Isla Macfarlane Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

• Globespan Media publishes leading titles for the UK’s house building community, with an audience which spans the entire supply chain from bricklayers to boardroom.
• Source, write, commission, edit and upload exclusive news stories, features and analyses on a daily basis.
• Successfully conceptualise and launch new products including digital newsletters, podcasts and videos.
• Work closely with advertisers to create content that speaks to their market.
• Represent the company on panels, podcasts and at industry events.
• Gained a working knowledge of SEO and web analytics.

Dubai

• CPI Financial is a financial publishing house in Dubai, with a portfolio of industry-leading titles and events. My objective was to dazzle our corporate clients with unique content solutions, including trade and.
• I wrote for a wide range of audiences including consumers, high net worth individuals, c-level executives and government institutions.
• Clients varied from local banks to international players such as Thomson Reuters.
• Projects included financial literacy guides for a government saving scheme and economic forecasts for banking clients.
• In the space of a week I could cover wealth management for a consumer audience, the Saudi banking sector for a business audience or a hotel review for a lifestyle section.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Islamic Business & Finance is a monthly title which I had overall responsibility for; I was tasked with raising the title’s profile, increasing revenues and transforming complex copy into accessible, engaging content.
• Created the content strategy; wrote, commissioned and edited articles; oversaw the production process.
• Broke stories that mattered to Muslim consumers, including a lack of Shari’ah-compliant student finance and products incorrectly marketed as Halal.
• Built an impressive network of contacts and freelancers to provide exclusive stories, high profile interviews and timely comment to the Islamic business community.
• Conducted several high-profile interviews including Central Bank Governors, finance ministers and banking CEOs
• Worked closely with the sales team to produce revenue-generating content.

Dubai

• When CPI Financial flicked the switch on its new website, I had full responsibility for setting the standard of its online offerings.
• Uploaded content that I created, commissioned and edited on a daily basis.
• Developed a working knowledge of SEO and web analytics.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Researched, wrote, commissioned, and edited articles for the company’s portfolio of financial titles.
• Supported other editors by proof reading, fact-checking and overseeing the production process; I came to be relied upon as the office pedant.

London, United Kingdom

Specialising in India, I researched, designed, costed and coordinated luxury travel itineraries for high net worth individuals

Bath, United Kingdom

Assisting in the running of a landmark tourist attraction in Bath dedicated to one of its most famous residents: greeting visitors; giving talks on the history of the city, the Regency Period and Jane Austen’s life and work; assisting in organising and running the annual Jane Austen Festival; contributing to the production of the company’s in-house.

Poland

I spent a summer teaching English as a Foreign Language and Drama at a summer school in Poland

Kyushu, Japan

I taught English in a summer school in Japan which catered for children with learning disabilities

Bengaluru Area, India

Assisting magazine and broadcast production in a non-profit communications company based in Bengaluru, which sought to give a voice to the minority groups of India

Hurstpierpoint, UK

I assisted in teaching a Saturday morning drama workshop for children at a local theatre, having been involved in amateur dramatics all my life. I created lesson plans, led classes and produced plays to showcase the children’s work.