Brian Finnegan Email & Phone Number

I am a leader and communications specialist with an innate ability to bring and work together with strong, talented, motivated teams. I always get the best from people, inspiring confidence and loyalty, and creatively stimulating them to shine. I get my hands dirty on every level of a project, while allowing my team members to excel with their individual talents and creativity. People like working for and with me, and I like working with people.In August 2019 I was appointed Director of Communications at ILGA Europe in Brussels. ILGA-Europe are an independent, international non-governmental umbrella organisation bringing together over 600 organisations from 54 European and Central Asian countries. We are a driving force for political, legal and social change in the region. I manage a creative communications team at ILGA-Europe with three aims: connecting the organisations work with membership organisations and activists, communicating the advocacy work of ILGA-Europe at an EU institutional level, and bringing stories to the media that will help shape the rhetoric on what is happening for LGBTI people in Europe and Central Asia.I was Editor-in-chief of GCN, Ireland's LGBT publication for 16 years, with a mission to promote diversity and a sense of belonging and community, along with a commercially successful magazine. Over a time of incredible change for the LGBT community in Ireland, GCN’s business and brand grew steadily and expanded, both in print and in line with developments in the digital arena, also successfully expanding into regular eventing. I also created the annual Irish LGBT awards ceremony, The GALAS, which continues to honour volunteers, organisations, activists, entertainers and business owners today.I have authored two novels, which were published by Hachette Books Ireland, and have ghost-written three autobiographies. MY CORE SKILLS: * Communication* Creative Leadership* Writing and Editing* Diversity and Inclusion* Concept and Brand Development* Event creation and development* Strategic Planning and Strategic Project Management

Listed skills include Publishing, Entertainment, Film, Journalism, and 38 others.

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  Director Of Communications

  Ilga-Europe

  Jul 2019 - Present - Brussels Area, Belgium

  I lead the communications team at ILGA-Europe, an independent, international non-governmental umbrella organisation bringing together nearly 600 organisations from 54 countries in Europe and Central Asia. We are a driving force for political, legal and social change in Europe and Central Asia. Our vision is of a world where dignity, freedoms and full enjoyment of human rights are protected and ensured to everyone regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.