Ryan Hellyer

14+ yrs in full-stack dev with PHP & JavaScript. Launched many high-impact open-source projects, one with 70K+ users. Initial hire at Strattic, acquired by Elementor in 2022. Specialist in Laravel, WordPress, Jamstack, security and web performance.

Contact👤

Email: ryan@hellyer.kiwi

Phone: +49 1745390977

Portfolio site: geek.hellyer.kiwi

Personal site: ryan.hellyer.kiwi

Ryan Hellyer

Experienced Software engineer

Professional Experience💼

  1. Syde | Software Engineer | 2023 — present Engineered large-scale corporate websites, implementing modern PHP practices including PSR container systems, dedicated service classes, and comprehensive unit testing.
  2. Elementor / Strattic | Senior Engineer | 2018 — 2023 Initial hire, built framework for WordPress-to-static conversion using PHP and JavaScript. Specialised in Jamstack and search. Company acquired by Elementor in 2022.
  3. Varnish Software | WordPress consultant | 2017 Revamped Varnish Software's corporate website. Developed performance metrics for caching solution.
  4. Varnish Software | WordPress consultant | 2017 Offered specialized WordPress skills to overhaul Varnish Software's corporate website. Created performance evaluation instruments for their caching solution.
  5. Crowd Favorite Europe / Forsite Media | Senior engineer | 2014 — 2017 Created security software for use within the banking sector, created WordPress plugins and themes for large scale corporate websites, implemented API connections between WordPress sites and external corporate services.
  6. ComicJet | Founder | 2015 — 2022 Operate own enterprise. Developed a language-learning tool through comic reading. Responsible for design and full execution. Website: https://comicjet.com
  7. Forsite Media | Senior Engineer | 2014 — 2015 Developed security tools for the banking sector, commercial plugins for WordPress, and built large scale corporate websites.
  8. 10up | WordPress Engineer | 2013 — 2014 Led security audits for Fortune 500s; optimised high-traffic corporate sites.
  9. 10up | WordPress Engineer | 2013 — 2014 Conducted security auditing for various Fortune 500 companies and implemented high-performance versions of corporate sites with high traffic volume.
  10. Metronet | Senior Developer | 2012 — 2013 Developed open-source WordPress plugins, Facebook apps, corporate sites; spoke at industry events.
  11. Metronet | Senior Developer | 2012 — 2013 Developed open-source WordPress plugins, Facebook apps/pages, created corporate websites, and presented at industry conferences.
  12. PixoPoint | Owner operator | 2011 Created the first full-scale page/theme design editor for WordPress which later became the base for WP Paintbrush.
  13. WP Paintbrush | Co-owner | 2012 Collaborated with Instinct Entertainment to develop WP Paintbrush, an enhanced version of my earlier theme generator for WordPress.
  14. Automattic | 2011 Provided various security reports and recoded the WordPress.com Z-Bench theme.
  15. PixoPoint | Owner operator | 2011 Created the first full-scale page/theme design editor for WordPress which later became the base for WP Paintbrush.
  16. University of Otago / University of Calgary | Research scientist | 2003 — 2011 Applied computer modeling (Density Functional Theory) to predict novel coordination complex structures and analyze plant material extraction methods.
  17. University of Otago | Lab demonstrator | 2001 to 2002
  18. St Kilda Service Station | Sole charge shop attendant | 1999 — 2000
  19. Burnside Service Station | Sole charge shop attendant | 2001
  20. St Kilda Service Station | Sole charge shop attendant | 1999 — 2000
  21. Rooftops Restaurant | Assistant chef | 1998

Personal Projects🛠️

  1. Open source project contributions Contributed security and code fixes to WordPress core, Yoast SEO, AISEO, JetPack, Gravity Forms, WooCommerce and more.
  2. WordPress plugin and theme creation Created 41 public WordPress plugins, 16 actively maintained on wordpress.org. Top plugins: Disable Emoji's (70k+ sites), Unique Headers (20k+ sites), Spam Destroyer (9k+ sites). Developed eight public WordPress themes. Maintain 11 code libraries, mainly for WordPress development.
  3. Open source project contributions I've contributed code to the following open source projects:
    • WordPress core — Security fixes and general code improvements
    • WordPress SEO — Security and UI fixes
    • AISEO — Security fixes
    • JetPack — Added extra functionality to the Most Popular Posts widget
    • Minit plugin — Implemented extra hooks and extension functionality
    • Gravity Forms — Security fixes
    • WooCommerce — Security fixes
    • Dibs for WooCommerce — General code fixes
  4. Private/Commercial Projects Spam Destroyer link service: Developed a Laravel based service, designed to block invite link spam from platforms like Discord, Telegram, and others.
  5. WordPress plugin and theme creation Created 41 public WordPress plugins, 16 actively maintained on wordpress.org. Top plugins: Disable Emoji's (70k+ sites), Unique Headers (20k+ sites), Spam Destroyer (9k+ sites). Developed eight public WordPress themes. Maintain 11 code libraries, mainly for WordPress development.
  6. WordPress plugin creation I've created 41 publicly released WordPress plugins, with sixteen actively maintained on wordpress.org. Most popular ones include Disable Emoji's (70,000+ active sites), Unique Headers (20,000+ active sites), and Spam Destroyer (9000+ active sites).
  7. WordPress theme creation I've developed eight publicly released WordPress themes.

Community Work👥

  1. Contributor to WordPress Publications | 2007 — present Author at WP Tavern, WP Garage, and WP Realm.
  2. Conferences | Organiser | 2007 — 2019 WordCamp Europe 2019, WordCamp Norway 2013 and the Dunedin Supramolecular symposium 2007.
  3. Berlin Coworking admin | 2014 — present Administrator of Berlin Coworking Club. Currently run two coworking sessions per week for community members.
  4. Berlin Hikers | Community Leader | 2013 — 2022 Head admin for a hiking community. Successfully took it from 2,000 to 10,000 members. Managed logistics and membership. Supervised 40+ event organisers for successful hikes.
  5. Undiecar Championship | Founder | 2017 — 2022 Founded Undiecar Championship, a sim racing league. Led event planning, rules, and community engagement. Managed assistants and operations, including registration and scheduling. Grew to 2000+ amateur and semi-pro racers.
  6. Free Advice Berlin | Administrator | 2015 — 2016 Admin for an advice community on Facebook. Successfully took it from 8,000 to 30,000 members. Handled general administive issues and helped guide the community.
  7. Sports Management and Team Building | 2002 — 2009 Co-founded Dunedin Aces Inline Hockey Club, competed in NZ South Island Championship. Started Dunedin Bears Ice Hockey, won B-pool League title. Grew Dunedin Ice Hockey League from 3 to 12 teams. Managed finances, staff, refs, admin duties like ice booking. Key role in sports initiatives' success and growth.
  8. Community leadership | 2002 — present Founded and led diverse community groups; managed staff, set guidelines, and boosted engagement. Key achievements:
    • Berlin Coworking Club; grew to 2900+ members
    • Founded Undiecar League; grew to 2,000+ competitors.
    • Led Berlin Hikers, increased membership 2,000 -> 11,000.
    • Elevated Free Advice Berlin from 8,000 to 30,000 members.
    • Scaled Dunedin Ice Hockey League from 24 to 240 players.

Education🎓

  1. Master of Science | University of Otago | 2001 — 2002 Conducted research using computer modeling (Density Functional Theory) to predict the structures and stability of new coordination complexes. Published multiple research papers on the synthesis of new coordination complexes.
  2. Bachelor of Science | University of Otago | 1998 — 2000