Speakers
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Our speakers include practitioners, academics, specialist consultants and business leaders.
Watch this space for details of the speakers at Technical Communication UK 2010, which we'll be adding as each part of the programme is confirmed.
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Keynote Speaker - now David Black |
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David Black has been managing one of the software industry's largest specialist documentation teams since 2006. The challenge of documenting the complex operating system at Symbian became even more immense following the takeover by Nokia in 2009. Today the project has evolved beyond recognition: combining content from and delivering content to multiple open-source projects. In a world of multiple targets with uncontrolled independent contributions, DITA was essential, not an option.
David stays sane by not having too much time to think about the DITA solution in isolation. Never-ending budget restrictions, insane deadlines, internal competition, headcount cuts and a hostile audience who have Apple and Google serving their needs provide an extra dimension of reality.
Abstract: Opening keynote
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Chris is an applied cognitive psychologist working at the University of Central Lancashire. She spends her time teaching students how the brain works, and conducting research on how people pay attention to, process, and remember information. Chris’s current research projects include helping people to learn more efficiently (especially regarding the use of visual aids), understanding how health messages can be made more effective, and trying to make it easier for jurors to understand and remember what happens in a courtroom. Chris sees enormous potential for cognitive psychology to inform technical communication and is looking for suggestions to incorporate into her talk (see Abstract). She attended TCUK in 2009, describing it as “the most enjoyable conference I’ve ever been to”.
Abstract: Everything you always wanted to know about psychology (and how it relates to technical communication) ... but were afraid to ask |
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Paul is the Managing Director of 3di Information Solutions Ltd. He established 3di in 2002 after spending seven years with TMS and Parity, selling, project managing and consulting on technical authoring and information design projects. 3di is a project management company that specialises in technical communication and software localization; Paul and his colleagues work for UK, European and US clients and bring together teams of specialists from countries worldwide. Paul also leads the ISTC team that has launched and organised Technical Communication UK and has served on the ISTC Council for six years. |
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Martin Block has been a technical communicator for 13 years, the first seven of which were spent documenting software and its underlying technology for the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. He currently works as sole technical communicator for Remsdaq Ltd, a company based near to Chester and which builds and installs systems for (a) the remote control of substations, (b) site security monitoring and (c) front-line call handling for the Fire Service. Martin started off as a maths teacher. From this he went on to do an oceanography PhD, researching and modelling wave-induced sand movement over ripples. Then followed a trip to Australia, to work as an oceanography demonstrator at a military university, an experience that sparked a move into technical communications. Martin lives in Birkenhead on the Wirral where he keeps up his main hobby of mountaineering and his love of the outdoors.
Abstract: Using graphical illutrations in technical documentation
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Simon Bostock is an Instructional Designer who specialises in collaboration, performance support and Community Management for learning, He divides his time between developing a community for Requirements/Benefits Realisation specialists and designing role-playing games for business.
Abstract: Wabi-sabi: co-creation and technical communications
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Greg Daffern has been a technical author and trainer for 25 years, working in fields as diverse as defence, transport, accountancy and law. In addition to working for some of the largest names in industry (GEC, Network Rail, GE, BBC), he also ran his own consultancy – GD Consultants – for a number of years.
Greg was the first Certified RoboHelp Trainer outside the US. He was also accredited to train and provide consultancy services for ForeHelp and Doc-to-Help. He has worked in the UK, throughout Europe and the Middle East, and in North America. He has also been a regular speaker at confreneces in the UK and Scandinavia.
Greg currently works in Cambridge for ACIS, the UK’s leading provider of intelligent transport products.
Abstract: Captivate – more than just an e-learning tool
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Gordon Dennis has worked with XML almost from its beginning and has helped guide his company in the application of DITA in aerospace and aeronautical applications, serving companies including Airbus and National Air Traffic Services. He is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and at weekends is a qualified flight instructor on sailplanes.
