Writer
I regularly write for a wide range of publications, from professional and academic journals to ghost-written content for professional blog sites. My writing covers a wide range of topics - library and information science, social media, and the web of data. Professional journals I have written for include Research Information, Online, and VIP.
I am also in the middle of writing a book Facilitating Access to the Web of Data: a guide for librarians for Facet Publishing.
A full list of my publications can be found on my In the Media and Publications web pages.
Consultant and Researcher
I have consulted and carried out research for individuals and organizations of various sizes. From providing the European Commission with an overview of different research areas on the web, to helping a Member of Parliament engage more effectively with his constituents. The majority of my consultancy work, however, has been focused on helping various businesses embrace social media for the promotion of their products and services.
I am currently also a member of the RIN Consultative Group for Librarianship and Information Science.
Web 2.0 Research fellow
From 2007 to 2009 I held the position of web 2.0 research fellow in the Statistical Cybermetrics Research Group, investigating the changing uses of the web and putting together funding bids in the field of social media. This position reflected the changes in the way individuals and organizations are making use of the web.
Since establishing myself as a freelance web analyst and consultant I continue to work closely with the University on various projects, and continue as an honorary research fellow and member of the Statistical Cybermetrics Research Group.
Education
I gained my PhD in the field of webometrics in 2008 from the University of Wolverhampton. My thesis 'Web manifestations of knowledge-based innovation systems in the UK' shows how the web is a rich source of information about the relationships between organisations, and that by analysing the links between organisations we can build a better understanding of an organisation's online strengths and weaknesses.
In addition I have a B.A. (hons) in Library and Information Management from Loughborough University, and continue to update my skills by studying part-time for a B.Sc. (hons) in Mathematics at the Open University.
Skills
I am an experienced speaker, and as well as presenting at international conferences, I have also run workshops on various web topics.