Shaun O'Connell

1. NQF2 Field Guide student at EcoTraining (Pty) Ltd.

   Started in August, 2026 to present day

   I'm currently training for the Professional Field Guide (NQF2 - FGASA) qualification through EcoTraining, this will also include:

   • Advanced Rifle Handling (FGASA)
   • Trails Guide (FGASA)
   • Wilderness First Aid (Level 2)
   • Advanced Birding (EcoTraining)

2. Freelance Front-end Web Developer at various South African organisations

   Started in August, 2024 to present day

   In August 2024, I returned to South Africa. During this time I worked primarily as a web developer, but I also used my spare time to improve my photography and birding skills.
   Some of the projects I worked on:

   • Birds of Zevenwacht
   • SASTI @ CREST, Stellenbosch University

3. Freelance Front-end Web Developer at various New Zealand organisations

   Started in February, 2021 to July, 2024

   Upon returning to New Zealand after COVID, I primarily worked as a freelance web developer.
   Some of my clients and employers included:

   • Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ
   • Ackama
   • Adminis
   • Lil Regie

4. Volunteer Web Development Teacher at Onja Madagascar

   Started in December, 2019 to October, 2020

   During 2020, I worked in Madagascar, as a volunteer teacher for 20 aspiring web development students.
   Feel free to read more about this adventure on my blog.

5. Senior Front-end Developer & Interaction Designer at various New Zealand organisations

   Started in October, 2014 to December, 2019

   In October 2014, I moved to New Zealand for work.
   I worked with several organisations over the 5 years:

   • Abletech and AddressFinder
   • Homes.co.nz
   • Tangram at Trade Me
   • Flick Electric co.

6. Front-end Developer & Interaction Designer at various South African organisations

   Started in January, 1999 to August, 2014

   I then worked in South Africa for several organisations over 15 years, including: Dimension Data, Consology, CareerJunction.
   Kalahari.com, Yola, 22seven

7. Junior Web Developer

   My career started in 1998 with Sams Teach Yourself HTML4. I started making websites shortly thereafter.

   Then in the August of that year, I studied programming (COBOL) at Van Zyl & Pritchard

General skills

• Nature photography
• Bird surveying and identification
• Birding tours / guiding

Tech-specific skills

• Web development, design systems development
• Storyboarding, prototyping, and interaction design
• Usability research
• General IT, networking, etc.

Birding & Wildlife

Birding has been an interest for me over the last 40 years, but it wasn't until 2024 that I started prioritising my learning here.
Take a look at my eBird and iNaturalist profiles. I'm also a contributor to SABAP2.

Volunteering

I work in my spare time as a volunteer. Offering mentorship to junior web developers, as well as aiding conservation efforts.

Photography

I'm particularly interested in Bird, wildlife, landscape, macro, and astro photography.