Abstract: Authoring & learning in a safety critical industry
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Florence Dujardin began her career in publications management before moving to technical communication for a European software house. She worked in Cambridge and Brussels, providing solutions in software documentation and training for clients as diverse as Barclays Bank, Dairy Crest, British Rail, various Government departments, and the European Commission. Florence became Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies in 1996 when she joined Sheffield Hallam University (UK). She is course leader of the MA in Technical Communication by distance-learning. Her research interests are in information design, e-learning, and the education of professional communicators. She has a BA and MA in English Literature from the Sorbonne, and a MEd from the University of Cambridge. Her PhD research focuses on the use of social media in education. |
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During his wide-ranging technical communications career, David has worked both as an independent consultant and contractor and as a staff member and manager. He has written user guides, self-study tutorials, online help systems, reference manuals, policy and procedure guides, and many other types of business documents. David is a member of the Technical Communications team at Medidata Solutions Worldwide, which develops specialist software to support clinical trials in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. David is also an Associate Lecturer in Technical Communications at Sheffield Hallam University, a Fellow of the ISTC, and a member of the ISTC Council.
Abstract: Content strategy for everyone
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Jill is the Sales and Marketing Director at Lloyd International Translations (LIT) and has been working in the technical translation field for over 10 years. In this role she is responsible for implementing the worldwide sales strategy for LIT and forging strong relationships with clients. A fluent French and German speaker, she has a BA(Hons) in German and French: Translating & Interpreting, from Bradford University. Jill is well-known within the ISTC and will be leading a discussion at the North West ISTC area group meeting this summer on localization. In her spare time Jill enjoys the great outdoors and planning long distance hiking trips.
One of the leading technical translations companies in Europe, Lloyd International Translations is one of the gold sponsors at this year’s TCUK event.
Abstract: Terminology - who cares?
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With a background in physics, psychology and philosophy, Jang F.M. Graat has delivered hundreds of presentations and training courses all over the world in the past 20+ years. He is an expert in explaining high-tech concepts in a way that any technical author – and their mother-in-law – will be able to understand.
Abstract: Why constraints will save DITA's life – and make your authors happier
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Chris Hadley is User Information Manager at Micro Focus, responsible for all documentation and localization. In his spare time he also runs Customer Support in the Asia Pacific region. As such, he is passionate about delivering content that customers will find useful, rather than content that developers think customers will find useful, and still surprised at how different these two viewpoints can be. Chris has a BA (Hons) in English and French, and an M.Phil in Computing. He has spoken about his experiences of implementing a DITA-based CMS at several conferences.
Abstract: Chaos theory (reversed) – getting your act together |
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Daljit graduated in Computing from the University of Luton and began his career as a junior localization engineer for SDL Ltd in 1996. In the late '90s Daljit joined Lionbridge UK Ltd (formerly MTL, Berlitz and Bowne Global Solutions) in the localization and e-learning division as a senior localization engineer. In this role, he provided production support for high-profile translation projects and developed core translation technology to support and improve production processes, especially for NETg and Motorola. In June 2006 Daljit joined the client side of the business with NETg International. He provided their localization partners worldwide with detailed technical support for e-learning content development, and he provided consultancy on how to improve localization processes. In June 2007 Daljit joined 3di as a Senior Localization Engineer.
Abstract: eLearning for multi-lingual audiences |
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Roger is a Technical Author (increasingly a Content Strategist, too) at Red Gate Software. He creates user assistance for Red Gate’s flagship SQL Tools products. He worries that a brief secondment to Marketing might have damaged him somehow. But the result seems to be an enthusiasm for bringing the skills and values of Tech Comms to the organisation’s wider approach to the web.
Abstract: The spork/platypus average: content strategy at Red Gate Software |
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Rose has been a technical author for over 15 years, producing user assistance material for a wide variety of different software and mechanical products. For much of this time, Author-it has been the tool of choice for producing single-sourced documentation and localisations.
