Managed the Press Secretaries for the Minister for Defence Procurement and the Minister for People and Veterans plus their teams of 2x3 Communication Officers.Provided strategic communications guidance to ensure cohesion between the Defence Secretary, ministerial offices, military chiefs and MOD Press Office.Maximised positive media coverage, rebut inaccuracies and maintain and enhance the MOD’s reputation in the UK and overseas across all news outlets and digital channels.Played a full and proactive role in the Directorate’s leadership team often deputising for my Grade 6.Ensured the News team can surge effectively to support major events or deal with crises.I supported in leading and growing the News team – overseeing its transformation into an enhanced digital operation that provides a complete service in terms of responding to media queries.Ensured a joined up approach across the News teams to work together to deliver departmental objectives. This is often done in tandem with Departments across Whitehall in the interests of cross-Government prioritiesProvided coaching/training and development by mentoring the News team and Senior Communications Officer cadreInvolved in the strategic planning process from an early stage working with communications teams across the Directorate, policy teams, Private Offices and Special Advisors to produce robust delivery plans.Engaged proactively in high level and senior cross-Government news planning efforts including No.10 meetings and the work of partner departmental Media TeamsProactively worked with the wider management team to ensure a continuity of effort and coherence of message between external communications output and more sustained longer term pieces of work or campaigns.Worked closely with the campaigns, events and digital teams and with communications colleagues in all disciplines so day-to-day reactive and media management work was joined up with wider communications strategies and campaigns.

Ran the Equipment News Team and overseen the air, land, maritime, nuclear, cyber and space portfolios. This included periodic defence reviews such as the Modernising Defence Programme, Integrated Review, Defence Command Paper and spending reviews.My team consisted of three Communications Officers.Minister for Defence Procurement media lead. Reported to Defence Secretary and his Spads.Produced communications strategies and products covering the full spectrum of MOD procurement, financial and capability decisions. This ranged from news releases, digital products and media facilities to liaising with journalists to shape their narrative to avoid negative coverage and present the MOD in the most favourable light.Provided media and parliamentary training for ministers and senior MOD representatives. Managed various stakeholders within ministerial offices, single services, policy officials, DE&S, DNO, SDA, DSTL, DASA, UKSA and the defence industry.Developed effective working relations with cross-gov colleagues focusing on No.10, FCO, DIT and BEIS. As I covered the financial management of the department, I was also in regular contact with HMT.Followed instruction from No.10 Spads to promote the UK exports, MOD investment across UK regions and promote the benefits of the union.

Lead Communications Officer for: Defence finance/budgetsArms controlLand exports and general export policyDSTLEU fundsScience & Technology and InnovationDefence industry and SMEsArmoured vehiclesArmy helicopter assetsBallistic missile defence

Headed the Ulster Unionist Party Westminster Office. Advised UUP MPs and Peers on policy issues. Analysed, evaluated and interpreted data to ensure MPs/Peers were accurately informed on key issues. Prepared and presented briefing notes and speeches for committees, parliamentary questions and debates. Controlled UUP Westminster internal and external communications.Monitored media coverage, briefed Members on relevant developments and managed media outlets accordingly. Responded to press, private and public correspondence and enquiries.Developed and maintained current knowledge of legislation, early day motions, hansard and other parliamentary activity. Ensured MPs/Peers were fully briefed on Ministerial Statements, Urgent Questions, Opposition and Backbench motions put to the House. Represented UUP when MPs/Peers could not attend meetings with Ministers, MPs, Peers, department officials, businesses and organisations. Line managed and supervised staff members and interns. Undertook economic, legislative and political research. Managed the schedules of UUP parliamentarians. Secretary of the UUP Parliamentary Group. UUP representative in the Westminster Foundation for Democracy Multi-Party Office. Managed UUP/Samopomich Ukrainian decentralisation project. UUP representative on the Parliamentary and Civil Service Correspondence Contact Group. Secretary of the Westminster Unionist Association.

Managed a varied portfolio of clients from the private, public and third sectors.Developed extensive lobbying strategies to get the best results for clients in Stormont, Westminster and Brussels.Oversaw wide-ranging communications strategies and public relations initiatives.Created daily, weekly and monthly reports on the latest sector specific political developments across the NI Assembly, UK Parliament, Dáil Éireann and European Parliament.Developed detailed analysis of party policy, government legislation, consultations and election manifestos.Provided preparative presentations, press releases and reports for clients ahead of events and meetings.Developed and co-ordinated Stratagem's political engagement events.Assisted clients on their events such as Age Sector Platform's 'Pensioners Parliament'.Monitored and networked at issue-specific report launches, policy sessions and political events.Worked on the campaigns such as the development of: 'Better Together'; ‘Equal Access to Cancer Drugs’; and ‘The North/South Interconnector’.Led on party conference social media analysis and assisted with event management of the Stratagem Coffee Club (a political fringe event).Managed the Stratagem intern programme.

Conducted analysis and research for the production of weekly detailed reports on Northern Ireland, United Kingdom and European Union legislation for relevant clients.Attended NI Assembly Plenary Sessions and Committee meetings in Stormont and liaised with departmental staff regarding the Business Diary.Published several client specific research papers on legislation proposals, amendments and implementation impact.Daily monitoring of Parliamentary Questions, House of Lords Questions, Northern Ireland Assembly Committees and Early Day Motions. Monitored Parliamentary Motions, NI Executive and departmental press releases and media commentary. Participated in seminars and training courses regarding media relations, lobbying, public relations and communications.Maintained and updated the firm’s databases of political structures.Developed and updated the events and consultations section of Stratagem’s website.

Selected as the sole representative from the United Kingdom for the Europe Meets China Forum.Presented theories and views on globalisation, trade links between the European Union and China and the benefits of understanding each other’s culture to major Chinese, EU and German political representatives, non-profit organisations and leading figures within the arts. Worked with the Federal Foreign Office, European Commission and the National Museum on developing stronger links with China by holding cultural exchange events, evidence-led seminars and a wide-range of distinguished speaker presentations. Initially as an individual and then as part of an academic group, i formulated policies and strategies on Sino-European economic, diplomatic and cultural development to present to the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.