Next week, I’ll be giving my first conference presentation in five years, and this time under the mantle of my new profession.
On Friday 13th (no less), I’m presenting ‘Hands off – it’s ours. Taking back the reins’ at IWMW 2018, hosted by the University of York.
My plenary talk will be a case study of the University of London’s recent web redevelopment project, and specifically the angle of content governance.
It will be livestreamed with videos available afterwards, so tune in if you can.
Other sessions available via the IWMW site.
Keeping the china polished
The university’s flagship new website launched in November 2017. It was a project that came to define my near-three-year spell there.
Following the launch, I campaigned strongly for a change to the content ownership and governance structure of the new site. After all – why go to the trouble of developing a new website only to retain the same practices that had left the old site so clearly unfit for purpose?
Changes to the ‘ownership’ process were finalised in May this year – a last act of defiance before leaving the University of London to join a new web redevelopment project at the University of Greenwich.
It’s a heist
Greenwich, as I’m witnessing, will present its own set of challenges – and I’ll be thinking a bit about those too.
But there are always lessons that can be taken forward from experience. And coming from an HE organisation as complex as the University of London, I would hope I’m well prepared for what is coming.
The University of London website has been shortlisted for ‘Best Website’ at the 2018 Heist Awards. The ceremony takes place in Manchester next Thursday (12 July), so there’s a small chance I’ll be discussing an award winner the next day.
A missing link
I regularly attended and presented at conferences during my PhD years, and it’s something I’ve greatly missed since a shift into professional services.
It feels greatly encouraging that just a few years into a new career trajectory, I’m able to contribute to an event dedicated to web and digital professionals in the UK Higher Education sector.
Bring it on – and let’s have some fun.
Writing Privacy 
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