Rose was one of the first Author-it Certified Consultants in Europe and provides a full range of Author-it services from system setup, installation and implementation, through to tailored consultancy and user training.
Formerly of Publication Development Associates, Rose is now with Triview, the Author-it resellers in the UK.
Abstract: Working Author-it into your development life cycle.
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David Jones has 10 years’ experience as a technical author, 6 of them managing documentation teams. It’s all a long way from his PhD in “Excretory-Secretory Products of Pentastomids" (the hosts were rattlesnakes!). As a documentation manager he has worked for Waters Corporation and Martin Dawes Sytsems (MDS). Having been made redundant last year from MDS, he now finds himself as the sole technical author at numéro in Stockport. An active member of the ISTC he runs the North West Area Group which meets regularly throughout the year, written a few articles for the ISTC Communicator magazine and spoke at the last TCUK conference.
Outside work he is a governor at two local schools, gardens, researches his family history and acts a taxi driver for his two teenage daughters.
Abstract: Working Author-it into your development life cycle
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Andy is a Certified Adobe Expert in FrameMaker and a long-time user of FrameMaker and its plug-ins in both structured and unstructured environments. He presents, publishes and blogs extensively about his experiences.
Feel free to contact him:
Abstract: Managing repurposed content in structured FrameMaker
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An American (technical communicator) in Copenhagen. A passion for accessibility and including everyone stems from a mom who was a special education teachers. A geek at heart who's been named Webgrrl of the Year twice by webgrrls.dk, Karen hangs out with other geeks, journalists, anthropologists, etc to satisfy her curiosity about the meaning of life.
Abstract: Technical authoring and inclusion
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Colum McAndrew MISTC is a Senior Technical Writer working for IDBS in Guildford, UK. Prior to realising he actually was a technical communicator, he had a background in training and account management which included producing a variety of training documentation and materials. A user of RoboHelp, Captivate (formerly RoboDemo) since 1999, he is a Senior Member of the Adobe’s Support Forums where he frequently helps other technical communicators with product related queries. He is also an Adobe Community Help Moderator and beta tester for many versions of Adobe technical communication products. At IDBS he has implemented the Adobe RoboHelp Server application to host its documentation online. Outside of work he writes the RoboColum(n) blog which focuses on technical communication trends and usage of RoboHelp and other products in the Adobe Technical Communication Suite.
Abstract: Help! Fitting a square peg into a round hole |
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Gordon McLean is the Technical Information Manager at Sword Ciboodle and has been working in the technical communications field for 15 years. He has no real qualifications to do his job other than the skills and knowledge gained from his time at a number of different software companies. He owns a copy of the Nurnberg Funnel but has never managed to read it all the way through.
Remarkably, he has managed to find the time to maintain blogs for the past 10 years although he knows he really should find a better use for his time.
Abstract: Which social media tool is right for you? |
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From a background in biology and environmental management, I went on to spend a couple of decades working with wildlife organisations and groups of local residents in North Cheshire, helping them plan and fund improvements to their surroundings. Pretty soon it became clear that what a lot of these groups needed, and couldn’t afford, was a professional standard of communication in printed media – to explain what they were doing and to interpret the increased value (to wildlife and to people) of the place they were doing it.
In 2006, I decided to go freelance, providing illustration, design and interpretation for wildlife sites. My output includes displays, leaflets and, most of all information (interpretation) signs on site.
Abstract: Interpretation and Information |
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Rachel is Head of Technical Communications at Red Gate Software, involved in devising the strategy for technical communications, building internal and external relationships needed to make sure the strategy is working, and even doing some writing. Red Gate's approach to software development places a high priority on usability and user experience and recognises the value of involving technical authors in GUI design and working directly with end-users — which makes the company an exciting environment for technical authoring.
