What I Can Offer

I can provide the following:

• Idea generation and brainstorming – I’m great with ideas; I come up with them very often and keep journals of them. I like to combine separate elements to create an unexpected whole. I’m also very good at taking an established idea and nutting it out from different angles to figure out how to make it happen and how it can be improved.

• Visioning/big-picture work – My favourite aspects of projects is working out the vision, mission, and strategy of the project. I love to look up current trends and events and see how our projects can meet current needs. I’m very creative and imaginative, and can visualise well – so my “visions” tend to be very inclusive and taken in all sorts of perspectives. From those visions, I can also work out what needs to be done to make the vision reality.

• Strategy, policy, procedures, other organisational documents – I have written strategy papers, policy and procedures, and employee manuals for arts organisations. I have also developed risk management strategies, contracts, and evaluations, and have assisted with grants. As mentioned earlier, I’m willing to learn new formats and conventions, and do the required research. I’m especially strong in working out related policy and strategy from current trends and previous internal documentation, creating coherent documents to support the organisations’ work.

• Arts, stage, and creative management – I’m trained in arts and creative industries management, mainly around festivals and events. I have experience with stage management and backstage work, and have also written planning documents and proposals. I enjoy most aspects of the management process and function best as the mediator/connector between leadership, other team members, and other stakeholders. I am also able to take on leadership roles if needed.

• Professional & creative writing and editorial – I have skills and training in business correspondence (letters, memos, reports), media (newspaper reports, features, interviews, blog entries), academic papers (mainly short reports), speeches and debates, and creative writing (poetry, short stories, scripts, non-fiction). I’m willing to learn new forms and formats. I’ve also done editorial work for school yearbooks, magazines, academic papers, speeches, and personal applications, especially for those with English as a second or foreign language. I focus on maintaining the original writer’s voice while making their message clearer.

• Internet and computing skills – I’ve been using computers and the Internet almost all my life, and am strongest in using them as tools for social networking, communication, and information sharing. I have some experience with web design and coding but I’m stronger at working out what websites need and how to achieve that. I learn new technologies, software, and websites quickly, often with little training needed. I’m a fast typist and can work my way around various OSes (Windows 3.1 – Vista, Mac OS X, Ubuntu), office suites (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice), graphics software (mainly Adobe Photoshop with a little bit of Illustrator) and other software as needed.

• Research skills – I love research – whether through the Internet, libraries, or personal experience. I’m very adept at using search engines and databases to find relevant information, as well as offline resources such as libraries, and collate data collected into useful information. I’m strong at interviews and can track down relevant people, companies, and other human and organisational resources. I’ve done research work for debates, which involved looking up sources that support all sides of a proposition, and therefore can also be a useful “devil’s advocate” if needed.

• Performance and presentation – I have training in singing (pop), dance (basic tap and hiphop), circus, and improv, and have also participated in public speaking, choirs, choral speaking, stand-up comedy, stage magic, skits, and poetry slams. I can create my own performative work or work off an established piece, and am able to improvise with the audience. I am a quick and motivated learner and pick up moves/lines very quickly. I can present on radio, television/visual media, and to a live audience.

• Public speaking and small-group presenting – I have talked to audiences of young people, academics, and communities about issues such as life after school or university, Internet censorship, and alternative education. Such talks were very well-received and have inspired others on their journey. I am able to prepare engaging and interactive presentations that are casual and fun while also inspiring and supportive. I can also (co)manage or (co)moderate small groups for workshops or forums.

• Administrative skills – I have assisted with all manner of admin and office work – typing up documents, returning calls, packaging and sending out mail, booking tickets, anything really! I’m available as help for the harried person who doesn’t have enough hands or time. I am a very quick and efficient worker – I’ve had people try to find things for me to do because I’d completed everything else! I am careful with my work and make sure it meets the standards and needs of the organisation.

• Cross-cultural skills – I’ve lived in different environments amongst different cultures and have a strong appreciation for diverse points of view, ethics, and foundational beliefs. I can usually work out why something is important to a certain culture, which will help a lot with dealing with people from other cultures. I’m a major advocate of considering diversity and special needs when planning events or workshops (such as dietary requirements or language issues) and can help analyse your program to see how it can be made more inclusive. I also have a knack for working out what people are trying to say in broken English and help communicate between two people speaking different levels of the language.

• Energy and enthusiasm – “Energetic” is the one word that is often used to describe me, both by those who know me well and by recent acquaintances. I’m always the first to volunteer and contribute, and I give my all to projects and causes I find interesting and worthwhile. Even at my lowest point, I tend to have more energy than the average person, so you can count on someone to keep the group battery charged!

• An eager student – I love to learn, especially through experience and guidance. A former supervisor has noticed that I’m completely focused when I’m given something meaty to do – something that requires me to learn a lot and get my brain going. I learn most things quickly and am not shy to ask questions or request help. I am eternally curious.

• Friendliness and kindness – I aim to treat everyone with respect and dignity, and show that through my interactions with people as well as my work with them. I am open and friendly, even if I seem a little shy and awkward at first – I’m always up for getting to know more people and their life stories. While I am direct and tend to put the aims of the project first and foremost, I’m also sensitive to personal needs and ultimately strive to seek a solution that benefits everyone without harming anyone.