Phillip Djwa

I bring more than 20 years of experience as a creative technologist, interactive strategist, and facilitator. As a facilitator, I use my experience to shepherd organizations through challenging moments in their development. Primarily, I work with methodologies of Transformational Consulting, which includes understanding the characteristics of collaboration and high performance, and especially how group dynamics (including race, gender, age, sexuality, power, and privilege) affect how individuals show up as leaders.

I work extensively with Indigenous organizations, including the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the First Nations Technology Council, the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, and many more.

I am deeply committed to issues of equity and creativity, believing that we can have organizations that are alive to experience in many ways and that people that are part of them can have courageous conversations that matter.

Through my firm, I have been focused on creative digital campaigns for progressive organizations. My recent interactive work includes collaborating with the David Suzuki Foundation on innovative digital and interactive aspects for the BlueDot Tour. I also worked with poet Fred Wah (highmuckamuck.ca) on an award-winning interactive poem and won a prestigious award in 2015 for the multimedia aspects of “Our Living Languages,” which is a permanent installation about Aboriginal languages in British Columbia at the Royal BC Museum. I have also worked on large-scale projects such as the Cultural Olympiad Digital Edition for the 2010 Games in Vancouver.

As an accomplished presenter and knowledgeable speaker on information and communications technology, especially as it applies to First Nations in British Columbia. I also give presentations on the future of work and other topics.

As an extremely active participant in the arts community, I have won awards in composition for theatre, dance, and film. My work has received support from the Canada Council for the Arts, British Columbia, and Quebec. In the in the late 80s and early 90s, I performed both nationally and internationally, from the Kitchen in NYC to the Cultch in Vancouver. My work, primarily computer-based, involved installation and computer-generated music that included an interactive symphonic work with acclaimed saxophonist, Anthony Braxton. I studied with Martin Bartlett, electroacoustic composer, and George Lewis, trombonist and composer.

Currently, I am on the board of the BC Arts Council, which is the funding body for artists in the province and I am the treasurer of the Vancouver Fringe Festival.

Previously, I sat on the boards of the Western Front, a contemporary art gallery, and Openmedia.org, an Internet freedom organization. I also sat on the City of Vancouver Arts and Culture Policy Council. I believe truly in giving back to the communities that have given me so much.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Fall, 2019 “Almost Human: Artificial Intelligence and the Public’s Access to Justice” – Conference producer, Vancouver
• March 12th, 2019 “Digital Tools to Collaborate Online” – Digital Salon, BC Arts Alliance
• Feb 27th, 2019 “Stakeholder Management: Taming Tigers” BCIT Guest lecturer
• Feb 25 – 26th, 2019 “Digital Ladders Workshop”, (2-day workshop as faculty for 8 artist projects), BC Arts Alliance
• January 26th, 2019 “CRMS in the Arts” – Digital Salon, BC Arts Alliance
• September 29, 2018 “Artificial Intelligence and Justice Hack-a-thon”, team-member for an AI Chatbot, Vancouver
• September 2018, Social Venture Institute (Hollyhock) Conference co-producer
• September 21st, 2018, “WellSpring Business” – Social Venture Institute
• Jan 31st, 2018 “Sustainable Business Leadership” – BCIT Guest lecturer
• Jun 6th, 2017 “Usability Testing” – Law Foundation of BC
• May 5th, 2017 Town hall meeting on UX, Society for Freshwater Scientists
• Jan 5th, 2017 “Impact of Persuasive UI Design” – Canuck Place Hospice Marketing Staff
• Jan 27th, 2017 “Sustainable Business Practice: My Career” – BCIT Guest lecturer
• Spring 2016/Fall 2017 “Personal Identity: Managing Online” – Guest lecturer, Documentary Film Program, Capilano University
• Nov 5, 2016, “From social media to social websites – the changing nature of an online presence” – Magazine Association of BC (keynote)
• September 30, 2016 “Stakeholder engagement through digital media” – Living Waters Rally
• July 20th, 2016 “Taming Tigers – Successfully Managing Complex Stakeholder Relationships” – The Project Management Institute, Canadian West Coast Chapter (keynote)
• May 21-25, 2016, “Web of Change” (Hollyhock) Conference co-producer
• May 22nd, 2016 “The Borderlands: Approaches to Race in Social Change” Workshop, Web of Change
• September 6-8, 2015, “Web of Change” (San Francisco) Conference co-producer
• Aug 7th 2015 “What’s Wrong with This Picture? Film as a Catalyst for Change” – Academy of Management
• April 15 2015, “Social Media Strategies for Documentary Production and Promotion” – Pull Focus Film School
• September 6-8, 2014, “Web of Change” (Hollyhock) Conference co-producer
• June 14th, 2014, “Cross Platform Digital Campaign”, Workshop, Social Change Institute
• May 6th – 9th 2014, “Future of Work” – The Canadian Association of (School) Principals (keynote)
• September 6-10, 2013, “Web of Change” (Austin, TX) Conference co-producer
• June 11th, 2013 “Digital Media Mistakes: Learning Fast by Failing“– Fireworks Factory
• April 2, 2013, “Digital Storytelling” – Net Tuesday at the SAP Executive Briefing Centre
• September 6-10, 2012, “Web of Change” (Hollyhock) Conference co-producer
• April 24th, 2012 “Delivering Talent for Digital Innovation” – Panel discussion, Canada 3.0 Conference
• Mar 9 – 10, 2012 Melting Silos Workshop (2-day workshop on cross – platform development), Telefilm, NFB, BC FILM
• Feb 3 – 4, 2012 Melting Silos Workshop (2-day workshop on cross – platform development), Telefilm, NFB, BC FILM
• September 22-26, 2011, “Web of Change” (Hollyhock) Conference co-producer
• May 4, 2011 “Digital Natives” Symposium, Museum of Anthropology.
• Mar 9 – 10, 2011 Melting Silos Workshop (2-day workshop on cross – platform development), Telefilm, NFB, BC FILM
• Feb 14th, 2011, “Tools for online Advocacy: Building Power on the Web”, Social Transformation Project
• Feb 8th, 2011, “Online Marketing and Multiplatform Strategies”, Toronto, Telefilm Canada
• Feb 2nd, 2011, “Online Marketing and Multiplatform Strategies”, Halifax, Telefilm Canada
• Jan 17th, 2011, “Online Marketing and Multiplatform Strategies”, Vancouver, Telefilm Canada
• September 24-29, 2010, “Web of Change” (Hollyhock) Conference co-producer
• Feb 9th, 2010 “Media Literacy: Using Technology Well”, Native Education Centre
• Nov 15 – 16, 2010 Melting Silos Workshop (2 day workshop on cross – platform development), Telefilm, NFB, BC FILM
• Feb 12, 2008, “Rewrite or Remix: Star Wars Fans in the Digital Era”, Canadian Film and Television Association

