Completed ICT contracts/assignments

Client: Vital Wave Consulting, Palo Alto, California, USA
Duration: January 2007
Role: Research Assistant

Contracted part-time over a three week period to assist with researching emerging market technology trends for a client, particularly mobile. Also assisted with developing presentations and scenario planning. Visit Vital Wave's website here



Client: TTPCom Limited, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
Duration: October 2005 - January 2006 (3 month contract)
Role: Intel Test Integrator

Contracted for three months to assist with the testing of a range of mobile phone operating system software prior to client delivery, including drive testing to determine device operability in the field.. TTPCom is the world leading independent supplier of software for digital wireless devices (see www.ttpcom.com)

Client: Fauna & Flora International (FFI), Cambridge, United Kingdom
Duration: January 2004 - December 2004 (one year contract)
Project: wildlive! Project Manager

Contracted for one year to project-manage the global rollout of FFI's Vodafone-based wildlive! project into Greece, Hungary, Spain, Malta, Germany and the Netherlands. wildlive! is a WEB/WAP based service which allows mobile phone users on Vodafone live! in these countries to download high-quality wildlife wallpaper images, animal-sound ringtones and play conservation-based Java games on their mobile phones. In addition, users can read the latest conservation news and access live field diaries

Following the launch of the UK service at FFI's centenary celebrations in December 2003, wildlive! has attracted in excess of 60,000 downloads raising over £100,000 in the process

Client: Fauna & Flora International (FFI), Cambridge, United Kingdom
Duration: February 2003 - December 2003 (11 month consultancy)
Project: Project Technical Advisor

Contracted as the Technical Advisor on a one-year Vodafone Group Foundation-funded project to investigate the potential for mobile telephony to be used in the promotion and support FFI's global conservation work. wildlive! was the end result of one element of the project (see above), the other being 't4cd' which is exploring ways of applying appropriate technologies to aid community conservation and development work around the Kruger National Park in South Africa. 't4cd' is now a fully-funded project in its own right based on a collaboration between FFI and its South African partner organisation, ResourceAfrica

During field and desk-based research for 't4cd', a report was written: 'Mobile telephony: An appropriate tool for conservation and development?'. Co-authored by Ken Banks and Richard Burge, the Vodafone Group Foundation provided additional funding and the report was published in November 2004. Download a PDF of the first two Chapters of the report (courtesy of FFI)

Employer: Ultimate Business Systems, Jersey, Channel Islands
Duration: August 1992 - September 1994
Role: PC Products Manager

During a two year spell with this Jersey-based office equipment supplier, four key ICT projects were undertaken:

Membership system for Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust ("JAMBO")
The consultancy, design, programming, testing, installation, training and support of a fully-fledged networked membership system allowing the maintenance of the zoo's wide membership base, the logging and tracking of donations (including the production and transmission of BACS payment files), the management and monitoring of appeals, the running of the adoptions programme (with links to "ARKS") and the production of basic management accounts. The system remained in place until 1998 when it was replaced by Fisk Brett's "Progress" (consultancy was provided during the change-over process)

Bois Labesse ("BLABS", "CATS" and an internal mail system)
A number of systems were developed for this leading firm of lawyers and solicitors including a fully networked fee management system ("BLABS") used by approximately 40 legal staff and partners, the development of a company and trust system ("CATS") to assist with company management and formation, and the implementation of a simple network-based communications tool allowing messages and information to be shared among partners and staff

Employer: Clifton Computer Consultants Limited, Jersey, Channel Islands
Duration: October 1989 - January 1992
Role: Managing Director

Clifton Computers was incorporated in Guernsey as a joint venture with International Law Systems (ILS), a firm specialising in the provision of legal kits (share certificates, Memorandum & Articles of Association, company seals etc) and the formation and management of offshore limited companies. Clifton Computers was created as a support vehicle for ILS' computer systems, chiefly a sophisticated desk top publishing system (based on Ventura Publisher), and the development of an office automation system. Project management during this time included the consultancy, design, programming, testing, installation and support of a job costing, invoicing and client management database, and the installation/ support of ICT infrastructure in the Jersey, Guernsey, Ireland and Isle of Man offices

Details of earlier work experience available via CV (on request)
 

In-country conservation management

Organisation: Cercopan, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Duration: December 2001 - September 2002
Role: Project Co-Ordinator/Manager

Cercopan is a sanctuary for endangered forest primates situated in the town of Calabar in southern Nigeria (visit the site). Cercopan's primary goal is "the conservation of primates and their habitat through primate rehabilitation, forest protection, environmental education and research". Responsibilities included overall project management, including the supervision of local and volunteer staff, and the sanctuary's programmes

The four primary areas of responsibility centred around:

• Financial and personnel management
• Primate rehabilitation and captive breeding
• Community environmental education
• Forest protection and research

A motorbike accident cut short a planned two year commitment to the sanctuary

Other overseas work

Organisation: Greenforce Expeditions, Uganda (1998)
Role: Team Member
Three month biodiversity and socio-economic survey within the Karuma Wildlife Reserve, a buffer zone surrounding Murchison Falls National Park. On return worked with Greenforce on the training and preparation of new volunteers

Organisation: Jersey Overseas Aid, Uganda (1995)
Role: Treasurer and Team Member
Five week phase of a government-funded hospital building project in Soroti

Organisation: Jersey Overseas Aid, Zambia (1993)
Role: Treasurer and Team Member
Five week phase of a government-funded school building project in Chilubula, a small village in northern Zambia

Overseas work experience - summary

India (2006, 2007)
Visits to Bangalore (to present at a W3C Workshop) in December 2006, and another to New Delhi in 2007 to help facilitate an Amnesty International Arms Control workshop

South Africa (2003, 2004, 2005)
Several research visits as part of the FFI contract, particularly for 't4cd'

Mozambique (2003, 2004)
Several research visits as part of the FFI contract, particularly for 't4cd'

Nigeria (2002)
One year living and working in southern Nigeria with Cercopan

Finland (2001)
One year working as a Business English teacher in Turku, southern Finland

Uganda (1995, 1998)
Two working visits - Jersey Overseas Aid, and a biodiversity survey

Zambia (1993)
Working visit as part of a Jersey Overseas Aid project

Miscellaneous: Publications

Publication: "Mobile phones: An appropriate tool for conservation and development ?"
Role: Report Co-Author
Wide ranging desk- and field-based research report on the impact and uses of mobile telephony in conservation and development work. Report published by Fauna & Flora International in November 2004.

