Oliver BensonCurriculum Vitae
- Significant experience in developing and maintaining major digital services, with a background in online and radio journalism
- Extensive stakeholder management experience, spanning senior and operational staff from Government, corporate and third sector organisations
- Demonstrated passion for working with young people and promoting their issues and well-being
Quick links
- Employment
- Education
- Voluntary activities
- Other skills and qualifications
- Profile analysis
- Contact details
Employment
Head of Do-it, YouthNet (January 2013 - present)
- Reporting to CEO and acting as member of senior management team, responsible for leading Do-it through significant strategic period; including liaising with Cabinet Office and key agencies
- Line manage technical developer team of seven, including web and desktop application developers
Head of Projects, YouthNet (April 2011 - December 2012)
- Responsible for project management, planning and ensuring delivery of YouthNet's digital services
- Lead on Do-it.org.uk website and associated services, including as product owner delivering major technical redevelopment of the website, new enhancements and rollout of new design and improved user experience
- Key partnership lead with Age UK, developing both fundraising and service delivery as joint official charity partners of 2013 Virgin London Marathon
- Successfully pitched for Cabinet Office Innovation in Giving funding through NESTA
Do-it.org.uk Programme Manager, YouthNet (July 2009 - April 2011)
- Managed a £1.6m partnership project supporting the volunteering legacy from London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, working with key agencies involved in the 2012 Games
- Leading the creation of a strategy for improving user experience of this popular website
Editorial Manager, YouthNet (April 2008 - July 2009, Maternity Cover)
- Responsible for the organisation's major websites (TheSite.org and Do-it.org.uk)
- Successfully project managed a significant redesign of TheSite.org, increased audio/video on the websites and initiated development of a new website, Lifetracks.com
- Line-managed editorial staff, commissioned freelancers and liaised with partner organisations
- Operational and strategic management, working closely with marketing, fundraising, partnership and technical teams
Freelancer, Election 2010, BBC (May 2010)
- Part of the in studio production team for the BBC's Election 2010 coverage
Head of Editorial, Headliners (September 2006 - April 2008)
- Developed and supported the editorial elements of the informal education programmes
- Liaised with media partners, including the BBC, Sky and several national newspapers
- Project managed the rollout and maintenance of a multimedia website, including choosing a CMS, implementing multimedia, and integrating with news-feed services and social networking sites
- As part of the charity's senior management team, responsible implementing the strategic plan, recruitment and management of staff
Producer, BBC English Regions HQ New Services Team (August 2003 - September 2006)
- Part of team rolling out a content management system across all of the BBC Local websites
- Provided first-line editorial and technical support, and trained producers and editors in topics including generating user participation, best practice and integrating online and radio activity
- Specific projects included organising the Blast Reporter Scheme (a work placement scheme for young people aged 16-19) and producing website for pilot of The ONE Show
Previous roles
- Journalist / Producer, BBC Three Counties Radio (May 2002 - August 2003)
- Entertainment Journalist / Web Developer, BBC Radio 1 (November 2001 - June 2002)
- Journalist / Broadcast Assistant, BBC Radio Leeds (June 1999 - November 2001)
- Freelance journalist, Yorkshire Post / Bradford Telegraph & Argus / Bedfordshire on Sunday (various times between April 1998 - February 2000)
- Department Assistant, St John Ambulance National Headquarters (March 1996 - September 1996)
Education
University of Bradford (1996-2000)
- BSc(Hons) Electronic Imaging and Media Communication, Class 2:1, in digital media production, based partly at National Media Museum
Biddenham Upper School, Bedford (1990-1995)
- A Levels in Geography (B), Sociology (C) and Economics (D)
- 9 GCSEs grade A-C including English Literature and Language, Double Science and Maths
Voluntary activities
St. John Ambulance
- I was a volunteer for 20 years, primarily around delivering youth work and youth participation
- Member of the National Youth Training Team, including redeveloping youth leadership training within the organisation
- On County Youth Team in West Midlands (2003-06) and Hertfordshire (2006-08), supporting and running weekly youth units, and delivering weekend training courses to young people and youth leaders
Community radio
- News editor, breakfast presenter and programmer controller for my student radio station
- Elected as Development Officer of the Student Radio Association, role included working with the Radio Authority on pilot community radio licences
- Produced the breakfast show on Make Poverty History radio, run to coincide with the 2005 G8 summit
Other voluntary activities
- Since 2007 I have been a trustee of the Citizenship Foundation
- I was a steward for two years at TVYP, the educational arm of the Edinburgh International TV Festival
Other skills and qualifications
- Top ten rising star in the Public Life category of the 2007 Courvoisier/Observer's Future 500 award
- Confident PHP and MySQL programmer, as well as having a good knowledge of HTML and CSS; and competent using Avid, Premiere, Audition, Photoshop, Quark and Microsoft Office applications
- I have a full UK driving licence and hold a Emergency First Aid at Work certificate
- As well as trips to the USA and Europe, I have travelled in Ethiopia and South Africa
Profile Analysis
I have undertaken two questionnaire-based profiles to help with my personal development at YouthNet. They help demonstrate my personality type.
- PFS Type Dynamics Indicator (2012) Size: 1MB
- Insights Profile (2008) Size: 3MB
Contact details
- Email: Email