Travel writer & photographer · Digital copywriter & content strategist
I am a highly experienced content creator with a passion for effective communications and impactful use of language to persuade, educate, motivate and entertain. My varied skillset includes journalism, photography, copywriting, editing, advertising campaign creation, UX design and digital content strategy. I have a passion for effective communications and impactful use of language to persuade, educate, motivate and entertain. I bring a broad range of skills and experience to creative problem solving and am outcome driven in everything I undertake. Please contact me for work samples and references.
Key skills
Editorial, marketing, UX, SEO, conversion and support copywriting · Advertising campaign ideation and execution · Presenting to and collaborating with corporate clients · Digitally literate with working knowledge of Contentful and Wordpress · Familiarity with Figma, Sketch and Jira · Professional level photography and Adobe Lightroom expertise
Employment Timeline
Travel writer & photographer
Freelance
2005 - present
Since 2005, I have visited dozens of countries on assignment to produce travel stories, photos and social media content. I primarily focus on adventure travel, African safaris and wildlife conservation, snow sports and luxury wellness destinations.
My work has appeared in Men's Journal, National Geographic & National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Dallas Morning News, the Globe and Mail, Explore Magazine, Zoomer Magazine, Elle Canada, the Vancouver Sun, MONTECRISTO and NUVO Magazines, the Huffington Post, Canadian Traveller and other major publications. See collected stories.
Digital copywriter, editor & content strategist
Freelance
2004 - present
Over the past 15 years I have provided creative concept and campaign development, copywriting, editing and brand building services for several major creative agencies, including DDB Canada, Cossette Communications, Powershifter Media, Engine Digital and Wasserman & Partners Advertising. Projects I’ve been involved with have included work for a wide range of clients, including:
Destination Canada, TELUS, TELUS International, Fresh Tracks Canada, Tapestry Living, Destination BC, The Idea Partner, Promont Property Management, Tourism Alberta, LNG Studios, Jasper National Park, Parks Canada, LeaveTown Resort Rentals, Rennie Marketing Systems, Ski Big3, BC Hydro, Worksafe BC, TLH Heliskiing, Amacon Developments, Beedle Group, & UBC Properties.
I have also written the following corporate case studies as a contract writer for Distillery:
Google Workspace (Exterro)
Google Maps Platform (Wayfair)
Selected corporate copywriting samples:
At TELUS Digital, I play a key role in creating seamless digital experiences for customers through engaging content. I am responsible for turning complex business problems into clear, on-brand, jargon-free customer-focused copy. I also work closely with strategy, UX and visual design practitioners to fulfill business goals while taking a user-centred design approach.
My key responsibilities:
Creating on-brand, well-written marketing copy for pages on telus.com/about
Creating microcopy based on data, research and the latest user experience best practices
Collaborating with UXDs and content strategists to design innovative user experiences
Providing content recommendations that reduced customer effort and increased usability
Contributing to TELUS editorial and voice and tone standards across products
Interpreting web analytics to uncover insights that influenced content strategy
Identifying and analyzing trends in digital design, technology and marketing
In 1999 I was recruited by pioneering San Francisco based global digital marketing services firm, Organic, to join their new Singapore office as senior information architect. I later relocated to their Toronto office. My responsibilities included leading the UX design on several projects, working closely with strategy and visual design to fulfill business goals while taking a user-centred design approach. Clients included Loblaws, Bell Canada, Sony, Bank of Montreal, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, INROADS, DaimlerChrysler Financial Services, Ontario Lotteries & Gaming Corporation and Citibank Singapore.
Senior Interactive Producer
BBDO Interactive / Tinderbox
1996-1999
As senior producer, copywriter and information architect at BBDO Interactive (later rebranded as Tinderbox) I helped to shape and implement a range of digital communications and marketing initiatives for a wide range of clients that included Intrawest, TELUS, Citizens Bank of Canada, BCHydro & Heart & Stroke Foundation.
Education
Ryerson University
Bachelor of Applied Arts in Radio & Television Arts
Carleton University
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Volunteering experience
Co-founder, Water for Hwange
In 2016, I started this African wildlife conservation awareness and fundraising campaign with Zimbabwe’s Imvelo Safari Lodges. Water for Hwange supports sustainable water resources vital to wildlife and communities in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, one of Africa’s largest and oldest game reserves. The overall goal of the project is to install solar hybrid water pumps that provide a more sustainable, clean and reliable source of water for the wildlife in Hwange National Park, and for the people in the bordering communities. Seattle's Wildland Adventures has since joined the campaign, creating the first Water for Hwange donor safari, which I co-led in June, 2019. In November 2018, Water for Hwange was awarded a major grant from the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund. We have since expanded our fundraising efforts to include initiatives like the Hwange School Feeding Program, which sustains thousands of rural Zimbabwean children each year.
