Cayla Ann Tomás Murray Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• Elected as the Chairperson for Finance, Economic Opportunities & Tourism and managed a budget of R537 998 ($29,589.89) for 2023/24 to ensure meaningful oversight and transparency, ensure public engagement and process legislation over the respective Provincial Departments. • Lobbied for Senate Representatives at the US Senate on renewal of the African Growth and Opportunities Act by meeting with Senate officials responsible for International Relations, visiting the State Senate and engaging with the President Pro-Tempore in California and tabling a resolution to support the Act and bi-lateral relationships with the US which was personally delivered by the Premier of the Western Cape to officials in Washington. Further assisted in the identification and appointment of a professional lobbyist to assist the DA in Washington and engaged with affected stakeholders across the value chain, including the citrus industry, to formulate a report to send to the Minister of Trade and Industry and push for the renewal. This contributed to its renewal and South Africa’s inclusion. • Processed and guided a total of 7 bills. This included the Copyright and Performers Protection, enhancing transparency and civic engagement, resulting in 5 public hearings with 110 participants each.• Appointed as the Political Constituency Head for 5 municipal wards in the Metro and managed a total budget of $14,850 for 2023/34, of which I fundraised R70,000 ($3,850). Orchestrated a by-election campaign, achieving a significant vote-share increase to 92.26% from 88%, demonstrating effective electoral management and public engagement.highlight global environmental stewardship using my parliamentary budget of R50 000 ($2,750).• Drove Port of Cape Town's efficiency upgrades, enhancing economic infrastructure. This resulted in a detailed report being prepared by the standing committee and sent to the President and Minister to implement its recommendations and improve port efficiency.

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• Developed and executed a comprehensive communication strategy, wrote multiple policy statements weekly and organised up to four high-profile events which aligned with strategic messaging. This resulted in extensive earned media with an average of 1,800 media hits, including media interviews, per event – made possible through building strong relationships with media contacts locally, nationally and internationally. This initiative was aimed at enhancing public awareness and support for the Western Cape Government’s efforts in job creation, public safety, and wellness.• Led a high-impact public relations campaign for the COVID-19 response and vaccination program, articulating a narrative that underlined the success of vaccination efforts and facilitated the strategic reopening of the local economy. This included organising the high-profile vaccination of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu which received extensive coverage across international and local media. • Oversaw the Premier’s weekly digital press conferences and planned strategic events while multitasking and contributing to an impressive provincial vaccination milestone of over 3 million doses by May 2023.• Fostered a collaborative partnership with the European Union, Department of Agriculture, and key industry stakeholders to secure the geographic indicator status for Rooibos tea, resulting in a successful launch event in Clanwilliam. Orchestrated multinational events and media relations campaigns, reinforcing the value of protected designations of origin, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Cape Town Area, South Africa

• Led a team of five to collaborate with an external agency, rolling out multi-channel campaigns that enhanced stakeholder communication and media presence. Developed and executed a public health communication strategy, in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), totalling R1 million ($55,000) which effectively engaged community organisations through external communication. This resulted in positive behavioural change in response to COVID-19 and reduced the anticipated number of deaths in the informal settlement of Khayelitsha.• Crafted a comprehensive PR and marketing strategy for the launch of 1000 new law enforcement officers, producing a variety of content across digital and traditional media, significantly increasing public engagement and awareness.• Managed strong media relations, performing daily analytical reviews of media coverage and risk, while steering parliamentary communication processes including questioning and speech writing resulting in a total of 500 positive media hits a month for the political principal.

Cape Town Area, South Africa

• Crafted a targeted brand identity for the Minister aligned with political and constituency needs, enhancing media engagement and strategic communication across multiple platforms.• Spearheaded the organisation and management of key events, notably a health-focused workshop at Kirstenbosch Gardens, which drew over 100 participants from impoverished communities.• Managed client expectations of the principal by increasing his earned media from 30 to 320 hits per month within 6 months by implementing a comprehensive brand strategy monitored using Newsclip Media Monitoring.

Cape Town Area, South Africa

• Directed strategic communications and media campaigns for chairpersons across four key legislative committees, bolstering public engagement in critical policy areas by issuing weekly press releases and media alerts, drafting speeches, copywriting and copy editing, and parliamentary questions bi-monthly, coordinating a network of 60 international and local media contacts, and organising and managing quarterly press conferences.• Researched and prepared detailed daily memos for political heads ahead of major stakeholder and media engagements.

Westminster

• Organised fringe events with up to 50 attendees and exhibition stands for bi-annual Liberal Democrat conferences; coordinated speakers; sent invitations and managed RSVPs; prepared literature; uploaded podcasts, videos, and photos of events; and took and distributed minutes, whilst collaborating with 10 executive committee members.• Prepared and sent weekly newsletters using MailChimp, managed Twitter, Instagram and Facebook social media accounts, responded to 2 email accounts, and oversaw 500 members.

City Of Westminster, England, United Kingdom

• Assisted Greg Mulholland MP with daily tasks including writing press releases, early day motions, media monitoring reports, research policy, organising events, monitoring postal correspondence and emails, and speech writing.

• Aided Dr Martin Hansen in investigating the relationship between Members of Parliaments’ rebellions within the House of Commons and their promotion within their party. Recoded information on Excel to run reliable statistical models and worked with a Danish translator to code the information on Excel.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, Business Administration And Management, General, 3.45

Activities and Societies: • Recipient of the IE High Potential Award Scholarship. • Appointed as Chief Financial Officer for my final year.

Nqf Level 5, Leading Change By Championing Gender Equality In The Public Sector

Young Leaders Programme, Politics

Master’S Degree, African Politics Msc, First Class

Bachelor’S Degree, International Relations And Politics, First Class Honours

Activities and Societies: In 2014/15, I was awarded a scholarship through the Erasmus + Programme to study at Charles University, Czechia.

International Baccalaureate, Visual Arts And Design, World Literature, Psychology, Biology, Italian And Mathematics, 31/45

Activities and Societies: Richard Taunton's Student Union and Tanzania 2010