Open To Work
Garth von Buchholz
Victoria,,Canada
Summary
- Digital communications strategist, certified educational technologist, applied AI researcher/trainer, learning experience designer, with 25+ years experience working in the private and public sectors.
- Author, producer, researcher, and public speaker on the converging themes of AI literacy, human equity, and digital citizenship.
- Advocate for AI digital literacy and supporting initiatives for digital equity. Active EDIDA ally (Equity, Diversity, Inclusiveness, Decolonization & Anti-Racism) and advocate of clean energy and sustainability.
- Named one of eLearning Industry's Top 10 Thought Leaders for 2019: "As an already established influencer on educational content, Garth von Buchholz wouldn't miss producing one of the greatest articles on social learning..."
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
AI Data Analyst & Educational Technologist
Global Island AI
06.2025 - Current
- Collaborating and consulting with corporate clients and agencies on applied AI education, research, training & development.
- Delivered AI-enhanced learning experience design for higher education and corporate training.
Senior UX Design & Content Strategist
BC Public Service - Ministry of Finance
06.2013 - Current
- UX design and content strategist and member of the UX Design team in Finance, tasked with user experience design and content development projects as well as supporting front-end website operations for our ministry on the B.C. Government website.
- Training and onboarding team members on Microsoft Copilot use cases and policies.
- Member of the Finance AI Community, Internet Advisory Council, the Content Design and Writing Group, and the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Instructor, Facilitator & Course Designer - Social Media Strategy (online) and classroom courses
Royal Roads University
01.2009 - 06.2020
- Course facilitator and instructional designer for Social Media Strategy online course.
- Course facilitator and instructional designer for other classroom-based courses in the RRU Sequoia Building.
Social Media & Creative Content Developer
WhirlWind Media Group
09.2008 - 12.2019
- Developing social media strategies and creative content for various international and Canadian projects.
Social Media Content Manager
ShopCity.com
09.2012 - 06.2013
- Developing new social media content and managing existing social content and client relationships for ShopVictoria.ca start-up.
Researcher & Learning Facilitator
District of Saanich
10.2012 - 02.2013
- Researching web operations and staff for web governance review as followup to development and delivery of two web content workshops.
Educational Technologist, CTET
Royal Roads University
08.2011 - 08.2012
- eLearning technologist and Moodle technical support in the Centre for Teaching & Educational Technologies (CTET) at Royal Roads University.
eLearning Technician, Training & Development
National Money Mart
12.2010 - 07.2011
- eLearning Technician in a training and development role.
- Designed and built English and French online training courses with Udutu course authoring tool for employees of National Money Mart (Canada).
Digital Strategist, Speaker & Workshop Facilitator
Digital Practices
09.2009 - 12.2010
- Providing services to various clients in the private and public sectors as a digital strategist, Internet researcher or training facilitator.
Digital Strategist
Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Project / The MediaBank
05.2009 - 09.2009
- Developing and facilitating digital strategy workshop and content strategy with The MediaBank team and their client, the Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Project.
Usability Analyst
Xenophile Media / YTV
09.2008 - 08.2009
- Usability reviewer for new Rollbots interactive virtual characters in a video game based on the YTV animated series.
Author, Researcher & Course Designer
Cultural Human Resources Council
09.2007 - 08.2008
- Researched new media companies across Canada to write a book called Setting Up a New Media Business in Canada for the Cultural Human Resources Council in Ottawa, as well as developing a course handbook that could be used alongside the book for classroom training.
Electronic Communications & Marketing Specialist
BC Public Service Agency
08.2007 - 04.2008
- Developed needs analysis and content strategy for corporate intranet.
Business Analyst / Workshop Facilitator
BC Pension Corp
12.2006 - 06.2007
- Developed needs analysis and content strategy for corporate intranet.
Corporate Web & Social Media Manager
City of Winnipeg
08.2002 - 12.2006
- Corporate leader of web and social media initiatives for the City of Winnipeg's CAO Secretariat.
Instructor, Computer Lab Facilitator, Course Designer
The University of Winnipeg
01.1996 - 12.2002
- Developing course content for Internet technical skills, digital communications, and digital research. Teaching adult students in classroom and facilitating in a computer lab at the University of Winnipeg Continuing Education centre.
Senior Web Manager
Investors Group
04.1998 - 08.2002
- Senior web manager responsible for leading the development and maintenance of Investors Group's public Internet and corporate extranet sites, nationwide.
Weekly Columnist, Internet Today
Thomson New Media
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Writing a weekly print and web Internet column called Internet Today for the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper and Thomson New Media website.
