Simon Barrett Email & Phone Number

London, Gb

London, Gb

London, Gb

London, Gb

London, Gb

London, Gb

• Lead a team of communications officers to build the profile and protect the reputation of defence activity, both within the UK and in deployed locations, through the complete range of media tools and channels - including press, campaigns and digital. • Security cleared to the highest level. Provide trusted communications advice and regular face-to-face briefing to the Defence Secretary, Ministers, their special advisers and military chiefs. • Develop and maintain a strategic approach to communications, while handling highly classified and politically sensitive information in a pressurised, high-profile, fast-moving 24/7 media environment.

London, England, Gb

• Led and managed a team of press officers dealing with media enquiries across DfE policy areas. Daily interaction with national and local print and broadcast media to shape news coverage, build relationships and protect the reputation of the department. • Became a trusted media adviser to Ministers and special advisors. Mentored three team members to promotions. Fostered a strong team ethic during round of redundancies. Streamlined processes to boost output and maximise resources. • Promoted after 18 months (May 2014) to interim Chief Press Officer, newsdesk and strategy. Successfully brought together two disparate teams, responsible for both immediate reactive communications and forward-look communications strategy, in line with Downing Street priorities.

London, Gb

• Newsdesk press officer dealing with reactive media enquiries across Home Office policy areas. Simultaneously appointed press officer to the independent extradition review panel, leading on live high profile cases such as Gary McKinnon and Abu Hamza. • Moved to a specialism in policing and counter terrorism communications within the press office in December 2011. Led on proactive communications for major policy announcements including the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners and the launch of the National Crime Agency. • Selected from scores of applicants from government departments across Whitehall for a six-week secondment on promotion to the Prime Minister’s press office at 10 Downing Street.

• Built an extensive contact list leading to numerous exclusive stories and front pages. Presented and edited video news. As a trusted senior reporter I regularly deputised on newsdesk and was heavily involved in editorial and strategic planning.• Initiated and ran a two year campaign to back the local football club’s controversial application for a new stadium, including building key contacts with the club, local MPs, and hostile anti-stadium campaigners.

• Thrived in the pressurised environment of a daily newspaper with strict twice-daily deadlines. Quickly became a trusted source of high quality news products. Promoted within six months to specialism in education. • Once qualified as a senior reporter, regularly deputised on the newsdesk – subbing copy, presenting news lists to the editor and offering guidance to the reporting team.

Ba (Hons), Information And Media Studies

Nctj Pre-Entry Diploma - Newspaper Journalism

Nce Senior Reporter Qualification