Head of Communications and Public Affairs at University of East Anglia (2025-09 – 2026-05)
- Lead on all communications issues
- Advocacy and advice to the senior leadership team
- Communications strategy team and budgetary management
- Membership of Senior Leadership team
- Managed External and Internal communications teams
Head of Communications and Advocacy at University of East Anglia (2024-05 – 2025-09)
A significant University that recently celebrated its 60th year and one of the biggest employers in Norfolk and surrounding counties in the East of England with a major Medical school and a coming Dental School, a worldwide reputation for Research and teaching quality.
- Managed the Corporate Communications Function including Social Media and Student Communications teams
- Corporate affairs including Civic relationships and strategy
- Working closely across Public Affairs, and reputational work
- Close regular liaison with University Executive Team including the Vice Chancellor
Head of Strategic Communications at Middlesex University (2023-03 – 2024-05)
Interim Maternity Cover
- Managed strategic comms team corporate relations and multimedia campaigns
- Internal Communications lead – Lead pride and belonging campaigns and significant change management programme (2024)
- Public Affairs, Civic relations to Councils, Key Corporate Publications, Corporate and Stakeholder Relations
- External and Media relations
- Senior advocacy to Vice Chancellor and University Executive team
Head of Communications at London Borough of Newham Council (2022-05 – 2023-03)
Strategic Communications Lead at London Borough of Newham Council (2021-04 – 2022-05)
- Lead the Council's communications team of 15, £1m comms budget
- Lead Internal Communications
- Responsible for content across print digital web and social and internal communications
- Coordination and planning of all communications activity and campaigns/ Communications and Public affairs strategy
Mayoral Communications Manager to Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (2020-03 – 2021-04)
- A key member of the Mayor's Office dealing personally with all media for the Metro Mayor
- Communications strategy and planning
- Copywriting and media briefing for the Mayor
- Liaison with Corporate Press Office
- Public Affairs /Stakeholder Relations
Chief Media Officer at London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council (2017-04 – 2020-03)
Winner of 2 Comms 2.0 awards in 2018 and winner of LG Comms award for the councils summer events campaign in November 2019. Comms 2.0 Unawards winner December 2019 shortlisted for LGC comms awards Jan 2020
- Management of the media team responsible for all media responses and all Directorates - managing 6 communications officers
- Lead work on Consultations on numerous issues
- Dealt with significant national media issues crisis management including Silver command cross council liaison
- Crafted and delivered a new agreed Communications strategy
- Social and digital media
- Member of the Directorate Leadership team, senior advisory groups
Head of Communications at University of Hertfordshire (2016-03 – 2017-04)
A leading UK business facing University of over 24,000 students, 4,000 staff, 8 wholly owned subsidiary companies including the local UNO bus company and Hi Tech Bio Park - the biggest single employer in Hertfordshire with international partnerships in China, Malaysia, and Brazil.
- Lead the communications, digital web, publications and events teams
- Press PR and Public affairs, Crisis management
- Marketing campaigns leading to enhanced student recruitment (2016 and 17)
- Internal Communications, Corporate events and stakeholder relations
Media Manager at Creative Skillset (2014-10 – 2016-03)
The industry skills body for the Creative Industries, now called Screen Skills working with companies across film, television, radio, fashion, animation, games, visual effects, publishing, advertising, marketing communications and performing arts.
- Lead the communications strategy for Creative Skillset
- Lead comms on the influential Creative Skillset workforce survey
- Parliamentary & Public affairs team, corporate relations
- Member of Creative Industries Council Communications Group
- Industrial liaison with supported companies
- Member of start up comms team for new commercial venture Hiive
Communications Lead at Commonwealth Games England (2013-04 – 2014-10)
- Lead the communications team for the England team ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2014
- Crafted and delivered the Communications strategy for CGE
- Managed Press Office and comms team, sponsor relations lead
- Commissioned and managed agencies including creative work & PR agency
- Managed design of new website, Set social media strategy
- Ran CGE ambassador programme
- Managed communications around the successful Queens Baton Relay, one of the UKs most significant sporting participation campaigns delivering huge media return
Head of Communications at BBC Radio 5 Live (2006-01 – 2013-04)
A SONY award winning (2010, 2013,) BBC radio station specialising in live news, current affairs sports commentary, journalism and debate. Audience figures hit a record 7 million in 2010 and 2012.
- Crafted and delivered communications strategy and marketing campaigns
- Managed communications team and budget
- PR Team on key programming and events including Sports Personality of the Year 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, European football Championships 2012, Formula 1, Test Match Special Cricket, Wimbledon, 6 Nations, Rugby World Cup and Grand National
- Talent management for all Radio 5 live broadcasters including Mark Kermode, Nicky Campbell, Gabby Logan, Richard Bacon, Simon Mayo, and Robbie Savage Chris Mason and Laura Kuenssberg
- Lead PR team for relaunched BBC Asian Network 2005
Communications Officer at BBC Radio 5 Live (2003-05 – 2006-01)
Press and PR Manager at Teacher Training Agency (Now tda) (2002-01 – 2003-05)
The national body responsible for the training and development of teachers. Charged by the Department of Education to lead teacher recruitment in England and Wales.
- Lead PR on the award winning campaign to recruit candidates to teacher training, resulting in the highest recruitment in 25 years
- Managed two PR agencies
- Developed and delivered the corporate PR strategy and liaised closely with Chief Executive's Office, DfES Ministerial Office and PM Office at No 10
- Secondment to the DfES Press Office in 2003
National Media Officer at Barnardo's (1997-06 – 2002-01)
- Social Action Campaigns Lead PR on social action campaigns around prostitution, poverty and Parenting Matters, a campaign jointly hosted by Barnardo's and the Home Office, with then Home Secretary Jack Straw
- Managed fundraising sponsorship communications projects, including Barnardo's marathon team
- Part of pitch team securing commercial sponsorship from companies including Tesco (Charity of the year 1999) Mazda, The Guardian on Corporate Social Responsibility
Freelance Journalist at Various Publications (1998-01 – 2002-12)
- Highbury & Islington Express
- Hampstead & Highgate Express
- Mercury Press Liverpool
- Four Four Two magazine
- Hayters Sports Agency
- Local Government Chronicle
- LGC Net
- Professional Fundraising
- Pulse Magazine
