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The training team

One of the reasons our training is different from some others is that all of us are practioners as well as trainers. We're still delivering projects, still experiencing real issues. Here is some info on some of us.

Craig Hanna, Training Director

Craig Hanna

I have a real passion for both Digital and developing the skills of people working in the sector. I ran my own Digital agency for 4 years and finding experienced, skilled people was always one of the bigger challenges.

I think the future is about personalisation and usability as people begin to really harness the power of the web and consumers start raising the expectations of the web. Also niche, niche, niche and the rise of FMCG in to the digital space.

When I'm not immersed in all things digital then its kids, football, diving, hill walking and fine food (especially Thai) that gets me going. Also known as Penfold or Stato.

Chris Rourke, Managing Director, User Vision

Chris Rourke

I thoroughly enjoy a good experience with a website, phone or digital product and I consider myself lucky that my job involves making that a reality for others. I have been working in usability since it had far less usable names such as HCI, human factors and software ergonomics, working primarily in a consultancy capacity helping design intuitive interfaces for products, software and websites. I especially enjoy the challenge and variety that comes with running a consultancy, and especially like spreading the word on usability and accessibility through training courses, conferences and seminars.

In real life I like cycling, reading, travel to far flung lands, and a wonderful sport called ultimate Frisbee - ask me about it when you meet me.

Dave Chaffey, Internet Marketing Author, Trainer and Consultant

Dave Chaffe

Dave is a specialist Internet marketing trainer, consultant and author. He specialises in helping companies improve their E-communications including digital campaign planning, e-mail marketing, search engine marketing, and web analytics. He has run training courses on Internet marketing since 1997 for training providers such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Institute of Direct Marketing and E-consultancy. In-company training workshop clients include 3M, BP, Euroffice, Foviance, HBOS, HSBC, Orange, Siebel and Tektronix.

Dave is Director of Marketing Insights Limited, a consultancy and training company offering the WebInsights™ service for evaluation and recommendations on e-marketing strategy and execution. Dave has worked with companies including 3M, BP, EMI (KPM Music), HSBC, Intel Reseller Channel, NCH, Siebel and Tektronix to improve their e-marketing using this approach. He also works for cScape Strategic Internet Services as an E-marketing consultant.

His books include: E-marketing Excellence; Total E-mail Marketing and Internet Marketing: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. He has been recognised by the CIM as one of 50 marketing gurus worldwide who have shaped the future of Marketing and by the Department of Trade and Industry as one of the leading individuals who have provided input and influence on the development and growth of E-commerce and the Internet in the UK over the last 10 years.

I am a keen outdoorsy type of person and live in Derbyshire so I can indulge my passion for orienteering, fell-running. hillwalking and occasionally rock climbing all around the UK. I also enjoy loud indie guitar music to psyche me up for work or play.

David Hughes, Digital Marketing Consultant, Non-Line Marketing

David Hughes

David runs an independent digital marketing consultancy, Non-Line Marketing, which helps clients get the most out of their on and off-line integrated communications. His experience of off-line direct marketing allied to over 10 years experience in digital marketing allows him to identify and exploit cross-channel opportunities. In a world where digital and traditional worlds are beginning to collide, David helps clients optimise both these techniques.

David has been working in the digital marketing field for over 10 years, initially as the New Media Development Manager at Claritas (now Acxiom), and then for 6 years as a Strategic Consultant at Emailvision. Before this he was the Data Acquisition Manager for Claritas Group Operations developing high-volume off-line consumer survey programmes across Europe.

In the data-driven digital world this breadth of experience gives David insight into the critical areas of on-line marketing:

  • Database strategy and management
  • Data gathering both on and off-line
  • Email marketing strategy, technical and operational issues
  • Creating seamless email and web customer journeys
  • Integrating digital with other channels

Over the past 5 years David has been working at the heart of the digital marketing world. He is the Course Tutor for the Institute of Direct Marketing's Diploma in Digital Marketing qualification as well as being a member of the Certificate and Diploma in Interactive Marketing Examination board and a member of their Digital Marketing Council. A number of professional short courses are run by David including BtoB Email Marketing, an advanced 2 day email marketing course and a three-day "Complete Digital Marketing" programme.

