How I can help your organisation

What this involves

Digital product strategy work begins with understanding what you are trying to achieve and why. Many organisations start a development project with a broad idea of what they want to build but have not worked through the specific requirements, constraints and decisions that will determine whether the project succeeds.

I work with organisations to define what should be built, what the priorities are, what the realistic costs and timelines look like, and what the risks are. This typically happens before significant development expenditure is committed.

The result is a clear product definition, a structured set of requirements, a development roadmap and an informed basis for making decisions about how to proceed.

Who this is for

This service is relevant to businesses and organisations that are at an early stage with a digital product idea, organisations that are reviewing an existing project and need to reassess direction, and any situation where an independent, experienced perspective on a proposed digital product would be valuable.

It is also useful for organisations that have received a development proposal from an agency or contractor and want to review and validate it before committing.

How I work

I typically begin with a series of structured conversations to understand the business context, the problem being solved and the people the product is intended to serve. I then work through requirements, constraints, options and priorities to produce a clear product plan.

Where technical expertise is needed to evaluate options or assess feasibility, I draw on my development experience to inform the recommendations.

What this involves

I develop mobile apps using Flutter, which produces native apps for both iOS and Android from a single shared codebase. This is a practical and cost-effective approach for most organisations, particularly where building for both platforms is a requirement.

My involvement typically covers more than just writing code. I manage the full app lifecycle: from initial requirements and architecture through development, testing, release, monitoring and ongoing maintenance. I also handle the platform management — App Store Connect and Google Play Console — including submissions, review responses, version management and release planning.

Specific capabilities

App development: Flutter and Dart, with experience across a range of app types including subscription products, content apps, event and location platforms, community tools and productivity applications.

Firebase integration: Authentication, Firestore, Cloud Functions, Cloud Messaging, remote configuration and analytics.

Subscription and billing: In-app purchases and subscriptions via App Store and Google Play, with backend entitlement management.

Release management: App Store and Google Play submission, review navigation, phased rollouts, version management and release planning.

Who this is for

This service is relevant to organisations that want to build a new mobile app, businesses with an existing app that needs development, improvement or maintenance, and organisations that need experienced management of their app store presence.

It is particularly relevant where you need someone who understands both the technical side and the business requirements, and who can manage the full app lifecycle rather than just completing individual development tasks.

What this involves

I design and develop web platforms and backend systems using Python and Django, a well-established and reliable combination for building content-driven platforms, administrative systems, APIs and data management tools.

My focus is on building systems that are well-structured, maintainable and appropriate to the scale and requirements of the organisation. I have experience deploying to AWS and DigitalOcean, using Docker for containerisation, and managing systems in production.

Specific capabilities

Python and Django: Application development, admin interfaces, user management, content systems and REST API development.

Database: PostgreSQL database design, management and query optimisation.

Deployment: Cloud deployment on AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, SES) and DigitalOcean, using Nginx, Gunicorn and Docker.

Integrations: Payment systems, email services, push notifications, analytics, storage and third-party APIs.

Common use cases

Membership and subscription management platforms, content management systems for publishers and media organisations, administrative tools for managing data and operations, event and destination platforms, data dashboards and reporting systems, customer portals, and APIs for mobile apps.

Who this is for

This service is relevant to organisations that need a web platform or backend system built reliably and professionally. It is particularly suited to organisations that need more than a basic website — a system that manages data, serves an API, handles memberships or processes orders.

It is also relevant where an existing system needs review, improvement or migration, or where an organisation needs a technical perspective on what a proposed system should look like before committing to development.

What this involves

Technology operations covers everything that needs to happen after a product launches to keep it running reliably, securely and cost-effectively. Many organisations invest in building a product but have no clear plan for how it will be operated and maintained once it is live.

I work with organisations to establish or improve their operational processes, assess their current infrastructure, identify risks and put in place the monitoring, processes and documentation needed to operate a digital product with confidence.

Specific capabilities

Hosting and infrastructure: Managing or reviewing cloud deployments on AWS and DigitalOcean, including server configuration, Nginx, Gunicorn, Docker, SSL and network configuration.

Monitoring: Setting up monitoring and alerting for uptime, performance and errors, so that problems are identified before they affect users.

Security: Reviewing server and application configuration for common security issues, ensuring patches are applied, access is controlled and sensitive data is protected.

Release processes: Establishing clear, safe processes for deploying updates, managing versions and rolling back changes when problems occur.

Documentation: Writing clear technical documentation for systems, processes and configurations, so that operations can be managed consistently without depending on undocumented knowledge.

Who this is for

This service is relevant to any organisation that has a live digital product — a mobile app, a web platform, or both — and wants to ensure it is being operated professionally. It is particularly relevant where technology operations have grown without a clear structure, where incidents are recurring, or where nobody in the organisation has operational experience with the platform.

It is also relevant as a review service — providing an independent assessment of the current state of operations and recommendations for improvement.

What this involves

Many organisations find themselves in a difficult position when running a technology project. They have developers or a development agency who know how to build software, and a management team who know what the business needs — but nobody who can bridge the two effectively.

I work as an experienced intermediary and leader who understands both sides. I can translate business requirements into technical tasks, hold developers to account, manage priorities and communicate progress clearly to management and stakeholders.

Specific capabilities

Project management: Running technical projects from requirements through delivery, including sprint planning, backlog management, progress tracking and risk management.

Supplier management: Managing development agencies, freelancers and technical suppliers — reviewing proposals, agreeing terms, monitoring delivery and managing relationships.

Requirements management: Working with business stakeholders to gather, document and prioritise requirements, then working with developers to ensure they are understood and implemented correctly.

Quality assurance: Reviewing and testing delivered work against requirements, ensuring releases meet agreed standards before they go live.

Stakeholder communication: Providing clear, accurate and timely communication about project status, risks and decisions to management teams and other stakeholders.

Who this is for

This service is relevant to businesses that are running a significant technology project, that have a development team or agency relationship to manage, or that need experienced product leadership on an interim or fractional basis.

It is also relevant where a project is in difficulty — behind schedule, over budget or unclear in direction — and an independent assessment and reset is needed.

I work with both organisations building new products and those managing existing platforms through a period of significant change or development.

What this involves

Building a good digital product is only part of the challenge. The product also needs to attract users, convert them to paying customers where relevant, retain them and generate measurable commercial value for the organisation.

I work with organisations to understand their commercial model, identify the points in the customer journey where improvement would have the most impact, and implement changes to increase conversion, retention and revenue.

Specific capabilities

Subscription strategy: Developing or reviewing subscription models, pricing tiers, trial strategies and renewal processes for digital products.

Customer journeys: Mapping the customer journey from first contact through to conversion and renewal, identifying friction points and opportunities for improvement.

Analytics: Setting up and interpreting analytics for digital products, including conversion tracking, funnel analysis, cohort reporting and retention metrics.

App store optimisation: Improving App Store and Google Play listing performance through optimised descriptions, screenshots, keywords, review management and conversion testing.

Marketing automation: Setting up automated customer communication workflows for onboarding, retention, renewal and re-engagement.

Business development: Identifying and developing commercial partnerships, channel relationships and business development opportunities for digital products.

Who this is for

This service is relevant to organisations that have a digital product in market — or close to market — and want to connect its development to clear commercial outcomes.

It is particularly relevant for subscription-based products, where the commercial model depends on acquiring subscribers, converting them from trial or free tiers, and retaining them over time. It is also relevant for organisations in tourism, events, hospitality and membership, where a digital product plays a role in driving or supporting commercial activity.