As we countdown to WordCamp Asia 2024, each week we’re inviting you to go behind the lineup and get to know the folks who will be taking to the stage. In today’s post, we chat with Ricky Blacker, a self taught web professional, co-organizer for the Brisbane and Sunshine Coast WordPress Meetup groups in Australia, and serial hobbyist.
Q. Firstly, welcome to the lineup! We’re so glad to have you here. Can you start by telling us a bit about yourself? Where will you be joining the event from, and what does your day-to-day look like?
I live in Brisbane Australia and work for WP Engine as a Senior Partner Enablement Manager. My main role is to help agencies and brands understand how to use our platform from a technology standpoint.
I am also a musician and play keyboards and guitar in a rock band called the TommyCatz. I am a serial hobbyist, my wife says I have way too many hobbies, and she is probably right.
Q. We’re lucky to be welcoming a diverse range of speakers to our program in 2024. What interested you to apply to WordCamp Asia as a speaker?
I am always excited to be involved with WordCamps across the globe, whether it is helping organise, volunteering or speaking, but this time I had an important message I needed to share with the WordPress community and being able to do that at WordCamp Asia would allow me to do that to a very large audience with the rest of the world eagerly looking on, so it made sense to apply.
Q. What can audiences expect to learn from your talk/s? Are there any advance sneak peeks or knowledge bombs you can offer us?
In my talk I hope to build awareness of how important it is to implement accessibility into every website, this not only helps those with disabilities to be able to access the content on the web, but it also has many benefits beyond this.
Q. What are you most looking forward to at WordCamp Asia 2024? Is there someone you’re looking forward to rubbing shoulder with, or a local delicacy you’d like to sample?
I am totally looking forward to sampling some of the culinary delights from Taipei, especially want to try the Scallion and Daikon Pancake, also can’t wait to catch up with some of my WordPress friends that I only get to see at WordCamps as well as making some new friends along the way.
Q. Tell us something about yourself that we might not know. Party tricks? Secret hobbies?
I have soooo many hobbies, and I wish they were secret enough my wife did not find out as she says I have way too many, like flying remote control planes and drones, playing computer games, riding motorcycles, music recording and production, BBQing and smoking meats and just recently 3D printing
Q. Lightning Round!
Most-visited website: Google Search, I am always looking up information on all sorts of things.
Most-have gadget: My Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Most-read book: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams.
Go-to podcast: Believe it or not, I don’t listen to podcasts.
Find out more about Ricky’s appearance at WordCamp Asia 2024 here.