Skip to content

Adrie van der Luijt

14 March 2025
deskdemon

DeskDemon

As editor-in-chief of DeskDemon during the early 2000s, I helped build what quickly became the market-leading online community for executive assistants and office managers in both the UK and US. Working with a substantial budget during the first internet boom, I led a team of 10 people and established strategic partnerships with major brands including Hilton Hotels.What made this project unique was how it created a digital home for a professional community that had previously been fragmented across traditional media channels. By bringing secretarial associations online before they were able to establish their own web presence, we created a centralised resource that empowered EAs with information, connection and professional development.I reduced operational costs by bringing SEO and other technical functions in-house rather than outsourcing them. This at a time five years before open source content management systems became widely available. Beyond content creation, I designed and hosted the DeskDemon PA of the Year Awards, launched at London's Café de Paris, and regularly represented the brand at EA events nationwide. This experience taught me the power of content to elevate and connect professional communities, particularly those whose contributions are often undervalued. The principles of clear communication, professional respect and practical support that underpinned DeskDemon's success remain central to my approach across all sectors.
31 March 2024
Morris dancers in Nunney, Somerset.

Visit Nunney

For a decade, I ran Visit Nunney as a community interest company serving the village of Nunney in Somerset. This project demonstrates how content can strengthen community bonds and preserve cultural heritage while driving economic benefits through tourism. The website combined practical visitor information with original historical research that earned recognition from curators at the British Museum and the Holburne Museum in Bath.The project won multiple accolades, including Somerset Tourism & Leisure Business of the Year 2016, the Unsung Hero for Customer Service Award 2015-16 in the South West Tourism Awards, and recognition as runner-up for UK Charity/Community Interest Website of the Year 2015 and UK Information/News Website of the Year 2014 in The Good Web Guide Awards.This work illustrates how my content approach extends beyond government services to benefit communities directly. It shows my ability to create sustainable, award-winning content initiatives that serve multiple stakeholders – from local businesses and residents to tourists and historical researchers, while operating within the constraints of a community interest company.