About Me
I’m Ciaran Irwin, and Irwin Virtual Learning is a selection of services that I came to offer as a result of the skillsets I’ve built over the years aligning with some catastrophically unexpected circumstances.
I’m no stranger to the world of remote work; I started this journey in 2010, when I was selected as part of a pilot program to be one of the first employees to work from home for Amazon.co.uk customer service.
My responsibilities grew with our network over five years, and when I moved on to attend university, I had trained and mentored over 300 new hires to the network, gaining a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of working, learning and training others in the virtual context.
While completing a Masters in Business Practice at the Irish Management Institute, I worked extensively in the arts scene in my hometown in Cork, managing a community radio station where I oversaw production, broadcasting, editing and training, and freelancing as a stage manager, videographer, producer and carrier of heavy things.
After graduation, I set my sights on Vancouver, Canada, to see what I could do and learn in an entirely new context. I landed in the country with a temporary address, no job lined up, and the intention of taking life as it comes, and spending some time experimenting with new paths.
When I landed, on February 26th, 2020, that still seemed like a good idea. A few weeks later, not so much.
During lockdown, I saw an opportunity to make myself useful by blending a) my experience with remote working b) my business degree and passion for learning and c) my production and logistics skillset to help people and organizations understand the virtual context, how their programs would -and wouldn’t- work like they did in-person, and to take the pressure off the educators and participants by handling the production of complex events live.
When clients partner with me, they do so for my ability to marry the technical granularity of program management with the big-picture goals of delivering learning that makes a difference, along with a mental database of what virtual tools work for what situation, and the calm, professional demeanour that only comes from years of producing live, complex, and frequently chaotic events.
When clients aren’t partnering with me, I’m making the most of getting to stick around in Vancouver, from kayaking to skiing to hiking.
“I highly recommend Ciaran as an exceptional virtual producer. With a calm and professional demeanor, he consistently delivers outstanding results in facilitating sessions through various online platforms. Ciaran’s attention to detail, multitasking abilities, and adaptability to different coaching styles make him an invaluable asset. His dedication to personal growth and passion for training shines through in creating transformative virtual learning experiences. Ciaran’s unwavering commitment to continuous improvement sets him apart in producing impactful virtual workshops.”
“Ciaran blends technical expertise, understanding of the theory and purpose of a program, and a calm, professional demeanour to ensure that workshops and events run flawlessly. He smoothly handles any production aspects or technical issues in the background, ensuring that the rest of us have the maximum use of the virtual space to work, learn and develop.”
“I have had the experience of witnessing Ciaran in tech support during our virtual workshops, and it’s an absolute pleasure to see him at the top of his game. His patience, friendliness, and professionalism make him an excellent choice for assisting participants and facilitators. Ciaran thrives under pressure, ensuring a smooth and efficient virtual workshop experience. His dedication to providing seamless tech support truly sets him apart.”
“I have had the pleasure of working with Ciaran for a number of years. He is calm as a cucumber and completely on the ball. He can navigate anyone’s tech challenges with ease and makes our workshops run seamlessly. Our participants often share their appreciation for Ciaran’s production that makes the virtual space feel smooth and safe. They also love his personality and energy. Great guy all around and is very much appreciated!”