I'm Robbi McMillen and I'm (primarily) a web developer, and also an arts archiver and musician from Belfast. I have been creating websites for 19 years across every sector imaginable.
I love backend development, organisation and managing projects. I have a friendly demeanour and like to laugh with clients, but I also get stuck into a project.
I started off building websites for musicians, artists and festivals back when eCommerce was an embedded Paypal button! Since then I have worked on builds of all types in a freelance capacity and a white label developer for website and marketing agencies.
I am a bilingual (Irish Gaelic / English) speaker and so also have experience in multilingual website development.
Over the past two decades I have developed my technical scoping skills, and with such a broad range of services and tools in use, have experience with dozens of them.
If you are a sole trader, SME, online seller, in-store (POS) seller - or both, an agency needing support or would simply like a bit of advice, please get in touch.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat!
Aside from my web development work, I worked on the Henry Morris Project.
I also appeared on radio discussing digital technology and formerly hosted my own radio programme.
I wrote occasionally on traditional and new music for newspapers and online magazines.
CV
Salaried roles
- Mar 2007 — present
Freelance / Contractor WordPress Developer (with Shopify)
My main job for 19 years – this number is updated automatically, and like the rings in the trunk of a tree, my wrinkles show it! My freelance work focuses on SMEs, the arts, shops and the Irish language. My contractor/agency white label work focuses on eCommerce and brands. The variation of work quite big: speed optimisation, DNS management, speed reports, website go-lives, design and development, custom plugins, troubleshooting, API connectivity and automation, CPU monitoring and regularly checking in with clients, and with agencies to ensure my work is running smoothly. - Nov 2024 — Oct 2005
Digital Transformation Officer (temporary post) at Law Centre NI
I worked under the business services / finance (and jack of all trades) director, and within and between teams in this inspiring organisation. I technically scoped new systems for membership subscriptions (WP), eLearning (LMS, WP), resolved IT issues and managed legal software changes (AdvicePro) providing in-person training and Zoom tutorials. I also created a new system in Sharepoint for HR, onboarding, wellbeing and a purchase order system with approvals based on head of department. I migrated training from Moodle LMS to WordPress with new hosting setup and Salesforce CRM connectivity. - May 2021 — Nov 2022
Lead Developer at digitalbeans
During the COVID panedmic, I took a lead developer role at digitalbeans in Kent (remotely from Ireland). I was responsible for creating and delivering project scopes, managing timelines and heavy-code development. We migrated all clients from legacy hosting services to appropriate solutions (Kinsta, DigitalOcean, WP Engine). I was responsible for transforming the agency's WordPress approach from purchased themes to a true website development strategy that enabled us to control site speed and use as little plugins as possible. I led the majority of video calls with clients, managed project task boards on Monday.com and dealt with emergency out of hours / go-live calls from clients. - Aug 2019 — Aug 2020
DNS and Migration Technician at Flagship Media Group
Flagship ran around 2,000 websites at the time with websites going live daily. I was responsible for domain transfers, DNS, SSL setup and IMAP/POP → IMAP migration (using IMAPSync) on the new server. I was one of a team of two responsible for all incoming support issues or responding to issues coming up through monitoring services. Job ended due to Covid19 lockdown. - Sep 2018 — Aug 2019
Lead Associate at TTEC
May 2017 — Aug 2018
Customer Support Advisor at TTEC
I initially took this job to supplement my income for my wedding, but it turned out to be one of the best learning experiences I have had and where I made lifelong friends. I started as a customer service advisor for the UK and Irish markets and assisting LAs with reports.
As a Lead Associate, I managed omnichannel workload distribution across different market teams and created daily and monthly reports for a global client. I provided mentoring and quality assessment, interviewed new candidates and liaised directly with the client's management. I was recruited into calls with external developers from Salesforce and InsideChat on system improvement. I had responsibility for the following markets: UK, Ireland, Russia (based in Bulgaria), Japan (based in the Philippines), and supported my counterparts in the German, Italian, French, Spanish and South American markets. - Jan 2010 — Apr 2012
Website and Ticketing Officer at Féile an Phobail
Féile runs Europe's largest community festival every August, and at the time Laugh at the Bank Comedy Festival, Draíocht Halloween kids festival, and the Spring folk festival, Féile an Earraigh.I developed their website, introduced online ticket sales for the first time, ran email marketing campaigns and fostered B2B relationships with Sainsburys, hotels and BBC Radio in NI.I was the rep. interviewed on any Irish language broadcast media (radio, TV, podcast).I also developed a website for their radio station, which ran daily for 15 years, with live streaming, dynamic schedule.
Voluntary roles
- Apr 2027 — present
Project Director at The Henry Morris Project
Inspired by the Oriel Arts Project, I created an Open Source plugin for digital archives that will be available shortly. I relaunched Oriel Arts and the Henry Morris Project with the new plugin.
I spent two and a half years transcribing from sight, translating and modernising from pre-1960's Gaelic script into modern Roman script, and editing the collection Dhá Chéad de Cheoltaibh Uladh which will be published in November. - Jan 2013 — May 2016
Web developer, ticketing and marketing at The Soma Festival
The brainchild of Tíona McSherry, a singer I had long respected, the festival was about music, body, soul, Gaeilge and live sessions. I played a small part over four years in putting a website, online ticketing, our first printed programme (thankfully, a new print designer joined the team the following year) into place, and providing customer support. I liaised with tourism agencies, managed hosting variables – one artist sold out in minutes and added another few nights – and was there to support Tíona and the team when required.
I have worked with...