Education
Essential Guide to AI for Educators, Artificial Intelligence in Education
AI For Education
07.2025
Google AI Essentials Specialization, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI
Coursera
07.2025
Graduate Studies - Educational Technology (GCET), UBC Master of Educational Technology (MET) program
The University of British Columbia
05.2025
ChatGPT 102: Prompt Engineering and Advanced ChatGPT, Generative Artificial Intelligence and Applied AI
edX
12.2023
Certificate - TCPS 2: CORE (Course on Research Ethics)
Government of Canada
01.2020
Gender-based Analysis Plus Certificate -
Status of Women Canada
Ottawa2018
Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) - Usability Design
Human Factors International
Fairfield, Iowa2005
Certificate in Project Management - Project Management
UWinnipeg PACE
Winnipeg2001
Certified Internet Business Strategist (CIBS) - Internet Strategy
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB1998
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Winnipeg
Winnipeg, MB, Canada1994
Skills
- Digital Communications Strategy
- Educational Technology
- Applied AI Research & Training
- Learning Experience Design (LXD)
- Gender-Based Analysis Plus
- Speaking & Facilitation
Languages
English (Full Professional)
French (Elementary)
Projects
Micro1 Certified
AI training & development
Aug 2025 - Present
Mindrift AI
AI training & development
Jul 2025 - Present
Global Island AI
Applied AI education, ethics & research
http://Globalisland.AI
Jun 2025 - Present
Accomplishments
- 2025 - Developed a hybrid theoretical framework for teaching adult learners called the Immersive Adult Learning Model.
- 2024 - Wrote a research paper with detailed proposal on how to integrate an AI chatbot with the University of British Columbia's Canvas learning management system.
- 2010 - Cited as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Content Strategists at the 2010 Lavacon in San Diego.
Publications
- Proposing an Immersive Adult Learning Model (IALM) Augmented by AI Systems
- AI Equity Brief: Comparative Analysis of 6 Leading LLMs
- Why We Need H2H (Human-to-Human) Education in Our Evolving Relationships With AI
- How Confirmation Bias Creates Challenges in eLearning
- Digital + Media Literacy for the Civil Service
- Start-Up: Setting Up a New Media Business in Canada
Timeline
AI Data Analyst & Educational Technologist
Global Island AI
06.2025 - Current
Senior UX Design & Content Strategist
BC Public Service - Ministry of Finance
06.2013 - Current
Researcher & Learning Facilitator
District of Saanich
10.2012 - 02.2013
Social Media Content Manager
ShopCity.com
09.2012 - 06.2013
Educational Technologist, CTET
Royal Roads University
08.2011 - 08.2012
eLearning Technician, Training & Development
National Money Mart
12.2010 - 07.2011
Digital Strategist, Speaker & Workshop Facilitator
Digital Practices
09.2009 - 12.2010
Digital Strategist
Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Project / The MediaBank
05.2009 - 09.2009
Instructor, Facilitator & Course Designer - Social Media Strategy (online) and classroom courses
Royal Roads University
01.2009 - 06.2020
Social Media & Creative Content Developer
WhirlWind Media Group
09.2008 - 12.2019
Usability Analyst
Xenophile Media / YTV
09.2008 - 08.2009
Author, Researcher & Course Designer
Cultural Human Resources Council
09.2007 - 08.2008
Electronic Communications & Marketing Specialist
BC Public Service Agency
08.2007 - 04.2008
Business Analyst / Workshop Facilitator
BC Pension Corp
12.2006 - 06.2007
Corporate Web & Social Media Manager
City of Winnipeg
08.2002 - 12.2006
Senior Web Manager
Investors Group
04.1998 - 08.2002
Weekly Columnist, Internet Today
Thomson New Media
01.1997 - 01.2000
Instructor, Computer Lab Facilitator, Course Designer
The University of Winnipeg
01.1996 - 12.2002
Essential Guide to AI for Educators, Artificial Intelligence in Education
AI For Education
Google AI Essentials Specialization, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI
Coursera
Graduate Studies - Educational Technology (GCET), UBC Master of Educational Technology (MET) program
The University of British Columbia
ChatGPT 102: Prompt Engineering and Advanced ChatGPT, Generative Artificial Intelligence and Applied AI
edX
Certificate - TCPS 2: CORE (Course on Research Ethics)
Government of Canada
Gender-based Analysis Plus Certificate -
Status of Women Canada
Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) - Usability Design
Human Factors International
Certificate in Project Management - Project Management
UWinnipeg PACE
Certified Internet Business Strategist (CIBS) - Internet Strategy
University of Manitoba
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Winnipeg