As a founder member of the Direct Marketing Association Email Marketing Council he has worked on many industry initiatives and is a regular speaker for the DMA on email legal, strategic, creative and multi-channel issues. He is the author of the DMA/tank! Email Marketing Benchmarking Report that provides insight into email key performance indicators on a quarterly basis.

David works with a number of organisations, both BtoB and BtoC, helping them to understand and optimise digital marketing opportunities. He also works with technology providers and agency partners to add a "professional services" dimension to their offering. Working directly with clients, David exploits the opportunities that digital marketing creates from gathering profile data, developing testing strategies through to building and analysing contact and conversion strategies. His specialist knowledge of email marketing data, creative and broadcast technologies allows companies to "fast-track" their email marketing programmes so they deliver better results more efficiently.

In 2006 the Chartered Institute of Marketing invited David to join their Faculty of Speakers of their Training Academy and David delivers in-company training and consulting for their client partners. Finally, David is Director of the Tank! On-line Marketing Action Group, an invitation-only client-only marking community. David develops "thought leadership" programmes so that members can understand and better manage critical on-line marketing issues in a 12-18 months time frame.

Keith Budden

Keith Budden is widely recognised within the industry as one of the top ten affiliates in the UK. His company E-Business Assist UK Ltd operates a suite of over 50 leading websites across a wide spectrum of markets and special interest groups. His weblog is recognised as essential reading by all of the key UK affiliate managers and networks.

Keith is the driving force behind the foundation of the UK Affiliates Association. Keith has been involved in e-commerce for the last seven years and in IT for longer than he cares to remember! Keith is a regular seminar speaker and has spoken at events for IBM, the CBI, Business Link and the DTI both in the UK and overseas.

Helen Keegan, Managing Director, Beep Marketing

Helen Keegan

A marketing communications professional, Helen specialises in mobile marketing and in particular how to initiate and leverage customer relationships by using the mobile phone. Helen at the birth of the mobile marketing industry in 2000 and was head of customer experience at ZagMe, the wireless precision marketing pioneer. Here she recruited more than 85,000 customers in Lakeside and Bluewater shopping malls and ran more than 1,500 SMS (text message) marketing campaigns for over 150 leading retail clients, agencies and brands including Esprit, Nike, TopShop, HMV and Waterstone's.

Today, Helen runs her own mobile marketing consultancy, BeepMarketing, developing mobile strategies and implementing mobile marketing campaigns using a range of mobile technologies for many blue-chip and agency clients including Scottish Courage, UIP, Vivendi Universal, Sony Ericsson, Emap, Samsung and Danone.

Tim Fidgeon, Author, Trainer and Independent Consultant

Tim lives and breathes usability and copywriting for the web. He's been involved in several award-winning projects over his 7-year career and regularly writes and publishes research articles on all aspects of usability. He's passionate about making the Internet better, because he sees it as his way of making the world a better place!

One of Tim's growing interests is 'e-inclusion' - specifically, how websites can be designed to support users with learning difficulties and low levels of literacy. He strongly believes that no-one should be left behind in the digital revolution.

Tim writes regular articles & white papers that have been published by, amongst others:

  • .net magazine
  • Businesshighlight.org
  • E-consultancy
  • Netmag.co.uk
  • New Media Knowledge
  • Usability News
  • Web Standards Group

James Matthewson, Digital Marketing Practitioner and Trainer

James Matthewson

James A. Matthewson is a digital & direct marketing specialist with extensive experience of developing and delivering Digital Marketing, e-Commerce and e-Business strategies for clients across the world.

James' industry experience is vast, working as a digital marketing practitioner and trainer across many B2B and B2C sectors for clients such as Pernod Ricard (Martell Cognac), The Institute of Direct Marketing, IBM, Kalido (Shell International) and Michelin.

