Over 35 years of communications experience in local government, the charity sector, railway industry, and in freelance PR. Accomplished in public relations strategy, media relations, social media, brand, and crisis management. Managed public relations and press office teams; campaigning and public affairs project leadership roles. Proven track record at Oxfordshire County Council, CoreFiling, British Lung Foundation, Action for Blind People/RNIB, Guide Dogs, Arthritis Care, and in the railway industry with Network SouthEast.

Project managed the production of new marketing collateral, implementing a re-positioning strategy that focussed on product benefits, rather than the company’s technical expertise in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). This approach was designed to stimulate interest among non-tech audiences:• Leaflets: I wrote and co-designed the company’s product literature; an essential part of sales and alliances’ promo toolkit, successfully generating new leads.• Videos: Produced scripts and storyboards for product videos, now available for awareness raising at international conferences and exhibitions.• Website: Created concise, attention-grabbing headlines/content to de-mystify descriptions of the company’s XBRL products. The refreshed webpages encouraged customers to find out more and resulted in a spike in new contacts.

I managed national media relations for the Clean Air campaign, securing regular on-message, thought provoking coverage, using case studies, blogs, opinion, and expert quotes. For example: promoting the benefits of the Mayor of London’s T-Charge.World COPD Day and Breathe Easy Week:Project managed two of the charity’s most high profile media relations campaigns for these flagship lung health events. By strategically gathering local statistics, case studies, experts and bloggers, I delivered comprehensive and targeted coverage across national, lifestyle and specialist interest media, and in regional newspapers. For example: Professor Sir David King’s blog on the dangers of pollution to children in cars, covered in most national newspapers. Employing a radio agency for World COPD Day, I sourced and trained spokespeople for rolling interviews on nearly 30 BBC and independent stations, promoting the charity’s online breath test, and encouraging the government to commit to a lung health taskforce. I strategically used video editing apps to record and place filmed interviews on newspaper websites, enhancing exposure of the charity’s lung health messages; responding to the latest digital needs of news outlets.Managed the launch of the charity’s downloadable fundraising ‘single’ ‘Lean on Me’ – based on Bill Withers’ classic. By ‘shooting’ and editing a video promo, used as a VNR, I secured coverage on BBC TV and radio and in regional press. Publicity helped propel the song up the download charts! I co-edited the charity’s Twitter @lunguk creatively and strategically posting videos, photos and links, making and contributing to the news agenda on lung health and the charity’s fundraising activities.Collaborated with a content marketing agency, Media Planet, writing forewords, by-lined to the charity’s CEO, for two health feature supplements in The Guardian.Developed and maintained a comprehensive network of national health and environment correspondents.

I managed the PR team for the whole organisation. This included developing a social media strategy, enhancing two-way communications with conventional media and stakeholders. I advocated an integrated approach to comms, working closely with marketing, digital media and internal communications:• Created and implemented communications strategy for development and sale of the charity’s sheltered housing for people with sight loss; Swail House. Gained tenants’ support and balanced media coverage on a very sensitive situation.• Developed and managed the ‘See the Capability’ employer awards, designed to support the charity’s strategy, promoting careers for visually impaired people. Gave recognition to major retailers, including Asda, gaining high profile coverage in trade media, and national press. • Facilitated media interview training courses for senior management.• Prominent public speaking, including promoting the film 'Notes on Blindness' at the Oslo Opera House, Norway.• Successfully raised the media-profile of the CEO, arranging for The Guardian (Response) to interview him about welfare reform and the resulting challenges for people with sight loss.• Project managed internal communications for the RNIB/Action Group Strategy Consultation. Used multi-media; exceeded employee feedback targets.• Developed Action’s brand values, managing an internal communications programme to successfully ‘sell’ the ethos to colleagues. • Managed impactful media campaigns, including:- Photo-stories of blind children taking part in Boots Actionnaires Athletics event (coverage used successfully in persuading Boots Opticians to renew their sponsorship);- A package of case studies to help launch and raise the profile of iCan; an assistive technology fundraising campaign (the initiative meeting its six-figure donation target).

1/2 Media Relations ManagerManaged media relations campaigns and principal events for the whole organisation. Four direct reports:• Press release and feature writing, including copy for a 15-month feature series in People’s Friend magazine, successfully encouraging more people to volunteer as puppy walkers.• A good track record securing national press and broadcast exposure for major events and announcements:- Guide Dog Week: Daily Mirror and PA at launch of guide dogs for under-16s.- Shades Day: coverage on over 50 regional radio stations, plus national TV Breakfast News.• ‘Corporate’ writing; produced charity’s annual review, and report and accounts documents.• Diversity trainer and facilitator.2/2 Public Policy & Campaigns ManagerPart of the Public Affairs team, I led successful campaigns, from strategic planning to implementation, including lobbying, communication forums, and community ‘gatherings’.• Organised receptions at the four ‘nation’ parliaments, encouraging politicians to support investment in rehabilitation services for people with sight loss...• ... Drafted Early Day Motions (EDMs) and Parliamentary Questions, organised photocalls and stunts involving MPs; successfully gaining agreement from Ministers to commit greater resources to rehab support.• Managed the ‘Say No to Shared Surfaces’ campaign, highlighting the dangers such schemes pose to elderly people and children, as well as those with sight loss; thus increasing lobbying impact. A number of local authorities re-designed their street plans as a result.

I managed PR and fundraising events, including the charity’s London Marathon running team; together with media and celebrity liaison: • Arthritis Care's Friends' Reception (hosted by Duke of Westminster).• Arthritis Care Video Challenge Awards Ceremony (hosted by Terry Wogan and Jane Asher).

Returned to full time education as a mature student.Graduated with a BA (Hons) degree, 2:1, in Public Relations and Media, including Linguistics pathway module.

Various PR and press officer roles for train companies operating on the national railway network:• I was a member of the busy British Rail Southern Region / Network SouthEast press office (Dec 1989 - Jan 1992) that managed intensive media scrutiny following the Cannon Street train crash. I answered over 200 enquiries from journalists in the immediate aftermath of the accident, many through the night as part of an emergency on-call rota.• 'The voice of BBC Radio Kent', I provided daily travel bulletins on the breakfast show and drivetime.• During my time with Southeastern Railway (Jan 1992 - Jun 1996), I was responsible for coordinating a number of high profile events, including the Royal opening of Ashford’s new station by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, and official launch of the Networker train.• I also managed Southeastern's sponsorship programmes including Kent Music School and the Shepway Festival.NOTE:13 Jul 1987 - Dec 1989: Clerical officer at Reading railway station.