Paul Stephensen’s

Curriculum Vitae
22 Solar Street Coorparoo 4151
Phone: 0409339738
Email: paul@paulcstephensen.com
ePortfolio: http://www.paulcstephensen.com

ABSTRACT

In writing my curriculum vitae I present a snapshot of the past eleven years of my professional and academic career. In this
document I have summarised my academic qualifications and detailed my eight years of industry experience in the information
technology sector and three years of experience in creative arts private consultancy and higher education sector. I have also
included a summary of my interdisciplinary skill-set and provided a list of two referees who can substantiate my experience
and skills.

SKILL SUMARY

ADV AN CED I NTE RA CTI ON AN D D ES IG N SKI LLS

x Strong knowledge of HTML, XHTML and CSS, Web 2.0 and social networking sites.

x Introductory PHP and MYSQL .

x Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Fireworks.

x A strong knowledge of Windows and Linux based hosting environments.

x Content Management systems such as CivicSpace, Drupal, e107, Easy PHP, Elgg, Joomla, Moodle,
Nucleus, PHP-Nuke Web Portal, Usability, design, analysis and testing skills.

x The ability to create websites, weblogs and social networking sites.

x Excellent written and verbal communication skills especially in the area of technical documentation
and creative writing.

x Strong technical analysis, consultation and problem solving skills.

x Qualitative data analysis.

x Advanced report writing and technical documentation skills.

x Advanced customer service skills via phone and one-on-one consultation.

x The ability to be able to develop E-business solutions and recommendations.

PAU L STE PHE NSE N’ S CU RR IC U LU M V IT AE
QUALIF ICATIONS

MAS TERS OF ARTS ( RESE ARCH) (INTE RACTION AND DES IGN) (KK51) QUT, 2010.

My masters of Arts by research degree allowed me to create a new conceptual framework that allowed for the design,
documentation and implementation of two open source ePortfolio design models. These models acted as a prototype using
advanced interaction and design principles in university and creative arts production settings. The thesis provides
recommendations of policy on how ePortfolio designers can implement Web 2.0 ePortfolios in similar projects in creative arts
university settings and Web 2.0 ePortfolio design models and prototypes.

These designs are also transferable between industries. In this research I examined how ePortfolios could be designed for
Music postgraduate study through a practice led research inquiry. The research process involved the design of two Web 2.0
ePortfolio systems for a group of five post graduate music research students. The design process revolved around the
application of an iterative methodology called Software Develop as Research (SoDaR) that simultaneously developed design
and pedagogy.

The research and design process involved an analysis of existing software and literature with a focus upon identifying the
affordances of available Web 2.0 software and the applications of these ideas within 21st Century life. These technologies
included a diverse number of content management systems which included CivicSpace, Drupal, e107, Easy PHP, Elgg,
Joomla, Moodle, Nucleus, PHP-Nuke.

The first prototype for the project used Wordpress MU which used a customised php back-end and customized php based
themes. Wordpress allowed the user to use a number of other technologies including the use of software plugins that would
allow the project participants to share their creative content through use of social networking websites such as Last.fm,
Youtube.com, Myspace.com and Facebook.com.

MASTERS OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES (COMMUNICATION AND

DESIGN)(KIN43) QUT, 2005.

This degree provided me with a combination of theoretical and practical skills that underpin the application and design of
multimedia technology within the Creative Industries. This degree also helped to provide me with a foundation of conceptual
and practical skills related to contemporary modes of electronic hypermedia production, communication and publishing. This
degree also allowed me to study and research modern methods of visual communication and Web design. I was also able to
discover the knowledge and skills required to design and produce effective visual interfaces for technology applications such
as Web, small screens in mobile media, and interactive displays.

VOLUNTEER INTERACTION DESING PRJOECTS

SAV E TO D ISC. NE T
START DATE: OCTOBE R 2007
EM PLOYM ENT: CO NSU LTA N T
END DATE: TO PRESENT ( 3 YEARS)
ROLE: RE SEA RCH ASSISTA N T, WE B DEVE LOPE R AN D NE W MED IA
PO LICY AD V ICE.

