stephen blyth’s blog

I’m a freelance advisor, trainer and writer from Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa New Zealand.

To find out some of the ways I can help your organisation see Hire me. To discuss your organisation’s needs, to talk with a satisfied client or for any other query Contact me.

As well as a summary of my background below I’m listed on LinkedIn (a website linking experienced professionals globally).

My background

When I was eight years old I decided writing news was what I wanted to do when I grew up. Some years later as a reporter and editor of CANTA, the University of Canterbury’s student newspaper, I managed to cover university news for a few years. But getting involved in campus activism soured my perspective on the mainstream media. I haven’t become a journalist.

Instead I’ve mostly worked with community development advisors and grassroots community organisations. Since 1998 my focus has been encouraging and supporting organisations to use the Internet. I’ve long seen the potential for the world wide web to allow all people to have a voice, to support organising and ideally redistribute power. My work has involved policy, strategy and practical projects.

Some of the significant projects I led while working for government included:

• day-to-day management of The Couch website
• production of Managing Well catalogue
• management and upgrade of CommunityNet Aotearoa website
• co-ordination of 2002 Flaxroots Technology conference.

I’ve been employed in management and advisory roles with the Ministry of Social Development, Department of Internal Affairs, Families Commission and Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand.

In June 2007 I became self-employed. There is demand for independent advice to help community and voluntary organisations use the Internet powerfully. I’m still finding my feet as a freelancer, but see many opportunities to support both grassroots organisations and government agencies in this area.

Recent projects I’ve led include:

• establishing the Wellington Region e-Rider IT service for Wellington ICT
• working as project manager to set up CommunityCentral (launched November 2008) for a consortium of national NGOs. November 2007 to July 2009.

Other clients have included the State Services Commission, Age Concern, Ministry of Social Development,  Families Commission, Forest & Bird, Philanthropy New Zealand, NZFVWO, Partners Porirua and Jigsaw.

For a list of papers, training workshops, presentations, articles and other similar things, see my Papers page.

Education and training

In 1999 I completed an MA thesis through Massey University looking at an episode of public participation run by Wellington City Council. I was particularly interested to learn whether the “Our city ~ our future” Strategy would add or detract from efforts to make Wellington a greener place to live. You can read about my conclusions in a summary of my thesis: “Shifting to a sustainable city? Citizen participation in Wellington’s Our City - Our Future Strategy” (PDF 52 KB).

My initial degree was a BA (Hons) majoring in Politics and History from Canterbury University. I graduated in 1991.

Here is a partial list of some of the training I’ve completed in recent years.

• Webstock conferences in 2008 and 2009
• Connecting Up conferences in 2008 and 2009
• Contented: online courses in business writing for the web
• Deepening Democracy: New Initiatives in Public Participation workshop
• Creating Passionate Users, GOVIS Conference workshop, Kathy Sierra
• Negotiating and Influencing Skills for Managers, Melbourne Business School
• Managing Performance and Behaviour Problems, EMA Central
• Introduction to Management, NZIM
• Graduate Diploma in Information Design, Christchurch Polytechnic –  Professional Writing & Editing course
• Delivering interactive group training for adult learners, Open Polytechnic
• Web accessibility workshop, Vision Australia

Memberships

I’m a member and supporter of the following organisations:

• Associate Trustee, Wellington ICT
• Member, Tangata Whenua, Community & Voluntary Sector Research Centre
• Member, Kotare Research and Education for Social Change Trust
• Member, Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), USA
• Internet NZ

The rest of my life

My family have been long resident in Christchurch, which is where my parents live. Growing up down south means I’ve a predilection for vertiginous geography, I can cope with cold southeries and always want wild nature close at reach.

As a parent alongside my partner Ros we’re bringing up two beautiful children. I get to enjoy seeing the world through fresh eyes. You’ll probably catch me cycling around Wellington or tilling the soil. I no longer have spare time - but before parenthood I was an active volunteer for a number of citizen advocacy and environmental groups.