Rachel organises the ISTC Cambridge area group, which offers opportunities for anyone interested in technical communication in the region to meet and exchange ideas. Rachel has an MA in English and Philosophy and an MSc in Computing. Before working as a technical author she was a TEFL teacher and a copy-editor for linguistics textbooks.
Abstract: Using web analytics to improve technical documentation
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Ellis is Sales and Marketing Director at Cherryleaf, a technical writing training, recruitment and consultancy company. He has over fifteen years experience working in the field of documentation, having worked for TMS, Digitext and Cherryleaf. He also has a BA in Business Studies and is an Associate of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Ellis has spoken at these conferences: TICAD-Technical Information Creation And Distribution (UK), The ISTC (UK), Tekom (Germany), the STC (for the UK and TransAlpine Chapters) and several European Online Help Conferences. He is the author of ‘Tech Writing 2.0 - The application of Web 2.0 technologies to technical documentation’, ‘So you want to become a technical author’ and ‘Network to Get Work’. Ellis has also had articles published on technology trends in documentation in journals such as Intercom (USA), Communicator (UK), The Southern Communicator (Australia and New Zealand), and Tech Talk (Victoria, Australia). In 2006, he was a remote judge for the Puget Sound STC’s (Society for Technical Communication) technical communication competition.
Abstract: Documentation as an emotional experience for the user |
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Simon Rae is a Lecturer in Professional Development at The Open University.
Simon has worked for 35 years in the field of providing learning through the use of ICT and his vast experience is based on his longstanding involvement in the development and evaluation of online teaching and learning. In the OU’s Centre for Professional Learning and Development he is responsible for developing CPD courses for individual and corporate customers utilising Open University resources and methodologies. These include courses on Effective Teamwork, Collaboration in the Construction Industry and Marketing. Simon’s research experience includes European projects, researching the provision of international business studies and eAssessment. He has a Masters in Open and Distance Education.
Abstract: Authoring for e-Learning
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After starting her working life in Management Services, Alison has had a lifelong career in Technical Writing and Training. Since 1994 she has been MD of her own company, Aims and Objectives, which provides documentation and writing skills training services. During this time Alison has gained significant business experience and a degree in both Business Studies and Marketing. Alison has a substantial background in providing technical writing solutions, in particular help systems, user guides, reference manuals and white papers. She also likes to mix her writing skills with her marketing experience to provide Bid and Tender writing, Web writing, and Copywriting services. She also offers a range of training courses that cover all business writing areas to help delegates improve their business writing skills. During this time Alison found that the most often requested tool was Microsoft Word. Rather than fight the software she found it was a lot easier to really get to grips with how to use it properly. Alison uses this skill to provide training to users in getting the best from Word and also helps businesses develop templates for use with their documentation. View Alison's website here: www.aimsandobjectives.co.uk
Abstract: Why writing a bid document demands a slightly different set of writing skills
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Zoë Rose has worked in online publishing services for higher education, primary schools, high schools, and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She is currently employed in the New Directions Group at Cambridge University Press, where she has worked on the Global Grid for Learning (a content delivery platform for primary and secondary schools) and English360 (a content creation and delivery platform for TESOL).
Zoë originally trained as a teacher specialising in ICT, and draws on that training to create e-learning solutions for educators. She has a special interest in metadata management and search technologies.
Abstract: Making, finding, and using e-learning content: SCORM packaging and search strategies for e-learning
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Rob graduated in Computational Linguistics at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), and he began his career as a translator, localizer and test engineer for Alpnet Inc in the early '90s. In the late '90s Rob joined Kudos Information's localization division as a senior engineer, and he progressed from a QA lead role to being responsible for technical pre-sales for content development, web content management and software localization solutions. Rob, who teamed up with 3di in 2003, is passionate about language technology. His particular interests are translation automation (MT and CAT), quality assurance (linguistic and technical) and the software tools that support these processes.
