff and towards changing the culture of design within DSTG. This focuses on process and efficiency; an increase in creativity and quality; more thought into internal and external usability; and our obligations to accessibility. Experience and achievements:
- Recognition award for work on new intranet education videos and printed material- Turnaround of culture within, and towards, design in the organisation- Helping move digital operations to a user-focused, white-hat environment- Introducing updated and relevant back-office policy and proceduresWork of note:- Intranet update with a focus on the user- DSTG branding update, annual reviews, CUE17 and EDTAS branding- Fire across the desert 600pp digital replica and eBook (www.dst.defence.gov.au/publication/fire-across-the-desert)- Boost performance of email communications by over 200%www.dst.defence.gov.au

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  Freelance

  • Canberra Area, Australia

  • Freelance Designer and Consultant

    • Sep 2013 - Dec 2022
    • Canberra Area, Australia

    Working for interstate clients, I have been responsible for logo redesigns, content planning and strategy presentations, website designs, web style guides, asset creation and notated handovers to external developers. Experience and achievements:
 - A national sneaker retail chain’s new eCommerce presence and email marketing material 
 - Creation of Facebook social presences for various businesses 
 - Design of a music discovery web-app interface and associated style guide 
 - Various retail and business websitesWork of note:- Federal Government Departments (HTML coding of annual reports)- Platypus Shoes (website content planning and design)- Alpaca Magic (website content planning, template re-skin and minor coding)- COGS (content planning, template re-skin)- Seevl (music platform design and planning)

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  Max & Ruby's Pet Sitting

  • Canberra, Australia

  • Partner

    • May 2014 - Dec 2021
    • Canberra, Australia

    Max & Ruby's pet sitting takes care of your pets and hobby farm animals in the greater Canberra area. We love animals of all shapes and sizes and treat your family members like our own. One-on-one attention for all pets, pats, cuddles and a brush included in each domestic pet sitting booking and animal walking and off lead exercise services are also offered.

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  Wilton Hanford Hanover

  • Canberra, Australia

  • Publishing Manager

    • Jul 2014 - Jun 2016
    • Canberra, Australia

    WHH is a long standing and well regarded editing and publishing business in Canberra. This role was a mix of account manager, studio manager, graphic designer and developer.With major Federal and Territory Government clients and NGO's, this role supports the business and its senior editors with studio support across client and associate liaison, supplier management and provides a high level of in-house design and development capability.Work of note:- Jawun 2015 Learnings and Insights report (Design, artwork, HTML)- Defence annual reports 2013-14, 2014-15 (Supporting art direction, artwork, HTML)- Empowered Communities submission to Parliament (Design, artwork, HTML)- The Forrest Review (Art direction and HTML)- The Living Murray 2013-14, 2014-15 (Design, artwork, HTML)www.whh.com.au

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  Australian National Preventive Health Agency

  • Canberra, Australia

  • Senior Graphic Designer

    • Mar 2014 - Jun 2014
    • Canberra, Australia

    ANPHA works on preventive health (tobacco, alcohol and obesity) across Government, Industry and Community. 
As well as publishing important research, ANPHA have worked on leading social campaigns, the replacement 
of alcohol sponsorship in Tier 2 sports (‘Be the Influence’) and the relationship between alcohol and youth. Working across print and digital media, work for ANPHA has covered a wide range of areas including infographic planning/design, print and report design/production, website design/coding and video editing/resizing.Experience and achievements:
 - Extending the design language from a very specific styleguide to a wider design language
- Review of Apple IT and subsequent new procedures for job management and backups
- Bringing quick-turnaround video/print updates in-house, saving on external agency fees

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  metronome agency

  • Australia
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Senior Digital Designer UI/UX

    • 2012 - Aug 2013

    As Senior Designer I have worked across the creative, development and implementation (go live) aspects of each digital project in the agency, often taking projects from initial brief to go live. In addition to my digital work consisting of strategy, concept and artworking, I also worked in a semi project manager/producer role where I helped support other areas of the business through advice and planning for sales/studio management and minor front-end coding of projects in conjunction with development team.Experience and achievements:- Design and minor front-end coding of a major update to Aquila Shoes eCommerce website- Branding and language of upcoming global marketing apps- Content audit and planning of Full Circle Group and subsequent design of website and EDMs- Content planning and design of a series of landing pages for Australand- Design and coding of EDMs for Melbourne Business School- Supervision of the transition to responsive EDMs across all clients- Training of studio manager in digital disciplines and ongoing partnership streamlining processes

  • Digital Lead

    • 2010 - 2012

    A multi-faceted role focusing on the planning, design and implementation of a range of eCommerce and custom built digital solutions ranging from websites to iOS apps. Responsibilities also included building internal processes to plan, record and manage client data and add quality assurance steps; working closely with the development and sales teams to co-ordinate projects; supervising junior designers and providing guidance and advice as required.Experience and achievements:- Planning, design, developer liaison and subsequent management of interactive iOS app- Planning, UI advice, developer liaison and implementation on magazine style iPad app- 24 and 48hr interstate design and development sprints on multi-million dollar client pitches- Design of eCommerce websites for various clients with internal and external developers- Design across various print and environmental work, mainly in property development- Implemented quality assurance steps for all outgoing work, including capture of quick turnarounds

  • Digital and Print Designer

    • 2008 - 2010

    Continue my transition to a Design focussed role, starting to explore Magento and building the first true Aquila eCommerce website.

  • Graphic Designer / Finished Artist

    • 2007 - 2008

    I started with G&C as a Graphic Designer/Finished Artist, working on the design and finished art of printed materials (reports, manuals, advertisements), then working on more complex projects as they became available (billboards, signage, tram skins, posters). Experience and achievements:- Started the transition to a digital agency with generic and Magento eCommerce websites- First real study of SEO and the (then) new realm of analytics and eCommerce- Design and artwork of internal showroom photographic wallpaper skins- Design and artwork of the Antler tram skin, the base design still in use today

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  Plutonium Design

  • Melbourne, Australia

  • Graphic Designer / Studio Manager

    • 2004 - 2007
    • Melbourne, Australia

    A role that started as a Junior Designer and ended with a temporary Studio Manager role as the business transitioned from in-house design studio to design agency. As the agency was owned by Document Printing Australia (DPA), close access to prepress and printing staff made this a very educational role.Experience and achievements:- Worked on various annual reports for Government such as the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria Police, Melbourne University, PrimeSafe, Vetassess and not-for-profits such as the RSPCA- Created a specialty for art catalogues, working on several during my time at Plutonium- Redesign and new printing formats for several long-term newsletters, Government and private

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  Self-employed

  • Tasmania, Australia

  • Graphic Designer

    • Aug 2001 - Aug 2003
    • Tasmania, Australia

    Freelancing during and after University was an exciting time with the introduction of CSS and a new market for websites and digital media. Working on a variety of Government and Private Sector clients, disciplines included websites, digital advertising, branding and environmental work.Experience and achievements:- Worked on several marketing websites for local businesses- Flash banner advertising for Tourism Tasmania- Website redesigns for various University of Tasmania departments- Provided white-label front-end development services for various Tasmanian designers