Don Moffatt

Email: don(@)donmoffatt.com

I am particularly proud of being described by a supervisor as a “naturally empathetic and trusted team member who recognizes team members for their hard work and helps them experience successful outcomes” and noted by a supervisor for my “ability to look for and find connections and simple ideas amidst complexity.”

  • Work highlights
    • Analyst with the Province of British Columbia since 2008.
      • My work has changed focus over the years, changing from technical analyst to business process improvements in 2014, and focusing on data analysis and data science projects since 2017.
      • Recent data science investigations include data mining a 3.3 x 10^5 ticket data file (structured data), and a deep analysis of how scholarships have been awarded (largely unstructured data that required significant cleaning). I am self-guided in my work, often writing the project charter as well. I also consulted for our Agency on contractor machine learning projects, both suggesting projects and vetting early results.
    • Web Specialist, VENUS and NEPTUNE 2005/2006
      • These two groups merged to become Ocean Networks Canada.
    • Instructor, University of Victoria, 1999 – 2003
      • I created and presented the Web/Database integration and e-commerce courses, which included sections on developing javascript and server side coding. The focus was on creating database-driven sites (pages were customized and populated based on user input).
    • Public Educator, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, 1991 – 1998
      • I created and delivered the on-site public programming in that period.
  • Education
    • B.Sc. (Astrophysics, University of Victoria)
    • Data Science Specialization, Johns Hopkins University, September, 2019, 97% average
      • Capstone: I created a predictive text application using Natural Language Processing techniques. This functioned in a similar way to the predictive text function in writing texts.
      • JHU Certificates:
        • R Programming
        • Practical Machine Learning
        • Developing Data Products
        • Regression Models
        • Statistical Inference
        • Reproducible Research
        • Getting and Cleaning Data (R-based techniques). Later invited to be a Course Mentor for this certificate.
        • Exploratory Data Analysis
    • Data Science: Statistics and Machine Learning Specialization, Johns Hopkins University (September, 2019)
    • Applied Data Science in Python Specialization, University of Michigan (in progress)
      • Introduction to Data Science in Python (February, 2020)
    • Certificate in Business Analysis (University of British Columbia, 2013, with an A+ in all seven courses).
    • Certified Lean/Six Sigma “Green Belt” aka Lean Advanced Practitioner, 2018
  • Writing
    • A writing background that includes several features for The Globe and Mail’s Saturday Focus section and editing a book, “A Wolf’s Moon: A Helicopter Pilot’s Story” by Hank Sands.
  • Grant Writing
    • Wrote two NSERC (Natural Science and Engineering Research Council) grant proposals that resulted in awards of $56,600
    • Wrote one Industry Canada grant proposal that won $18,000.
  • Teaching
    • 11 terms teaching a 180-hr classroom-based course at UVic that I created about building dynamic database driven websites, and two terms teaching at UVic online
  • Public Speaking and science communication
    • Numerous examples of speaking to executives, including negotiations, and leading group business sessions
    • Eight years as a paid presenter to the public at the National Research Council’s Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (more than one thousand talks)
    • Three years as a planetarium presenter for Vancouver Island Schools (approximately 300 sessions)
    • Six years as a volunteer presenter at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (approximately 110 evenings)
    • Three nominations by the National Research Council for the Science Council of BC’s Eve Savory Award for Science Communication.
  • Contests
    • 2nd place, Curl Corporation International Web Application Design Contest, 2001
  • Volunteer Work Highlights
    • Project Manager, ExoExplorations project.
      • I lead a team comprised of two Friends of the DAO employees, one National Research Council Co-op student, and one volunteer in developing over 200 pages of curriculum materials for BC Grade 6 students from May through September 2020. I wrote the first draft of the content in addition to editing it and managing the team and priorities. I also managed the development of interactive python-based tools for students to use.
    • Vice Chair & Founder, Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (registered non-profit and charity) focused on renewing the “Centre of the Universe” education facility and associated programming.
    • CRD Traffic Safety Committee Bicycle Safety Taskforce
    • President, University of Victoria Cycling Club
  • Hobbies
    • Veteran marathoner. 20 completed (I qualified for the Boston Marathon 18 times and I ran it in 2009)
    • A baritone in the Victoria Choral Society since 2013
    • Classical, jazz and pop styles of guitar (intermediate level)
    • Reading, particularly history and fiction.
    • Writing fiction (short stories)

Please connect via my linkedin profile.