The Employment history has been separated into Journalism, Copywriting and Academic employment.
JOURNALISM EMPLOYMENT
Freelance Journalist
1998 – Present
Specialising in Travel Writing and lifestyle pieces: from budget travel guides to luxury and business travel features. Articles have been published in over 30 publications world wide.
Travel Writer / Author
The Rough Guide to Vietnam (published August 2006)
The Rough Guide to Australia (published September 2007)
The Hedonist Guide to Buenos Aires (scheduled May 2010)
As co-author (contributor) of one of the world’s best known travel guide book titles (Rough Guides) I spent five months independently travelling and researching destinations, attractions, hotels, restaurants, general listings and nightlife in Vietnam (Chapters 5 & 8) and Australia (Melbourne, Victoria and Western Australia chapters). Most recently I spent three months updating the Hedonist Guide to Buenos Aires, which is a publication looking at the best hotels, restaurants and attractions this city (and other places around the country) had to offer.
- Researching destinations (hotels, restaurants, nightlife & attractions)
- Extensive independent travel
Editor-in-Chief
Vietnam Pathfinder Magazine, (Hanoi, Vietnam) www.pathfinder.com.vn
November 2004 – June 2006
This 80 page monthly magazine is targeted at ex-pats and tourists of all budgets in Vietnam. It consists of destination articles; hotel, restaurant & pub reviews, comedic ‘life in Vietnam’ articles and a detailed travel guide of the country.
- Organising and commissioning editorial content
- Completing stories
- Assisting in Distribution, Advertising and PR
- Assisting in Magazine Design
- Designing and moderating website
Contributing English Editor
Golf Vietnam Magazine (Hanoi, Vietnam)
April 2005 – August 2005
This 70 page bi-monthly magazine (half English/Vietnamese) is targeted at luxury and business travellers. It includes golf course, restaurant and hotel reviews, as well as interviews, history and tips relating to the game. I helped set-up the magazine and its original first two issues.
- Assist in direction and editorial content
- Write articles and photography
- Assist in design and marketing
Sub editor / Content Writer
Vietnam Panorama (Hanoi, Vietnam) (www.vietpan.com)
November 2004 – Jan 2005
- Assist in direction and editorial content
- Proofreading and editing the Global Online media news service
Journalist / Editor
Estonian Tourism Board (Tallinn, Estonia)
Sep 2003-Dec 2003, June 2004 – October 2004
Estonia is a country relatively untouched by modern tourism, yet has some of the most stunning attractions in all of Europe. Despite this, the country is quite poor and has not developed any major tourism infrastructure. My job was to give the Estonian Tourism Board direction in terms of Tourism Publications and Backpacker Tourism.
- Writing articles, brochures and travel guides
- Proofreading copy
- Consulting on backpacker tourism
Assistant Editor / Travel Writer
Internet Travellers Information Services, (Kyoto, Japan)
Oct 1998 - Dec 2001
While starting from humble beginnings, ITIS become one of Asia’s most popular travel websites. Targeting the backpacker market, the continuous travelling and reporting gave me confidence in my writing ability and myself.
- Completed over 80 city guides & articles in 20 countries
- Extensive solo travel
Researcher
Scotsman Publications, (Edinburgh, Scotland)
April 1999 - Sep 1999
Involved in a scanning/monitoring assignment for the Scotsman Newspaper (one of the worlds oldest newspapers).
COPYWRITING & WEB EMPLOYMENT
Director / Editor
www.thehappiesthour.com
April 2004 – Present
This site has achieved cult status with almost a million visitors and numerous media attention. It searches for the best happy hours in Melbourne, including honest venue reviews and competitions.
Web Writer/ Copywriter
2004 – Present
Writing content for webpages, concentrating on small businesses.
Click below for examples:
Atmosphere Events, Kelly’s Hotel, Stuart Cox Designs, OutVogue, and Merchant Broking Services.
Online Editor and Contributor
Beer and Brewer Magazine - www.beerandbrewer.com.au
2009-Present
Writing weekly blogs, news and monthly newsletters.