Abstract: eLearning for multi-lingual audiences |
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Graduating from Cardiff University with a joint honours degree in English and History, Glyn spent 3 years developing courseware for a training company, after which he moved into the software industry where he has spent the last 10 years documenting first insurance software, and now software for the cable and satellite TV industry. He has been in his current role with NDS for nearly 7 years, and has gathered a variety of experiences working in a multi-cultural and multi-national business environment. A member of the ISTC since 2007, this is Glyn's debut presentation at TCUK.
Abstract: Cultural awareness in technical communication
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Greg Urban is presently working as a senior technical writer at Life Technologies, where he writes documentation for DNA sequencers. He is also a partner in Linda Urban Communications, LLC, where he has worked as both a writer and editor over the years. He has contributed to print documentation, online help, and single-sourced solutions for print and online.
Greg enjoys the graphical aspects of technical documentation. As an Instructor, he teaches Visual Design for Technical Communicators at the University of California Berkeley Extension.
Greg has a BS from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and is a member of the STC.
Abstract: Topic-based authoring - getting your feet wet (workshop)
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For over 25 years, Linda Urban has had the good fortune to work on a range of interesting projects with clients that have ranged from start-ups to huge corporations. In the process she has worn many different hats and developed many different skills...technical writer and editor, help author, usability specialist, instructional designer, project manager, information architect, instructor, coach.
Linda's current areas of focus are topic-based authoring and training design and development. She has been looking at issues of information architecture, information modeling, reuse, and collaborative work. She is especially interested in finding bridges between the documentation and training worlds. Linda is active in STC and also teaches in the Technical Communication program at the University of California Berkeley Extension. She teaches classes in technical writing, developing online help, usability, and information architecture.
Abstract: Topic-based authoring - getting your feet wet (workshop)
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Kai Weber is a Senior Technical Writer with SimCorp, based near Frankfurt, Germany.
Kai has been writing, editing and translating software documentation since 1988, with an emphasis on financial and banking systems since 2001. He's been a "lone writer" for most of his employed life. As such, he has designed and implemented single-sourced documentation for corporate applications such as investment management systems, financial terminals, APIs and system architectures in English and German. When asked real nice, he's been known to write, edit, proofread or translate marketing copy, too. He blogs at http://kaiweber.wordpress.com/.
Abstract: Getting ahead as a lone author
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Joe is the president of WritersUA.
WritersUA is a company devoted to providing training and information for user assistance professionals. The WritersUA/WinWriters Conference draws hundreds of attendees each year from around the world to share the latest in user assistance design and implementation. The free content on the WritersUA web site attracts over 20,000 visitors each month. Joe has been involved with software documentation development since 1984. Together with Scott Boggan and David Farkas, Joe authored two editions of the popular and pioneering book Developing Online Help for Windows. He has also taught online Help courses at the University of Washington, UC Santa Cruz, and Bellevue Community College. Joe received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1981, and a M.S. in Adult Instructional Management from Loyola University in 1987. Joe was the President of STC Puget Sound Chapter from 2006-2008 and remains on the board in charge of gathering chapter sponsorships. Joe is currently Membership Director for the Puget Sound Chapter of the Usability Professionals Association.
Abstract: Write more, write less: embracing the value of crafted words and images
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Matt Wicks has been an e-learning and application developer for many years, working with clients as diverse as the NHS, MOD and BBC. He has travelled around Europe speaking on behalf of Adobe at numerous events. He is also the author of the educational book Imaginative Projects, published by Cambridge University Press.
Abstract: Adobe Captivate: rapid tools, quality simulations and e-learning
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Graham started his career as an electronic design engineer in the aerospace and defence sector and was involved in instrumentation and control systems. In 1996 he moved into structured technical documentation and has worked with a number of SGML and XML technologies, spanning content creation, management and delivery. He joined SDL in 2007 and has worked with both SDL's content management and translation management products.
Abstract: There's no stopping us now! What we can learn from the Toyota production system.
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