Hi. I'm Quyen.

I'm a journalist and communications specialist.

My craft is helping people amplify their story and brand, by way of words and client engagement.

What I Do

Writing
& Editing

From SEO copy, to reviews, to feature stories, my portfolio includes freelance work of various topics over print, and online platforms, including: Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Kyoto Journal, Insider Guides, and The Serenade Files.

Public
Relations

With over 10 years of service in PR and Communications, I've helped carry out end-to-end design and implementation of: communication campaigns, content strategy, client engagement, and social media to boot.

Community
Engagement

I have always been focused on community-centred dialogue and involvement - from working with young people in the Vietnamese Community in Australia, to organising a whole-of-industry launch event for homelessness.

Engaging with members of the community leave me the deepest impressions.

I'm particularly motivated to tell their stories.

Experience is Everything

Insider Guides

Writer, since May 2019

This is one of my strong suits: writing about places, promoting their nuances, and providing 'why' these places are worthy of more than a visitor's gaze. I am especially happy to have worked on the 2020 Victoria Guide which is distributed online and in print onshore and offshore to several different countries including China, Malaysia, and Viet Nam.

Ketagalan Media

Foreign Correspondent, since Aug 2016

Working for this independent news source gave me the freedom to pursue and shape my own stories. I interviewed highly compelling sources for major features, including KM's sole coverage of the Human Rights Foundation's Oslo Freedom Forum. Managing these articles from pitch-to-published nurtured my sense of persistence, and further rounded my professionalism as a journalist.

Unison

Quality Officer, April 2017 - Oct 2018

This contract further pushed me to think and communicate strategically. I facilitated the continual improvement of Unison's funded services, and much of my work was internal communications; refining, documenting, and systemising information. Being exposed to members of the community was a humbling experience and a useful lesson in just how effective empathetic leadership could be.

Travel in Taiwan Magazine & Taiwan Tourism Bureau

Freelance travel writer and SEO copywriter, Oct 2016 - Oct 2017

I progressed my writing with a federal bureau - specifically to promote a country's tourism by means of hands-on, real life experiences. I once jumped off a cliff for a story (a paragliding feature). These incredible opportunities opened up a whole new world. Working in English and Mandarin helped me overcome language barriers and expand my comfort zones.

Deepblu

Community Associate Editor, June 2016 - Dec 2016

Working for this company was a right of passage into the editorial world. Our team was responsible for the entire content of Deepblu's social platform - both on the app and the web. It was also a crash course in effective use of digital marketing, analytics, and user experience. Deepblu's rapid brand development pushed me well beyond writing, into influencing engagement.

British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei

PR and Communications Intern, March 2016 - June 2016

I advanced my PR acumen into Taipei's corporate sphere and supported business development for the Chamber and the British Office; eventually solely managing communication across all online channels for BCCT. I worked on major campaigns such as Britain is Great trade show, and fostered relationships with inspiring peers. From this, I found footing as a professional in a different culture.

COAG Energy Council

Public Relations Project Officer, Feb 2012 - Sep 2015

This role continues to inspire me to this day. It taught me to work with tenacity and intelligence; to communicate with tact; to be an influencer; to be ridiculously organised. I managed a Council of Australian Government (COAG) working group and a panel of consultants - whilst facilitating the work plan and communications of the Council. It was full-on. Time spent wisely.

Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (superseded)

Program and Communications Officer, Feb 2011 - Feb 2012

I worked amongst leaders and influencers doing their bid for social change. Building rapport with, and supporting, communities is one of the most eye-opening and fulfilling work I've done to date. I managed the official launch event of Homeless to Home: South Australia’s Homelessness Strategy 2009-2013, and facilitated communications, including training and development for the sector.