An award-winning automotive journalist, magazine editor, and journalism lecturer, author of nine motoring books and a freelance contributor to many motoring publications. Excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational abilities, team leadership and editorial management experience. Strong automotive technical knowledge, and self-taught web design and programming skills.

Personal Details

Key Skills

• Automotive journalist and editor with 15 years experience and proven ability to produce successful, creative magazines on time and within budget; extensive knowledge of magazine production including InDesign and QuarkXPress, flat-planning, cover design, PDF workflows and CTP printing
• Experienced technical writer and sub-editor with the ability to report engineering topics readably; experience in editing technical text to improve clarity and readability; many published articles and seven books about cars and vehicle engineering
• Award-winning photographer with extensive Nikon Digital and 35mm outfit; thousands of published pictures and considerable experience of art directing on location, working with professional photographers
• Project manager with experience of recruiting, training and managing successful teams, setting up effective systems and developing effective partnerships internally and externally
• Web designer/programmer with experience of content management systems, HTML coding, Perl and PHP scripting

Career History

• 2006-present Senior Lecturer in Automotive Journalism, Coventry University; Joint Acting Course Director of journalism joint degrees, summer 2008
• 2002-present Freelance motoring writer; clients include Bauer, Haymarket, Future, Dennis, Haynes, Highbury, KM Group, The Crowood Press, Specialist UK, Aston Publishing, Parragon Publishing. Writing and computer skills courses for Kent Adult Education Service in 2002/3
• 2000-02 Editor in Chief, Classics and It’s on the Net; overall editorial responsibility, including launch of IOTN and management of two editorial teams, budget c.£100k per annum; consultant on the launch of Fast Car – The Guide and Fast Bikes
• 1997-2000 Editor, Classics; relaunched Retro as Classics in 1997; responsible for an editorial team of three
• 1996-97 Editor, Retro; responsible for an editorial team of three
• 1996 Deputy Editor, Fast Car magazine; responsible for commissioning features and managing magazine production
• 1995-96 Technical Editor, Fast Car magazine; responsible for technical features
• 1994-95 Staff Writer, Fast Car magazine
• 1992-94 Freelance motoring writer, contributing to Car Mechanics, 4x4, Practical Motorist, Car Design & Technology, Active Life
• 1989-91 Industrial training with Ford Motor Company

Education & Training

• 2006-present Studying for Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Professional Practice (Centre for the Study of Higher Education, Coventry University)
• 2002 Time & Process Management course (Communication Skills Europe)
• 1996 Editorial Management course (PMA Training)
• 1991 Donington Super Trial (Jim Russell Racing School)
• 1990 Outdoor Development course (Impact Training)
• 1988-92 University of Technology, Loughborough; B.Eng Automotive Engineering, 2:2 Honours, Diploma in Industrial Studies; sponsored by Ford Motor Company
• 1983-88 Haybridge High School, Hagley, West Midlands; five A-levels (two Grade A), nine O-levels (six Grade A), one CSE
• 1983 Hagley Middle School, Hagley, West Midlands; ESB Spoken English, Senior Grade One (Credit)

Awards

• 2007 Winner, Guild of Motoring Writers Timo Makinen Trophy for the book Ford Cosworth DFV: The Inside Story of F1's Greatest Engine
• 1999 Runner up, Kent Natural History Photographer of the Year

Interests

• Cars - History, engineering, motor sport etc; service/repair own cars; competing in hillclimbs and sprints for the MG Car Club Speed Championship in 2006
• Vintage watches - Collector of vintage mechanical wristwatches
• Food & drink - Keen amateur cook and interest in fine wines and malt whisky
• Entertainment - Blues-influenced music and classic radio/TV comedy
• Sports - Follow cricket, rugby union and motor racing