James is also a published author in the subjects of e-Business, Digital & Mobile Marketing and regularly writes for various publications on the subject of Internet marketing and business.

David Reilly, Managing Director, Barracuda Digital

David Reilly

With over 7 years experience in the digital sector including senior positions at Associated New Media and SEO consultancy Weboptimiser, David is Managing Director of specialist Search Marketing Agency, Barracuda Digital. Barracuda Digital provides dynamic search engine optimisation and paid search marketing solutions for both clients and agencies delivering exceptional return on investment. In plain speak this means we are good at getting websites top results in search engines, leading to more customer visits and sales.

David has spoken on Search marketing subjects for leading internet authorities, Enhance Media and E-consultancy, written a number of leading SEO white papers for magazines and delivered tailored training courses for IBM, Haygarth Digital and Hatmatic. He is completely passionate about search with a special interest in new Search marketing innovations such as Optimised RSS, Blogging and Social search.

In has spare time David likes to listen to music, practice his Flamenco dancing and explore long-haul destinations. A lucky escape from the Tsunami in Sri Lanka 2 years ago prompted him to set up Barracuda Digital.

Neil Mason, Co-founder, Applied Insights

Neil Mason

Neil Mason is the co-founder of Applied Insights, an analytics consultancy that specialises in the online space. Neil has been involved in marketing analysis for more years than he cares to remember having started off his career at ACNielsen helping major FMCG brands understand the effectiveness of their marketing programmes.

Neil got involved in web analytics over 5 years ago when he moved from the agency side to the client side as Chief Knowledge Officer at QXL. He developed and led the implementation of the company's marketing information strategy, implementing a customer data warehouse and a web analytics solution across the business's 12 European markets. Neil became Chief Marketing Officer for QXL in 2001 and got the opportunity to practice what he preached by putting customer insights and analysis at the core of the marketing strategy.

At Applied Insights, Neil consults with major businesses using web analytics to improve online business performance and is also a frequent speaker at web analytics conferences and events.

Denis Howlett, Consultant, Indigo Blue

Denis Howlett

Denis Howlett has been a project manager in the software industry for over 20 years. In that time he has worked for both large and small companies. He has provided consultancy and training to companies such as LogicaCMG, British Airways, HSBC, SpecSavers and the Swiss Stock Exchange. He has co-founded two companies, KnowledgeBench Ltd in 2003 and Isocra Ltd in 1998.

Denis has experience of managing and building many different kinds of web-based system, from company websites and photo galleries to intranets requiring on-demand graphing, timesheet input and database integration.

Dennis is a consultant for IndigoBlue, whose programme and project management services enable organisations to significantly improve their ability to deliver IT projects: reducing cost, raising quality and ultimately meeting and exceeding their customers' needs and expectations. Indigo Blue assist organisations in the introduction of Agile management processes, or in the improvement of their existing processes through the pragmatic application of Agile techniques.

Ian Jindal

Ian Jindal

Ian Jindal is a consultant, publisher and advisor, working in Ecommerce for over a decade - in integrated retail, publishing and broadcast. He recently launched InternetRetailing, the magazine, portal and conference for the UK's etailers and multichannel retailers. Previously he was Group E-commerce Director for Littlewoods Shop Direct Group where he grew online revenues to £400m per annum.

Before that Ian was Head of Online Operations at the BBC, establishing the team that built over 400 BBC websites. Ian was also Business Development Director for Thomson Science & Professional, is a non- executive Director of Business Link for London, and founder of the European eCommerce Forum. When not tending his olive tree Ian can be found at www.innoparticularorder.com.

Duncan Smith, Principal Trainer on Information Law and Privacy, iCompli

Duncan Smith

Duncan Smith, 'compliance evangelist' and principal trainer on information law and privacy for compliance specialists iCompli®.

As a trainer and speaker Duncan is well known as someone who delivers practical advice to organisations on how to manage the legal and cultural risks associated with information management.

"It's not about compliance with legislation; it's about building a business case around compliance."

In his role as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Course Director for information law and privacy courses, Duncan has trained well over 500 companies. That is a lot of interaction and a deep understanding of what you need to make compliance problems go away.