Download PDF of the first two chapters of the report
(courtesy of Fauna & Flora International)

Publication: Oryx, International Journal of Conservation - January 2006
Title: "Empowering conservation: FrontlineSMS" - a look at SMS use in conservation (download)

Publication: Fauna & Flora International magazine - October 2005
Title: "Embracing Technology" - a  general look at technology use in conservation (download)

Talks/interviews

Presentation: "Applying ICTs to international conservation and development in Africa"
Location: Internal meeting, Nokia Research, Palo Alto - April 2007
A presentation and discussion of my work, and approach, with mobile phones and other technology in Africa in the conservation and development field to the research staff, scientists and engineers at Nokia's Research Lab in Silicon Valley

Public and faculty talk: "Mobile phones - and the role of anthropology - in international conservation and development in Africa"
Location: BARA, University of Arizona - March 2007
An open talk, discussion and presentation of my work, and approach, with mobile phones and other technology in Africa in the conservation and development field to faculty, students and members of the public at the Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology, Arizona

Lunchtime talk: "Applying ICTs to international conservation and development in Africa"
Location: Internal meeting, IDEO, Palo Alto - Feb 2007
An informal lunchtime presentation and discussion on my work, and approach, with mobile phones and other technology in Africa in the conservation and development field

Lunchtime talk: "Applying ICTs to international conservation and development in Africa"
Location: Africa Table, Center For African Studies, Stanford University - Jan 2007
An informal presentation and discussion on my work with mobile phones and other technology in Africa. Held as part of a regular series of lunchtime talks at the Center

Conference presentation: "The Mobile Web in Developing Countries: Keeping it relevant"
Location: W3C Workshop, Bangalore, India - December 2006
Presentation made to delegates at W3C's workshop, designed to work out strategies and ways forward for the provision of the internet on mobile phones for users in developing countries

Lunchtime talk: "Challenges and Issues in Nigerian Primate Conservation"
Location: Africa Table, Center For African Studies, Stanford University - Oct 2006
An informal presentation and discussion on my personal experience working with primates in Nigeria. Held as part of a regular series of lunchtime talks at the Center

Conference presentation: t4cd: Matching Conservationists' Needs with Technology Solutions
Location: Microsoft Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom - Jan 2006
A key first-day presentation on the use of text messaging in global conservation and development work. Further discussion on the use of ICTs via a one-hour Panel Debate

Conference presentation: ICT in Conservation and Development Symposium
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa, Feb 2005 - ResourceAfrica
Two presentations: A summary of the FFI mobile phone report to delegates, plus a presentation/discussion on the wildlive! service

Conference presentation: ICT in Conservation and Development Symposium
Location: Newbury, United Kingdom, June 2004 - FFI/Vodafone
Two presentations: A summary of the FFI mobile phone report to delegates, plus a presentation on the Vodafone live!-based wildlive! service

Talk/workshop facilitation: Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Fieldworkers Day
Location: Johannesburg Zoo, South Africa, Nov 2004 - EWT
Gave a general presentation to EWT fieldworkers on the application and potential for technology use in their African-based conservation work

Public debate: Wildscreen Interactive Panel Discussion Member
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom, Oct 2004 - ARKive/Wildscreen
Took part as a panel member in a public discussion on the use of information technology in wildlife education
 

Interview: Tech Tuesday
Location: San Francisco - March 2007
A 20-minute interview on the work of kiwanja.net before a public presentation at the monthly Tech Tuesday event. The interview was podcasted and is available on iTunes, via the NetSquared website, or via kiwanja.net

Interview: Nokia New Horizons Magazine
Location: Via email - February 2007
An interview with Nokia's New Horizons magazine on the work of kiwanja.net, in particular the with appropriate technologies. The interview was requested following a presentation made at the W3C Workshop on the Mobile Web in Developing Countries, held in Bangalore in December 2006

Radio interview: Go Digital, BBC World Service
Location: Via the BBC Cambridge studio, Cambridge - January 2006
Took part in a discussion on the use of technology in global conservation and development, in particular the challenges faced by fieldworkers and the key areas of focus for technology research and implementation. The programme segment can be downloaded here (3Mb, MP3) courtesy of the BBC Go Digital team

Radio interview: BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom - January 2006
A short 5-minute slot during a breakfast show to discuss the use of technology in conservation work, in particular text messaging and its use in wildlife early warning systems

Radio interview: Environmental Awareness Day Interview
Location: Calabar, Nigeria, May 2002 - Cercopan
Took part in a live radio debate on primate and forest conservation in Nigeria. This coincided with an Environmental Awareness Day, and a special day-long schools event organised by Cercopan

Other

International competition: Wildscreen Interactive Award 2004
Role: Member of Judging Panel
Invited to be a member of the Judging Panel for the Interactive Award section of the wider Wildscreen Awards. Prize awarded to projects which demonstrate best innovative use of information technology in the education and promotion of wildlife and conservation-related work. Click here to see the Judging Panel page

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