MY CV
Professional Experience. Please also check out About Me for a wider look at my life, and Skills for an in-depth look at my skill set.
PROTON - TECH WRITER
August 2020 -
Tech writer, blogger, and cyber-privacy specialist at Proton Technologies AG, developers of ProtonMail and ProtonVPN.
SENIOR TECH WRITER AT PROPRIVACY (FORMERLY BESTVPN.COM)
February 2013 - August 2020
Working as a writer, resident technology expert, sometime editor, cyber-security researcher, and online privacy advocate. In this position, I maintained professional integrity in what is a very competitive market. I think my portfolio speaks for itself, but it's also worth noting that I have extensive in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the VPN industry.
FREELANCE WRITER
September 2012 - June 2015
I achieved "Top rated" status for three years running on Upwork before becoming signing an exclusivity contract with BestVPN.com (which was largely a formality by that point). I received flawless 5/5-star feedback, which can still be viewed on my old Upwork Profile (see also Testimonials).
DBS MUSIC PLYMOUTH
September 2010 - July 2012
I was awarded a Double Distinction for completing an Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma. Although not much of a musician, the music tech and computing skills I developed as a sound engineer inspired my drive to become a technology writer.
FREELANCE COMPUTER REPAIR AND TUITION
While living near Malaga in Spain I worked as a freelance computer repair and upgrade specialist, also offering private tuition in all aspects of personal computer use.
April 2004 - May 2006
ARACHNOPHILIA - WE LOVE TO SPIN WEBS
2001 - 2003
I was the web designer for my own small (two-person) web design company, which I ran out of my home in Plymouth. Web design has moved on a great deal since 2002 and I am no modern developer. I did, however, knock this entire website together on Wix in the space of around three days...
THE MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
September 1988 - July 1991
I studied Philosophy and Politics (with a major in political ethics), achieving a 2:1 Bachelor of Arts (BA) hons degree. These studies honed my use of the English language, taught me how to construct robust logical arguments, and fostered in me the development of rigorous critical analysis. My degree certificate is can be viewed on my LinkedIn page.