He has worked in the HR technology industry in a multitude of roles ranging from software development, consulting and project management both in Australia and overseas.

Michael has considerable expertise in the development and implementation of solutions to effectively manage people data, ranging from global ERP HR/Payroll systems to employee portals and social networks. He is a regular speaker on HR technology for the Australian Human Resource Institute and has been involved in their HRIS Special Interest Group. In addition to writing this blog he actively participates in the conversation around Web 2.0, social software and the impact on organisations and management practices.

As an experienced project and change manager Michael has completed a Graduate Certificate in Technology Management, is a PRINCE2 Practitioner and Certified in the Principles of Change Management.

On LinkedId, Facebook, Twitter

There is not–nor will there ever be–a fee to include your bio here. Any ads that might appear–and there will be very few allowed–will be carefully screened.

So, you ask, why did Des and I put this together? We are not wholly sure except that we saw a need for a one-stop shopping list for those who wanted to engage services or just connect with a social media person near them. That translates to mean that we are open to additions to the site that will make it more meaningful for all of us and welcome your input–this is after all a conversational site.

For now we are on a WordPress platform and will move at some point to a more robust vehicle that will allow for greater individual freedom for all of us.

Start-ups and established social media platforms may also place a business outline here. Please make your outline informative and not merely a pitch.

If you are a visitor, welcome and if you are a social media consultant: Please see the page on How to Begin to get your profile up and active! Thanks for stopping in…

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photo credit: bfishadow

Social Media Consultants resulted from a conversation between Des Walsh and Lonnie Hodge about the lack of a centralized way to locate Social Medians and PR 2.0 specialists in a specific geographical location.

This blog will host bios, events, and posts from the best and brightest in the most exciting and fast growing area of the Internet.

I specialize in helping entrepreneurs who are already successful take their business to the next level and achieve that in a such a way that their friends and family arel still talking to them when they have achieved their business goals.

In my coaching I set a high value on attentive listening. My key aim, expressed in the terms I learned in the schools of Coachville, is to elicit the greatness my clients have in them.

With many years of speaking and presenting to small and large groups, I relish opportunities to work with like minded people internationally, across industry sectors and geographical and cultural barriers.

Twenty years in business. Established my own consulting, training and coaching business after a successful career in public service.

Currently a member of the Board of Governors of the International Association of Coaching – IAC.
Member of the interim Advisory Group for Social Media Club
Member of the Advisory Board of the International Blogging and New Media Association – IBNMA

Foundation Member, Creative Skills Training Council, Australia and Asia Pacific.

I’m based in the seaside town of Tweed Heads on Australia’s Gold Coast region. Thanks to Web 2.0 technology I can help people worldwide without having to leave my desk. But I do have a neat little netbook and love to travel!

There are more details about my experiences and achievements at my LinkedIn page.

I love the potential of social media to break down geographical, cultural and political barriers and its capacity to help smaller businesses play a larger game, globally, nationally, locally, as they choose. And I am passionate about how coaching can help achieve that.

With social media consultant colleagues around the globe I am well aware that not everyone in business, by a long shot, welcomes the use of social media.

In fact, I believe there is a major challenge for the many people in business, government, education and the not-for-profit sector who want to harness the power of social media -  a challenge of resistance by many people in their organizatons, some very powerful or influential.   I also believe that the concerns of those people who are resisting the onslaught of social media can be addressed systematically and effectively, though culturally sensitive, well-informed coaching, for the ultimate benefit of their particular enterprises and their own growth in understanding and competence, as individual professionals in an increasingly networked world.

The key, as far as I am concerned, is to be strategic. The ultimate justification for social media in the enterprise is that it advances the achievement of the goals of that enterprise.

On Twitter and Skype: deswalsh

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/deswalsh (Note: I have many boilerplate invitations to connect on LinkedIn growing musty with age, unanswered – I don’t have the heart to hit “I don’t know this person”)

Main blog: Des Walsh dot Com