WORK EXPERIENCE

1994 - Present Freelance journalist
I have written articles for The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Enroute, and many US newspapers on topics from parenting and fashion to travel. Currently I contribute to Microsoft Home magazine, a Microsoft ezine on technology and Roger’s Hi–Speed Internet portal.

2002 Guidebook author, Mars Publishing
I wrote A Parent’s Guide to Toronto for Parent’s Guide Press. It was published in November 2002 and is available in bookstores across North America.

1997- 2001 @Home Canada/Excite Canada
Editor/Producer/Lifestyle Product Manager
I was part of the Content/Development team that developed and launched the subscriber-only Web site for the @Home Canada Network in 1998, the largest broadband Internet service provider in Canada. In 1999, I participated in the relaunch of the site when Excite Corp. and @Home merged and a new content experience was created. During my time at Excite@Home Canada, the content team participated in the growth of the service from a few thousand page views to over 100 million page views per month as audited in November 2001.

While at Excite@Home, I moved from News and Finance Editor to Lifestyle Producer to Lifestyle Product Manager. This reflected a promotion from a purely editorial role to responsibility for managing all aspects of the Channel and all its component subchannels. My responsibilities were to do market research and competitive analysis of potential partners, to generate revenue and meet page-view targets, and to ensure that the channel offerings grew in popularity month to month.

1993-1994 Greenpeace Media Director
Administered the media department and budget; worked with campaigners to determine the best media strategy for their initiatives. Supervised volunteers in updating media database. Part of management board of Greenpeace Canada. Used d-base and winfax software for national and regional broadcasts of press releases. Worked with journalists to provide information and arrange interviews with Greenpeace personnel.

1991-1993 The Mexico City News
I was the Editor of the Lifestyle and Arts section of this daily English-language newspaper. I assigned articles to staff and freelance writers, did design and lay-out of the section, and participated in a redesign of the paper. I also freelanced to Canadian papers while living in Mexico.

1990-1991 Ernst and Young, London UK
Maintained records for management consultants using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, including bookable hours, travel, expenses for various accounts.

1982-87 Hyatt Regency, Vancouver BC
While attending UBC I worked at the Hyatt as a bartender, waitress, banquet captain.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNSHIPS

April 2001 – Management course, Rogers Communications.

March 2001 – Business Negotiation skills workshop, Rogers Communications.

April 1991 – News internship with The Independent in London, England, on the foreign desk. Watched the wires, helped edit and compile stories for the news in brief column.

Jan. 1991 – News internship with CBCTV in London, England. Worked on the daily television feed from Europe, a digest of international news from Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

AWARDS, AFFILIATIONS

2004 Winner, Days Inn Family Travel Writing Award

2003 Winner, Choice Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism.

1993-2004 Member in good standing, Travel Media Association of Canada.

2003–2004 Active Member, Society of American Travel Writers.

EDUCATION

1990-91 Master of Arts in International Journalism, City University, London, England.

1982-86 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

1978-81 High school diploma, Strathcona High School, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.