Robin Richmond, Head of Paid Search, bigmouthmedia

Robin Richmond

Robin heads up bigmouthmedia's PPC team, handling clients including British Airways and Hilton. Robin joined bigmouthmedia following several years as a digital marketing manager in the telecoms sector. Robin's team is spread across the four bigmouth offices so he's often jetlagged, but never grumpy. Under Robin's watchful eye, his team at bigmouthmedia has tripled in size and won several industry awards.

David Bird, Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

David Bird

David has been at MMU Business School since September 2004, and previously worked in the School of Computing and Management Science at Sheffield Hallam University for 2 years. Before moving to Hallam he was the manager of the learning design team at Academee, whilst prior to that he worked at the Information Systems Institute at the University of Salford. David has also been a director of a number of limited companies in the new media sector.

Ged Carroll, Consultant, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

Ged Carroll

Ged Carroll is EMEA lead consultant in the digital strategies group at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide working the agencies clients in the technology, pharmaceutical and consumer brands.. Ged has 10 years consumer, media and technology marketing communications experience. He has advised and developed successful brand marketing campaigns for both blue-chip and new-chip organisations. His client experience includes Motorola, Palm and Sony.

He joined the Waggener Edstrom in May 2006. Before he joined Waggener Edstrom Ged worked in-house at Yahoo! Europe.

In Ged's previous role as European PR Manager for Yahoo!, he created and directed pan European consumer PR, buzz marketing and influencer programmes for Yahoo!'s web 2.0 businesses including Yahoo! Search, flickr, del.icio.us, upcoming.org and Yahoo!360. His Yahoo! 'Finds of the Year' campaign was shortlisted for a PR Week Award.

Previously he held positions at The Weber Group Europe, Edelman, Pirate Communications and as an independent consultant on a range of consumer media and technology clients including Aljazeera, Planet Out Partners, InLondon Magazine, Verizon, Ericsson and AOL.

Ged is a member of the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations), and was nominated for PR Week's 'Ones to Watch in 2001'. His personal blog is at renaissancechambara.com.

Michelle Goodall

Michelle Goodall

Michelle specialises in Online Public Relations. Formerly the Digital Director at Lexis Public Relations (www.lexispr.com), she has over 10 years' online PR consultancy and implementation experience working on award winning campaigns and crisis and issues management projects with many blue-chip organisations including Norwich Union, Coca Cola, Domino's, eBay, Camelot and Diageo.

Michelle understands how evolving web technologies are affecting traditional PR models. She has helped PR and marketing professionals embrace the medium by advocating a simple and pragmatic approach and likes to laugh at the lingo ('poke', 'widgets' and 'blogrolls'… you've got to admit that they sound a bit ridiculous).

When she is not glued to a computer, Michelle likes to spend time with her husband and two young children, drink red wine and cook.

Chris Averill, CAD Interactive

Chris Averill

Chris is a young, dynamic, proven leader for innovative interactive and communication design. An expert interface designer with industry-leading usability and IA expertise, Chris promotes user centred design, from the user and the business perspective.

His career has seen him launch HomeChoice in 1996, lead BUPA's web team, deliver web and interactive TV projects for Arthur Andersen and most recently launch BT Vision.

Craig Stapley, Director, Red Charger Digital

Craig Stapley

I have been working in online advertising predominantly with EMAP since 2000, this makes me something of an industry OAP! I launched Red Charger Digital in March 2007 delivering tailored online sales training courses for publishers including IPC, National Magazines and EMAP ensuring sales teams are equipped with the knowledge, expertise and confidence to harness the maximum spend for their multiplatform brands.

I also continue to 'practice what I preach' through handling the online advertising for several high profile websites within the automotive vertical, specialising in delivering premium online advertising and consultancy.

I have an insatiable passion for the industry, it's a career which I feel very lucky to say is also a hobby.

