Employment History

Communications consultant, Sole proprietor
Toronto, ON: 2006 – Present

Developing messaging for national, provincial, and local campaigns. Designing for printed, moving, and interactive media. Implementing web designs in CSS and PHP.

Communications and Information Officer, Maquila Solidarity Network
Toronto, ON: 2007 – 2009

Wrote, edited, designed, and laid out printed and on-line publications. Developed communications strategy. Managed migration of website to Drupal and contact database to CiviCRM. Triaged technology requests.

Communications Officer, New Democratic Party of Canada
Ottawa, ON: 2004 – 2006

Anchored communications department through two federal elections. Coordinated information flow for candidates biographies and portraits. Responded to media requests. Designed print materials, website, email newsletter, and static and animated special event backdrops. Managed migration of website to Drupal and subsequent upgrades.

Technical Writer, Canadian Medical Protective Association
Ottawa, ON: 2002

Documented and diagrammed AIX systems, Storage Area Network, and Local Area Network. Standardized existing documentation; created guidelines for future documentation.

Technical Writer, Sybase/iAnywhere Solutions
Waterloo, ON: 2001

Wrote Linux HOWTO on Sybase’s database server describing setup and basic operation. Tested configurations of PHP with Apache on Linux, wrote whitepaper describing various setup possibilities. Wrote and updated tutorials and documentation.

Research Assistant, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, ON: 2000

Designed, documented, and began implementation of a multithreaded 3D imaging mode for Windows NT-based ultrasound microscope. Implemented data structures and scan controls.

Junior Tax Modeller, Department of Finance Canada
Ottawa, ON: 1999

Simulated changes to personal income taxation model using SAS for policy analysis and public statements. Programmed Visual Basic for Applications spreadsheet macros.

Tutor, Immaculate Conception School
Peterborough, ON: 1999

Assisted teachers applying technology, mathematics, and science to lesson plans. Prepared and delivered staff workshops. Simplified documentation. Provided technical support. Oversaw purchase and integration of new computers. Aided students in creation of art journal.

Community Work And Internships

Solitary Confinement Cell, LAL and Presumption of Innocence Project
Toronto, ON: 2008

Initiated and delivered interactive multimedia installation depicting solitary confinement of young Muslim-Canadian detainees. Collaborated with several parties on concept, architecture, research, strategy, design, writing, and production. Secured funding and coordinated viewings.

Volunteer, Justicia/Justice for Migrant Workers
Toronto, ON: 2006 – 2007

Provided support to Mexican, Caribbean, and East Asian migrant workers in rural Ontario. Interpreted between Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, and English.

Into the Fields Intern, Student Action with Farmworkers
Durham, NC, USA: 2006

Organized and facilitated bilingual Spanish-English meetings to develop a community-run flea market. Interpreted between Spanish and English. Prepared and taught English as a Second Language classes. Delivered presentations to church congregations and Rotary Clubs on farmworker issues. Assembled photographic and audio documentary on farmworkers’ experiences with education.

Independent researcher, Undocumented farmworkers
Leamington, ON: 2004

Lived and worked with East Asian farmworkers of mixed immigration status. Interpreted between English, Cantonese, and Mandarin during labour disputes. Documented working and living conditions, reported to fellow farmworker advocates.

Volunteer, Waterloo Public Interest Research Group
Waterloo, ON: 1999 – 2004

Facilitated meetings. Organized events. Maintained resource centre. Held design workshops.

Labourer-Teacher, Frontier College
Leamington, ON: 2003

Lived and worked alongside Mexican migrant farmworkers. Taught ESL classes to workers from diverse backgrounds and skill levels. Provided peer counselling and language support.

Board of Directors, Waterloo Public Interest Research Group
Waterloo, ON: 2001 – 2002

Oversaw administrative decisions, supported staff and volunteers.

Student Councillor, Federation of Students
Waterloo, ON: 2000 – 2002

Represented Math Co-op students on university and student affairs. Met with university administration, fellow student representatives, local community. Sat on Educational Advisory Committee, Academics Commission.

Education

Bachelor of Math, Honours Co-op Mathematical Sciences
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON. 2004

Specializations in Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, and
Computer Science

Awards

Microsoft Canada Inc. Work Report Award, 1999

Awarded for report written at Finance Canada.

Publications

Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere for Linux HOWTO (with Tom Slee), 2001

http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-HOWTO/Sybase-ASA-HOWTO.html

Technical Skills

Computer Skills:

  • Java, C (Win32s & Multithreading), SAS, Visual Basic, Matlab
  • HTML, PHP, JSPs, Java Servlets
  • Adobe Creative Suite, QuarkXPress, Visio
  • Windows, UNIX/Linux, and Mac platforms; major office applications

Mathematical Skills:

  • Calculus, differential equations, scientific computing, and physics.

Additional Skills

  • Language of primary fluency: English
  • Partially fluent in (listed in order of fluency): Cantonese, Spanish, Mandarin, French

Interests

Capoeira, cycling, languages, effective group organization and communication.