A Toronto-based communications specialist with over a decade of combined experience in writing, editing, and QA. Passionate about narrative, video games, and the ways the two interact!

Darien Yawching Rickwood

A Toronto-based communications specialist with over a decade of combined experience in writing, editing, and QA. Passionate about narrative, video games, and the ways the two interact!

Available to hire

A Toronto-based communications specialist with over a decade of combined experience in writing, editing, and QA. Passionate about narrative, video games, and the ways the two interact!

Experience Level

Intermediate

Work Experience

Narrative Designer (Contract) at New Archon Industries
May 1, 2024 - May 1, 2025
Wrote story and player-choice elements for Eternity Convergence, an in-development space CRPG, aligned with client guidelines.
Minute Taker at Minutes Solutions
March 1, 2024 - Present
Wrote and edited minutes for client meetings using the company’s in-house format and style guidelines. Coordinated with editorial and administrative teams to meet each client’s personalized requirements and ensure compliance.
Quality Assurance Analyst at CIBC
February 1, 2016 - November 1, 2022
Acted as a QA lead across multiple projects, executing test cases in CIBC’s modified ServiceNow environment. Wrote, edited, and proofread test cases for current and future use. Coordinated with third-party vendors to assess new functionality and created/managed internal QA wiki pages.
Video Games Writing and Localization (Volunteer) - Lore Lord at Self-Employed
August 1, 2015 - Present
Wrote interactive narrative content for the in-development RTS Sanctuary: Shattered Sun, including the Kickstarter prologue mission, story backstory, history, characters, and potential scenarios alongside a volunteer team. Produced and edited marketing and platform copy for Steam and Kickstarter pages and the project website. Also edited, rewrote, and created copy for foreign-led video game modifications.
Communications Specialist (Volunteer) at Connexions
February 1, 2015 - October 1, 2015
Entered company and journalist information into an internal database. Produced bi-weekly newsletters and managed daily social media updates, including taking over the NGO’s Twitter account. Coordinated outreach to featured websites/organizations and drafted grant requests.
Website Copywriter/Editor, Executive Assistant at Atomic Reporters
June 1, 2013 - December 1, 2014
Created web content and workshop documentation for Atomic Reporters, an NGO providing journalists with accessible information on nuclear issues and science. Supported annual bookkeeping and financial accounting for the organization, sourced workshop participants, and researched responsibilities for a not-for-profit under Canadian law. Liaised with journalists and partner organizations ahead of international workshops and assisted in event facilitation. Contributed to fact-sheets commissioned for the 2014 Vienna Conference, maintained the organization’s Twitter account, and edited blog and other website sections.
Communications Intern at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
January 1, 2013 - May 1, 2013
Supported media work surrounding the one millionth Syrian refugee milestone. Created and wrote daily updates for UNHCR’s internal Storify account and developed a prototype for a weekly newsletter covering UNHCR publicity and digital media efforts. Edited and proofread articles, created PowerPoint presentations, and researched and summarized media reports.

Education

Diploma | Professional Writing at Algonquin College
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2012
Bachelor’s Degree | History Major at Carleton University
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2010

Qualifications

Professional Writing Diploma (Honours)
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2012

Industry Experience

Non-Profit Organization, Government, Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Financial Services, Software & Internet