Steven Clift

Consulting and Experience

I am honored to now serve as an Ashoka Fellow.  I agreed to give up my private long-term consulting and research projects in exchange for their support of my full-time work with E-Democracy.Org through July 2009. After that date my consulting services will again be available directly from me or through E-Democracy.Org depending upon the nature of the project.

Projects that fit within the expansive mission of E-Democracy.Org are ideal and help support our important work. See About E-Democracy.Org for contact details.

Short-term public speaking visits on e-democracy topics, particularly on the popular “Global E-Democracy Trends” topic remain available on a fee-basis.

Speaking requests related to E-Democracy.Org, particularly Issues Forums, should be sent in via E-Democracy.Org.

Services Provided

• Public speaking and short-term onsite consulting is my main focus. I have an entire section dedicated to my public speaking activity.
• Strategic advice, outreach, training and research on e-democracy, online consultation, e-governance, communities online, and related trends. DO-WIRE is my only “free” one-size fits all service. If you need specific advice or ongoing consulting I have minimum fee requirements for both one time and long-term relationships.
• Effective design and/or facilitation of e-mail lists for discussion, outreach, or collaborative work and communication.
• Specialized “online consultations and events” on public policy topics using e-mail and the web.  In 1998, I organized the one thousand participant online Universal Access Conversation for the Markle Foundation.  I recently added a presentation about online consultation to my portfolio.
• Media source for hundreds of newspapers, radio stations, and television stations around the world.  Since 1994, I have been interviewed by such outlets as the CNN International, New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, UK Guardian, Japan’s Asahi Simbum, National Public Radio, BBC Radio 4, ZDF televison in Germany and Australian Broadcasting. I provide an insightful hype-reduced non-partisan overview of democracy/politics/governance and the Internet.

Work and Consulting Highlights

Short-term speaking/consulting visits are not listed below.

• International Symposium on Local E-Democracy – Co-Chaired and organized an e-democracy conference for the UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
• UK Local E-democracy National Project – Coordinated four pilot projects, more than any other organization or individual on contract – October 2004 – March 2005, phase two September 2005 – March 2006.
• U.S House of Represenatives with the Gartner Group and the Congressional Management Foundation – Survey of “e-parliament” trends around the world – September – November 2004 – Presented results to top House staff in March 2005.
• National Science Foundation – E-government related grant proposal reviewer – 2004
• IFES – International Foundation for Election Services – Prepared recommendations for new electoral standards related to the Internet and the information age – February – May 2004, January 2007 for paper update.
• United Nations, FAO/SIFAR – Provided extensive research for proposed knowledge exchange/online community system, presented on “public net-work” and e-democracy – June – July 2003
• United Nations, DPADM/UNDESA – Provided research on “E-Government and Democracy” for pending World Public Sector Report – March 2003 – May 2003
• Visiting Fellow, Institute for New Media Studies, University of Minnesota – February 2003
• OECD E-Government Working Group – Provided research and analysis on the concept of “Public Net-Work” – October-November 2002
• Pew Internet and American Life Project – Provided research advice March – December 2002 for pending case study report.
• Web White and Blue – Co-founder and project advisor to the Markle Foundation’s online presidential debate and election information public service effort through December 2001.  Served as the Outreach Coordinator in 2000 and the Project Coordinator in 1998. Project nominated for Webby Award in 1998.
• Markle Foundation’s E-mail for All Outreach Campaign, Consultant – Produced Universal Access Conversation online event in May 1998.
• North Star – Minnesota Government Online, former Project Coordinator – 1994-97
• Minnesota Office of Technology – 1995-97
• Minnesota Government Information Access Council, former Executive Director/Staff – 1995-97
• Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota – 1991-1993
• Minnesota State Senate – 1991