Job title was Senior Project Manager until February 2024Working across the entire network of a ferry company, my duties included;• Leading key operational and business projects such as the implementation of revised border regulations, implementing new onboard concepts and launching a passenger service on an existing freight route.• Standardising and revising business processes across the passenger and freight business.• Leading organisational cohesion, bringing together those functions that aren’t Global.• Assisting routes and onboard services in creating and developing understandings of what future tonnage should look like from an onboard commercial viewpoint.• Updating senior management on ferry industry developments through market intelligence and tracking news developments.

Company Director at Linkspan - not for profit company promoting ferry industry and sharing of news and information. Part of editorial team at NIFerry.co.uk writing regular articles.

Working in a governance role at a local authority I was responsible for;• Compliance with Access to Information legislation (GDPR, FOI, EIR, etc).• Developing policies to deal with operational issues.• Ensuring complaints compliance across the organisation.• Developing consultation responses.

I work as a consultant covering all aspects of the RoRo and Passenger Shipping Industry, especially Ship and Port operations but also all commercial areas.However, I can support any sector in the areas of;- Bringing Business Development Opportunities to fruition.- Business Improvement - fixing operational issues and delivering cost savings.- Preparing companies for the introduction of new digital solutions, including process review and optimisation. - Customer Experience Improvement.I am very flexible in terms of project conditions and duration.

Working across ten European countries for a ferry company, my duties included;• Reviewing Operational Processes to improve business performance, deliver cost savings and achieve customer experience improvements. Frequently, this took on a “trouble-shooting” nature.• Identifying requirements for IT and Digital Solutions and working with Build Teams to ensure successful implementation of new technology.• Running cross-functional agile teams to deliver projects across the areas of Operations, Customer Experience and Sales & Marketing.• Playing a lead role in specific high-level operational and Business Development projects. These included; new ship introduction, Covid-19 Risk Management and major customer service reviews.• Significant facilitation duties; bringing groups together for one-off workshops, work streams or ongoing teams to collaborate on business solutions.• In all tasks, I was required to create and deliver high quality presentations.

This was my own business, offering;• A full range of business improvement, development and strategy services, customer service bench-marking and improvement plans and project development support.• Acting on behalf of clients to set-up new operations (including contract negotiation).• Communications strategies covering marketing, PR and social media management.• RoRo and Passenger Shipping sector specific consultancy covering; operations management, tonnage guidance, market analysis and onboard services.

In preparation for this ‘new start’ ferry company securing final funding and business launch I acted in an Interim role. My duties included;• Handling negotiations and planning arrangements with ports and other stakeholders to accommodate a new ferry service.• Devising the onboard product and establishing running costs.• Creating team/organisational structures for shoreside and onboard operations.• Writing tender documents for concession outlets onboard.• Establishing an implementation plan for the launch of the service.• Working as part of the senior management team to make strategic business decisions.

Working as part of the senior management team for a company operating ferry routes across the Bay of Biscay my duties included; • Responsibility for onboard services, including the management of 150 agency catering crew and developing the onboard product such as bar and restaurant menus, shopping, onboard entertainment and the overnight accommodation offering. • Managing relationships with ports, agencies and other stakeholders, including statutory agencies such as the Police and UK Border Force/Irish Customs.• Overall responsibility for sales and marketing for both the passenger and freight business. This included; issuing press releases, being the UK/Ireland media contact point and direct management of social media channels. I worked with a marketing agency to create website content, e-Newsletters and advertising, having final sign off on all aspects.• Coordinating passenger sales efforts in conjunction with the yield management team. • Building relations with key freight customers and exploring ways to build freight volumes.• Responsibility for tourist and trade body relationships.• Overall responsibility for customer service including compliance with EU Passenger Rights Regulations and dealing with escalated complaints. • Due to a change in priorities by the parent company, I coordinated and managed much of the closure process for this business.

For various ferry companies across Europe I undertook freelance consultancy work which included; • Industry analysis and market research. • Benchmarking, "mystery shopper" and service improvement projects.• Working on the development of new routes and services, including advising on the development of onboard services • Assisting operators in seeking charter opportunities for ships and identifying new vessels.• Working with marketing teams on website development projects, the writing of brochures, onboard publicity material, e-Newsletters and social media support.

I was co-creator and On-Air Director of a community radio station broadcasting to the Larne (N.Ireland) area. I was responsible for;- creating a strongly branded seasonal radio which was very successful with listeners and advertisers.- co-writing a successful application for a full-time community radio license.- managing marketing, publicity and social media for the station.- recruiting, training and managing a large team of unpaid volunteers.- planning the programmes, presenters and music on the station.With overall responsibility for Advertising Sales I was responsible for;- Setting a pricing strategy.- Selling advertising including explaining the concept of radio advertising to those that had never used the medium before.- Working with clients to create great and unique advertisements.- During each of our broadcast periods we sold out of advertising and reached a high level of customer satisfaction.I was also one of the main presenters on the station, presenting key shows including the Breakfast and Drive Time slots and hosting large public events on behalf of the station.

During my period working for Northern Ireland's Examination Board, I held a variety of positions. These roles included;Working as a Researcher in the Chief Executive's Department;- Writing research and briefing papers for senior management.- Briefing senior management in preparation for appearances before public representatives.- Working with communications team on responses to publicly raised issues.I also held a number of operational roles which included;- Sole operation of some support services to teaching staff.- Working as part of a team organising training events for teachers.- Coordinating a support service for teachers for the implementation of a new online marks submission service.- Being a key part of various high risk, time-critical processes.

For an extended period of time I was a contributor to a range of publications including; local newspapers, hobby and travel magazines and professional journals.There was a particular emphasis on the roro and passenger shipping industry which helped to develop an in-depth understanding of the sector as well as an extended network of contacts.

Working in the Legislative Analysis section of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Research and Library Department I;- was responsible for writing and contributing to research papers on proposed legislation.- assisting with Research and Library public publications such as fact sheets on the process of the legislature.- appearing before Assembly committees to explain legislation to the elected representatives.