Mike O'Brien

Mike O'Brien

Mike O'Brien has over 28 years experience as a Creative Director in brand and direct agencies. He has spent the past 8 years as a pan-European Digital Consultant, agency Workshop Facilitator and University Lecturer in all aspects of brand, direct and digital creativity.

Mike specialises in designing and delivering highly enjoyable and interactive workshop and lecture sessions that provide delegates with the kind of learning opportunities that have a rapid and sustained impact on personal skills and knowledge development.

Andrew Gordon

Andrew Gordon

I have been working in the online industry since 1997. I helped launch www.jobs.ac.uk whilst studying at The University of Warwick Business School. With a background in sales and marketing and qualifications in psychology and business, I am fascinated by all things Web. I often entertain my friends and family with my exciting predictions on the future of the Internet.

Since 1997 I have built up an extensive experience and understanding of:

  • website usability
  • search engine optimisation
  • web analytics
  • online PR
  • online copywriting
  • blogging
  • and Internet Marketing

I have worked on just about every type of website project from the smallest sites for one-man consultancies to large-scale ecommerce platforms and just about everything in between.

Matthew Yeomans

Matthew Yeomans

Matthew Yeomans is a director of Custom Communication. He has spent 15 years working with major media companies as a journalist and online editorial consultant. Matthew wrote the The Ag, a pioneering news blog for Time.com and his work has been published in National Geographic, The Atlantic Monthly, the New York Times, Time, Wired, Travel & Leisure and many other publications. He is the author of Oil: Anatomy of an Industry, published by New Press and the upcoming Gastrokid cookbook, published by Wiley & Sons. He has held the position of senior online editor at The Industry Standard and senior editor at the Village Voice and he has taught online media at Cardiff University and feature writing at New York University.

Dave Lipp

Dave Lipp

Media is changing; the vast and diverse nature of content, the method of engaging this content, and how the public perceives it. We are living in an age of vast arenas of information and entertainment. Television, computers, mobile phones, cameras, and a multitude of yet to be invented devices, all are positioned in various value chains containing all sorts of content intertwined within them.

Dave has been directly involved in this "converging" industry for the past eight years; currently running his own consulting company. Current and past clients include T-mobile, Electronic Arts, Sony Pictures and ShoZu advising both on mobile content distribution and formulation of new business strategies. Before starting his own company he worked for Telecom New Zealand and Bell Mobility where he held various sales and marketing functions within mobile content.

Dave has an MBA from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, NL and originally hails from Toronto, Canada.

Thom Poole

Thom Poole

Thom has lived, studied and worked in England, France, Germany and Liechtenstein, gaining international marketing and management experience with large blue-chip multinational companies, such as Hilti, Black & Decker and O2.

Passionate about the opportunities the Internet revolution offers companies for marketing their goods and services, Thom has been using it for these purposes almost since it started, in 1992.

He now uses his skills to support small and medium sized companies develop their own expertise in marketing — particularly around the cost-effective and easy to learn web-based options.

Thom has in-depth knowledge and experience in all the available web-based marketing initiatives, from basic email campaigns to more complex website development and search-engine optimisation capability.

Thom's professional qualifications and membership associations provide his clients with the confidence that he speaks with authority:

  • Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Marketing Management
  • Master of Science Degree in Marketing
  • NLP Practitioner
  • Individual Chartered Marketer status since 1999
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, where he served as the Chairman of the West Surrey Branch, and now sits on the South East England Regional Board
  • Member of the Chartered Management Institute, Strategic Planning Society and Marketing Society
  • Author of “Play It By Trust: A Guide to Ethical Digital Marketing”

He is also a regular on the speaker circuit, with particular interest in speaking on ethical marketing, digital marketing, web design for marketers and customer relationship marketing (CRM).

Now based in Sussex, Thom has runs his own business and spends his leisure time playing football, hiking and restoring his MGB sports car.

Jeremy Spiller

Jeremy Spiller

Jeremy has worked with the internet since 1990 and with the web since 1994. In 1995 he founded Clockwork Web which went on to become one of the top ten agencies in the UK, working for clients such as The Rank Group, Dun & Bradstreet, Hi-Tech Sports, Red Dwarf, Pete Townshend and Premier Brands. In the last fourteen years Jeremy reckons he has managed the development and marketing campaigns of more than 1000 websites but gave up counting years ago.