The savetoDISC research network focuses on innovation in sound communities by documenting the qualities and relationships
between music, meaning, cognitive and social benefit, health and wellbeing. Dr Steve Dillon is founding director. For the past
3 years I have been assisting Dr Steve Dillon in the use of his ePortfolio website Savetodisc.net. I have been helping Dr Dillon
to use Wordpress as a simple to use website that would allow Dr Dillon to showcase the outcomes of different research
projects and his interactive digital performances via his computer generated music software jam2jam, see
http://explodingart.com/jam2jam.html. Dr Dillon hoped that this showcase, or ePortfolio, would focus on music community
projects which foster documentation and innovation in sound community networks. Dr Dillon is now successfully using
Savetodisc.net as a confident user of Wordpress to promote his research network and interests in line with his social justice and
online new media policy. The design of Savetodisc.net allows Dr Dillon to achieve this through the use of social networks,

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PAU L STE PHE NSE N’ S CU RR IC U LU M V IT AE
ePortfolios and Web 2.0 technologies such as Last.fm, Youtube.com, Myspace.com and Facebook.com.

SWEETFREDOM.ORG.AU
START DATE: JANUARY 2008
EM PLOYM ENT: CO NSU LTA N T
END DATE: TO P RE SEN T ( 23 MO N THS)
ROLE: RE SEA RCH ASSISTA N T, WE B DEVE LOPE R AN D NE W MED IA
PO LICY AD V ICE.

Sweetfreedom’s mission statement is to amplify the voices of the unheard through creative projects and the sharing of
resources about ethical and effective engagement with community through scholarly research, see http://sweetfreedom.org.au
for more information. In this role I am currently a volunteer webmaster and treasurer for Sweetfreedom Incorporated.
Sweetfreedom Inc organises community based music events that allow groups of music communities, who have a limited voice
in their community’s, to amply and project that voice further afield. My role is to help the board help these communities to
achieve this through better understanding the use of web based technologies and interaction and design tools. Sweetfreedom
sponsors these music events and then gathers research for these projects so that the communities can then document the impact
of these communities and the impact of sharing their music with other communities. Example communities include a group of
refugees who recorded an album, with the help of Sweetfreedom, called The Scattered People album. Other groups include the
Down syndrome association of Queensland, see http://dsaq.org.au/, project ‘My Life My Voice’ see,
http://sweetfreedom.org.au/sweettube/2/ for extra information. The Sweetfreedom website uses a mixture of open source
technologies that includes Wordpress 3.1, Last.fm, Youtube.com, Myspace.com and Facebook.com. The board and I are
currently researching technologies such as Reverbnation.com, a free music social networking site, to legally share music from
these events and receive donations via Google checkout, see Checkout.google.com.

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT

EMP LO Y ER: ME LB O URN EI T

EMP LOYMENT: FU LL- T I ME
START DATE: OCTOBER 2008
END DATE: TO PRESENT (2 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS)
ROLE: E- B U S I N E S S S U P P O R T C O N S U L T A N T .

Achievements

x Successful identification of customers e-business, web hosting and email needs as demonstrated through the
successful generation of $90, 0000 worth of revenue.
x Working together with a dynamic young team to create a positive and happy work place.
x Working with management to ensure the smooth operation of the call centre.
x Customer service award for best improved consultant, November 2008.
x Customer service award for lead generation encouragement award, January 2009.
x Customer service award for highest value lead revenue, April 2010.
x Customer service award for highest number of won leads August, 2010.
x CIO’s award for work carried out during Brisbane Floods whilst in disaster recovery mode.
x Customer service Peer Recognition award for outstanding customer service and contribution to the call centre.

Duties
x Monitor incoming telephone calls.
x Answer incoming calls, verify the identity of callers.
x Log jobs in the internal job monitoring system.
x Escalate calls from customers to the other points of escalation as required.

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PAU L STE PHE NSE N’ S CU RR IC U LU M V IT AE
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT

EMP LO Y ER: QUT

ROLE: CUST O MER SER VI CE CON SU LT A NT
START DATE: APRIL 1999
END DATE: NOVEMBER 2005

Achievements:

Developed advanced customer service skills in a high technology network and provided support and advice to a diverse
community of users

Duties:

x Answered incoming calls and queries to the helpdesk. Solved technical problems as required.
x Escalated more complex problems to level 2 and 3 technical engineers and other sections of the University were
appropriate.

Reason for leaving:

I left this position as I was offered a two year scholarship to study a research master’s degree with Creative Industries faculty.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

Digital photography, blogging, creative writing, reading, internet technologies, art galleries, history, politics, social justice,
different cultures, live bands, fishing, formula 1, reading and travel, yoga and body balance and going to the gym.

REFEREES

Referee 1: Nigel McDermott

Role: WebCentral Customer Service Team Manager
Organisation: MelbourneIT Group
Relationship: Team Manager MelbourneIT

Referee 2: Dr. Steven Dillon

Organisation: QUT
Role: Senior Lecturer and Academic Supervisors P3-Music & Sound
Relationship: Primary Supervisors, Masters by Research Project and Supervisor for the
Savetodisc research network and Sweetfreedom.inc

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