Editor / Online Moderator
www.thebladder.com.au (Melbourne, Australia)
August 2006 – February 2007
Thebladder.com.au is well known in Australia for taking “the piss out of sport”. A weekly column also features in the Age.
- Organising editorial content
- Completing articles
- Writing weekly newsletter
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
Lecturer / Tutor (Intro to Media Studies/ Communications/ Newsroom Practice and Theory/ Feature Writing)
Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
2004, 2007, 2008
Media Studies: This subject deals with the way media interacts with society. By looking at the history of media studies and the way a critical political economy approach affects the ‘self’ and our daily lives. Communications deals with audiences, the effects of communications and the technology involved within it. Newsroom focuses on the skills needed to write hard news copy and understand the role journalists play in society. Feature Writing is a practical study of featuring writing using anecdotes, concrete words and interviewing methods.
- Designing tutorial structure and content
- Communicating to large audiences
- Mediating tutorial sessions
- Grading and editing papers
Lecturer / Tutor (Travel Writing and New Technologies)
Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
Semester 1, 2003; Semester 1, 2004
This subject looks at the history of travel writing in relation to contemporary travel writing. It also offers the students a practical study of how to be an effective travel writer, as well as designing their own website in order to benefit their future employment prospects.
- Designing course structure and content
- Communicating to large audiences
- Mediating tutorial sessions
- Grading and editing papers
E D U C A T I O N
Masters in Arts (Media and Communications)
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
2008-Currently
The focus of my research centres on the emergence, power and problems of travel guidebooks. Special attention is given to digital media and the changing landscape of travel journalism.
Masters in Tourism
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
2002-2004
This course focuses on the management of the tourism industry and centres on Marketing, Product Development, Cultural Tourism, New Media Communications and Contemporary Issues in Tourism. My focus was on the Tourism Publishing/Journalism Market and the Backpacker Market. A number of reports were written for this course including:
“A preliminary study on Estonia’s Tourism Industry and the need for online guidebooks” (January 2004)
“A study into Baltic transportation and tourism for Australian university students” (June 2004)
“The Wayward Bus Company – A Marketing Plan for Backpackers” (June 2003)
“Mutawinji National Park – Investigating Aboriginal Tourism” (June 2003)
“The Working Holiday Maker – The need for Working Holiday Hostels” (October 2002)
“The cultural importance of the MCG” (October 2002)
“The new travel writer – Travel writing on the Internet” (November 2002)
Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing
University of Melbourne, Australia
2001
This course offered a practical study on the genres of creative writing. Styles such as Writing Fiction, Non-Fiction, Scripts and Poetry were completed. I wrote the play “Couch” which was played at the WIP Theatre (Fitzroy) and is now shown to current students of Writing Scripts. I achieved a H1 (A) average.
Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies)
La Trobe University, Australia
1996-1998
A basic understanding of the role the media plays in society. Special attention was paid to Journalism and Popular culture.
VCE Certificate
Parade College, Australia
1994
S K I L L S & A C H I E V E M E N T S
Computer Courses
‘Microsoft Computer Applications’
‘Document Preparation for the Web’
‘Dreamweaver Applications’
‘Working with Powerpoint’
'‘Introduction to Photoshop’
Speaking
Guest Speaker (Benefits of Travelling) for the Victorian Association of Teachers of English
Guest Speaker (Travel Writing) for Masters in Communications (Monash University)
Guest Speaker (Australian studies) at the Estonian Business School
Guest Speaker (Online Media) at Deakin University
Guest Speaker(New Media Communications ) at Monash University
Sporting
80 games with Montmorency Football Club (DVFL) - I sucked.
2 years with the Hanoi Swans Football Club - I still sucked.
Golf Handicap of 14 and a passion for the game.
Former Tennis Coach
Languages Spoken
Spanish – Moderate
Vietnamese – Basic
Travel
Well travelled through over 70 countries
REFEREES CAN BE GIVEN ON REQUEST