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS

• Council member, BC Arts Council 2018 – current
• Interaction Design Certificate Advisory Committee, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
• Board Treasurer, Vancouver Fringe Festival, 2018 – present
• Mentor, Business and Careers for New Immigrants, MOSAIC Immigrant Services 2016 – current
• Board, Openmedia, 2012 – 2018
• Treasurer, 2016 – 2017
• Past – Chair, 2014 – 2016
• Member, Arts and Culture Policy Council, City of Vancouver, 2017 – 2018
• Board, Western Front Contemporary Art, 2013 – 2018
• Treasurer 2014 – 2017
• Member, Canadian Media Production Association, 2009 – 2016
• Advisory Board Member, Roundhouse Radio, 2015 – 2016
• Committee member, Canadian Media Producers Association, Documentary Film Committee, 2015 – 6
• Member, CTC Advisory Group on Indigenous Peoples in ICT and STEM 2016
• Treasurer, Board of Directors, Web of Change.com, 2013 – 2015
• Member, Director’s Guild of Canada, 2010
• Chat and Phone Volunteer, Crisis and Suicide Prevention Centre, 2011 – 2014
• Committee member, Industrial Relations, Canadian Media Producer Association, 2010 – 2013
• Member, Information and Communication Technology Council (ICTC) 2012 – 2013
• Distress and Suicide line Volunteer, Vancouver Crisis Centre 2011 – 2015
• BCIT Emerging Media Design and Development Curriculum Advisory Board, 2011 – 2012
• Committee member, Digital Media (CFTPA) 2010
• Jury Member, International Digital Emmy, Non – fiction, 2013
• Jury Member, International Digital Emmy, Non – fiction, 2012
• Jury Member, Canadian Interactive Fund, 2010
• Jury Member, Canada New Media Awards, 2010
• Jury Member, Canadian Heritage Culture Online, 2008 – 2009
• BC Rural Team Member 2000 – 2005
• First Nations Technology Council Member, Capacity Building Portfolio, 2004 – 2008
• Peer Reviewer, First Peoples’ Culture Foundation 2008