Charly Leetham joins Nathan Wrigley to discuss her path from electronics and field service to WordPress support, and how she built a location-independent life working from a camper van across Australia.
Background
Charly’s interest in technology began as a teenager (amateur radio at 13) and led to an associate diploma in electronic engineering and work as a lab technician and field service tech. She worked in pre-sales, sales, contract and customer service management, then ran retail franchises that failed. In 2007 she pivoted to helping people with their tech needs; WordPress was new then, so she learned PHP, themes, plugins and troubleshooting. Nearly 20 years later she provides WordPress support, tech translations for small business owners, and remote technical troubleshooting.
Digital nomad lifestyle
Charly lives and works from a fitted camper van, traveling around Australia. Her van was fitted out by family and includes electrical work by her son; she also house sits occasionally. She moved to this lifestyle partly due to housing affordability and partly to gain the flexibility she always wanted (originally to be a work-from-home parent). She spends longer stays at chosen hubs—often weeks—then explores nearby areas within about 100 km.
Benefits
– Freedom to move and follow seasonal climates (migrating north in winter).
– Quality time with family—she travels with her father and values the shared experiences.
– Flexibility to work from beautiful locations and local communities, supporting small businesses in those areas.
– Ability to be present for family needs and to choose where to live day-to-day.
Drawbacks
– Limited living and workspace (small camper van, roughly a metre by a metre for workspace).
– Need to pack and stow equipment daily; no separate “office” to close the door on.
– Minimal possessions and no bulk buying; strict rules on what to keep (Charly uses a “needed it four times” rule before buying).
– Occasional loneliness or reduced daily human interaction; she balances this by spending time in local cafes or pubs and using online communities.
Tech setup
Charly’s work relies on a robust but compact kit:
– Laptop: an MSI (gaming-style) laptop for processing power and cooling.
– Peripherals: external microphone, external webcam, external 21″ monitor (mounted in the van), keyboard and mouse.
– Connectivity: Starlink satellite internet is central. She previously relied on mobile data, which can be unreliable in regional Australia. Starlink (she upgraded from v2 to v3) provides faster, more stable speeds than many landlines in regional areas. Requirements: a clear view of the sky (no trees/buildings blocking the dish), power for the router and dish (portable power stations or car batteries can be used), and simple ground mounts—no precise manual alignment is needed. There’s also a Starlink Mini aimed at backpackers for ultra-portable use.
– Power considerations: Starlink and peripherals need sufficient power; people use portable power stations or vehicle battery setups.
Work style and services
Charly runs a business helping small businesses manage their tech—bridging the gap between business owners and technical systems. Her services include:
– Plain-English translation of technical options and requirements.
– Advising on existing systems, integrating or finding better-fit solutions.
– Building and troubleshooting WordPress sites, diagnosing plugin conflicts, and coordinating fixes with plugin providers.
– Mediating between vendors and clients when integration or support issues overlap.
She emphasizes asking what the client is trying to achieve (input/output and business goals) rather than pushing technology as the solution. She also stresses that technology only helps you make money if used properly—not a guarantee on its own.
Client relationships and workflows
Charly’s practice is largely asynchronous and trust-based. She trains clients on communication norms (booking times, expected response windows). Clients know she’ll respond as soon as she has capacity; trust lets her be flexible while still being reliable. She’s comfortable ending client relationships that aren’t a good fit and sometimes recommends other providers when appropriate. Most work comes via word of mouth, with increasing marketing as she grows more comfortable scaling and explaining her approach.
Reflections
Charly recognizes the hard work behind her lifestyle and feels grateful for the life she’s built. She notes that this way of living won’t suit everyone—personality, social needs, and appetite for minimalist living are important factors. She also highlights opportunities for families who choose nomadic schooling and travel.
Where to find Charly
Her website is askcharlyleetham.com/connect-me (with dashes), where people can find links to her social profiles and book a free 30-minute breakthrough session. She’s active on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Rumble, and Odyssey, and produces a podcast called Making Tech Easy for Small Business Owners (short episodes focused on simplifying tech).
Summary
Charly’s story shows how a background in electronics and field service, combined with learning WordPress and tech troubleshooting, enabled a flexible, travel-focused way of life. Key enablers are reliable portable internet (Starlink), a compact but powerful tech kit, clearly defined client expectations and workflows, and the willingness to prioritize what’s essential.
