About Me

The focus of my research is community engagement. Simply put, I am interested in how and why universities and academics engage with community. I’m passionate about knowledge dissemination to non-academic audiences and am excited about the differences institutions can make in communities and society. I am currently working in the research impact space.

Both my masters and bachelor degrees are in education and have worked as an eLearning Specialist, and Instructional (Educational) Designer. For the last 15 years I’ve been working with adult learners in both public and private institutions in various capacities.

I weave my passion for learning and fascination with the information needs of communities throughout my academic work and community based projects. As part of my mission to make learning more accessible to the general public I brought Nerd Nite to Edmonton, Canada and am the founder and Nerd Boss for Nerd Nite Wagga. I’m currently one of the Nerd Nite Melbourne bosses. Nerd Nite brings nerdy (often academic) topics to the masses in playful and accessible, yet always insightful and thought provoking, ways.

Peruse my CV or send me a note and we can explore how my skills might serve your institution or organisation. I can provide talks and workshops on a variety of subjects including societal impact, community engagement, distance education, knowledge extension, public speaking, institutional engagement, gender and sexual minority inclusion, and more.

Stakeholder Feedback

Wade is one of the most effective communicators I have ever met. Wade captures your engagement, whether in a private forum, a classroom, a meeting, or in front of a crowd of hundreds. As well as his natural skill for delivering information and communicating effectively, he understands the importance of getting one’s message out there, and has done wonders to help students, academics, and members of the public connect with the wider community.

Wade is an exceptional speaker and a gifted communications expert. He is a joy to work with and I have truly valued him as a thoughtful collaborator and colleague. His wide-ranging knowledge of and experience with engagement and communications is truly valuable in today’s higher education setting where telling meaningful stories and capturing impact has never been more important.

Services

Nerd Nite

Bringing nerds and nerdy interests together under one roof; Nerd Nite is informal yet always informative. Started in Boston in 2006, Nerd Nite has spread around the globe. I have been a nerd boss in three cities (Edmonton, Wagga, and Melbourne) and helped start Nerd Nites in five others. Nerd Nite is community engagement in action.

Academia to Industry

Academia is often less than adept at translating complex research concepts for audiences outside of the academy. I have worked with various groups and organisations through consultation and workshops to help bridge the information gap in order to expertly distill specialised knowledge for industry and other audiences.

Academic Poster Design

Considerable effort is put into research and write-ups, but too often academic posters are put together hastily at the last minute. I have worked with numerous academics and groups to help produce dynamic and interesting academic posters that help generate conversation and spread their research.

Presentation Skills

Being in front of an audience is a difficult proposition for many; creating impact on an audience with your presentation is another challenge altogether. I have worked with many individuals and organisations to help mold their ideas and best communicate their messages to a variety of audiences.

Curriculum Vitae

Here is my CV (in PDF) for your perusal.

Contact Me

Either use the form or shoot me an email at wade@wadekelly.com.

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