CV / Resume

MARTHA EDWARDS

Service designer and user researcher in government

Work experience

Director of Strategic Design – Government of British Columbia
2024 to present

As a design leader, I am connecting services and supporting the design practice in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change

Service Design Lead – Government of British Columbia
2021-2024

I was responsible for leading the human-centred design team on several BC Government tech platforms (notably Developer Hub and Platform as a Service), including overseeing all service design and research activities. I’m also the community manager for the BC Government design community. 

Notable work:

• PaaS Roadmap consultations
• BC Gov design community

Senior Design Researcher on loan – Canadian Digital Service
2019-2021

I lead complex research and contributed design expertise across Canada’s federal government. I also facilitate events for the Design Research Community of Practice.

Notable work:

• RCMP Report a Cybercrime
• GC Notify 

Senior UX Researcher – Government Digital Service, UK Government
2016-2019

I lead complex research across large programme areas. I also supervised and mentored several users researchers and was an active contributor to the cross-government research community and the gov.uk service manual and blogs.

Notable work:

• EU Exit business preparedness
• Case study: Gov.uk Verify (with a focus on benefits claimants and those with low digital literacy)

UX Researcher – Cabinet Office Digital, UK Government
2014-2016

Provided user research and design to support several products within our portfolio, translating user needs into practical design changes, and guiding teams through the GDS service assessment process. 

Notable work:

• Case study: Nominate someone for an honour or award
• Case Study: Apply for and manage social impact bond funding

Digital Advisor, Content – The City of Calgary
2010 to 2014

Provided user research, testing + content consultation to 27 departments. I was a key team member in the Calgary.ca website redesign project, which was awarded Best in Class (Interactive Media Award) and Excellence in Public Service (GTEC Awards.) 

Content Contributor & Editor – Huffington Post Media Group/aol
2006-2014

I provided regular editorial contributor to various lifestyle websites, plus two years as a managing editor for a high-profile lifestyle site with 15 writers.

Senior Web Editor  – WorldWeb Technologies 
2004 to 2007

Writing and editing content and imaging for a large travel website, including scheduling and planning feature articles.

Education

BA – Bachelor of Arts (English and psychology) – University of Calgary

Certificate in Graphic and Digital Design – Shillington College 

Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification Course

UK Government UCD training: Courses in user research, design and prototyping, assessor training, agile teams and methodologies