For the past 15 months I’ve been working as an Emergency Communications Consultant for UNICEF Iraq.I was brought in specifically to raise the digital media profile of UNICEF Iraq as it met the health, welfare, education and sanitation needs of not just 250,000 Syrian refugees but also 3.3 million displaced Iraqis.Overshadowed by the crisis in Syria, UNICEF Iraq was struggling to publicize its work internationally and to meet the visibility requirements of its major donors, particularly the European Union. I was instrumental in establishing and populating a Medium page where our content could live. We strengthened the UNICEF Iraq Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts and added Instagram, which quickly grew to 11,700 followers.I provided much of the editorial content for the Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan, a $500 million appeal, launched in Brussels last summer at a time in which less than 40 per cent of funding for basic emergency services had been received.I raised UNICEF Iraq’s profile internationally by regularly contributing to the UNICEF HQ web site and social media platforms. I also produce, direct, shoot and edit video, and am familiar with the Adobe Premier Pro editing and Lightroom programmes.I love finding and telling stories and I take pride in communicating in clear, strong language that resonates because it avoids jargon and cliché

My job involves researching major UNICEF programme issues from scratch, interviewing key contacts, developing the human interest angle for both the text story and the video narrative and directing the videography and video editing through to final presentation. I have worked in Kenya, Haiti, Jamaica, Senegal, Ethiopia, Belize, Honduras, Belgium and the State of Palestine creating these stories. I’m the Senior Producer of the European Union portal at UNICEF.org (http://www.unicef.org/eu/). It showcases the partnership between UNICEF and the EU. I produce much of the content for the site, which ranges from interviews with EU and UNICEF leaders, to producing stories that highlight the efficacy of the partnership both in the field and at the highest policy levels. I work closely with UNICEF leaders and senior European Union partners to shape the advocacy messages and to ensure that the portal accurately profiles this vital UNICEF relationship. I have worked with UNICEF celebrity Goodwill Ambassadors writing and producing PSAs on a wide range of issues, including the programme that marked the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. I work with UNICEF colleagues and partners at senior levels producing advocacy videos. I write and produce fund raising videos and stories for the UNICEF Executive Board. I have won “Communicator” and “New York Festival” awards for my work in the field, covering issues that affect children in the State of Palestine.Writing and human-based storytelling is my core strength. I take pride in writing clearly. I strongly believe that as the humanitarian arena becomes more challenging it is more important than ever