In 2003 Jeremy founded award winning web search marketing and development agency White Hat Media. White Hat Media's clients include 3i, Centaur Publishing, Colt, Yardley, HR Owen and Berketex. Jeremy has specialised in search marketing for the last five years and is an expert in web marketing and in particular natural Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). He regularly writes articles, runs workshops and speaks at conferences on the subject for organisations such as The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and Sussex Enterprise.

In the last twelve months, Jeremy has spoken at the Direct Marketing Show, CAP Europe and at many other events both locally and nationally. He has been quoted in or written articles for .net magazine, New Media Age, The Essential Business Guide, Business Growth magazine and others. Jeremy now confesses to being obsessed with natural Search Engine Optimisation and strongly believes practising ethical techniques known in the sector as “White Hat” for successful long term results.

Sonia Kay

Sonia Kay

Originally from a direct marketing background Sonia Kay has been working with web projects for the last eight years, both as an agency project manager and a client marketer. Brands have included Goldfish, thetrainline.com, BBC TV Licensing, Beazley and JP Morgan.

In 2006 Sonia was commissioned by e-consultancy to conduct a ground breaking piece of research into web project management best practice, and subsequently helped them design a successful training course focussing on adapting agile project management methods for web projects. Sonia is also a qualified Prince 2 Practitioner.

Sarah Alder

Sarah Alder

Sarah Alder has been working with web projects for over ten years, including managing marketing teams, development teams and agencies. Projects include technology-led solutions such as e-commerce, online voting, database integration and content management systems as well as campaign-based projects for membership acquisition and retention, newsletter sign-up and elections. Clients come from a range of industries including membership organisations, consultancies, education and insurance.

From working with so many different stakeholder groups, Sarah has developed an excellent set of project management skills which allow the marketing team to clearly define its role in any web project and to focus on their objectives. Sarah is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Martin Bartle

Martin Bartle is on the of the UK's Internet pioneers, he starting out running electronic democracy projects on the Internet in the early 90s which led to him setting up one of the UK's first web design agencies. He has a wealth of online and offline marketing experience from companies such as boo.com, antfactory.com, and the RAC. Until earlier this year he was Head of Marketing at the online fashion retailer NET-A-PORTER. NET-A-PORTER is one of the world's leading online fashion retailers and a pioneer in its field. During his time at NET-A-PORTER the annual turnover of the business grew from £6m to over £37m, they made their first profits, and extended the product range and geographical reach significantly.

He now runs a consultancy, 270 Degree Marketing, advising luxury brands and retailers looking to build or improve their online presence.

Andrew Hood, Managing Director, Lynchpin Analytics

Andrew Hood

On a day to day basis, Andrew oversees the running of web analytics consultancy Lynchpin from its Edinburgh office and has an active consulting involvement with high level clients. Renowned as an industry expert, Andrew is also in popular demand for training and industry events.

Lynchpin turns raw web data into competitive advantage for top UK businesses like HSBC, Vodafone, HMV and Cadburys. Andrew's vision for Lynchpin is to provide world class internet marketing capabilities for blue chip brands by providing succinct solutions that make best use of marketing budgets.

Graduating from Imperial College London with a First Class Honours in Information Systems Engineering, Andrew was taken on immediately by one of Europe's leading search marketing specialists. Here, his pragmatic approach to strategic web marketing led to the development of one of the first online return on investment tracking systems, pioneering the way in the emerging online marketing sector.

In 2005, he brought an end to his four year association with ambergreen, and left to found the strategic online marketing consultancy that is now Lynchpin Analytics.

Lynchpin's MD has played significant roles in all the UK companies and organisations he has worked with. Even as a school leaver, his talent was being enlisted by All-Hotels.com, where he developed the systems that led to them becoming one of the biggest e-commerce sites in Scotland, systems that are still in use today.

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