My teaching experience at the University of Alberta and Simon Fraser University, and applied managerial and union responsibilities, have trained me to be an effective researcher and synthesizer of information for writing lectures, teaching, creating publications, and editing. I have the ability to control and organize work well, manage concurrent projects, execute priorities, and meet strict deadlines.
In teaching students, I have demonstrated strengths in planning and delivering engaging results-based course materials, as well as elevating grades through critical yet constructive feedback of student writing skills to foster persuasive argument using primary and secondary research evidence. In my work with unions I regularly compile and teach labour law and public service policy to labour activists, deliver relevant new research quickly and coherently, and advocate effectively to ensure agreement provisions are upheld.
In addition to my research, editing, and writing skills, I have practical managerial experience at the firms Associated Cab Limited and Katharina Byrne International Trusts & Estates. As a manager at Associated Cab I trained employees and supervisors, controlled finances, and served as the company’s public liaison and legal agent – importantly in the latter case working with a legal team as a material analyst and consultant resolving a $12,500,000.00 damage claim. The total number of staff for the company was 650. With Katharina Byrne International Trusts & Estates I was a strategist in developing the use of international trust law to protect public employee pensions from governmental expropriation, as well as advisor and editor for that firm’s web implementation.
I have a clear understanding of both the North American Free Trade and Trades Industry and Labour Mobility Agreements as they affect public private partnerships, labour, and business, as well as strong analytical skills in critically assessing new trends and developments in Canadian labour law and arbitrations concerning areas such as constructive dismissal, benefit and injury compensation, harassment and anti-bullying, duty to accommodate, non-culpable dismissal, health and safety obligations, pension duties under joint-trusteeship, and collective agreement succession rights.
Formerly I have worked as a researcher and liaison for the BC Government & Service Employees’ Union on workplace anti-bullying labour law and legislation with a consortium of health science experts, Guarding Minds at Work – a precedent setting trend in international workplace psychological safety and health.
My academic experience and practical managerial skills in business and unions are well suited to working as a tutor, teacher, and student mentor. I attach below a review of Ted Underwood’s book, The Work of the Sun, published in the Journal of British Studies in 2007 as an example of my writing. Ames, J. JBS Review: Work of the Sun by T. Underwood
