Experience

Turquoise Mountain

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director of Communications, Saudi Arabia

  • Apr 2017 - Present

  • Created and oversaw the implementation of strategic communication to support crafts development in Saudi Arabia, and particularly to help artisans generate income. • Managed client relationships for commercial projects in thei hospitality, tourism, and corporate sectors - meeting briefs and aligning proposals with local artisanal capabilities and development initiatives. •Authored grants to help ensure the financial sustainability of the organization and its programmes. • Documented the stories, oral histories and tradition of crafts and artisans, including co-authoring and overseeing the publication of a coffee-table book and contributing to Assouline's Crafts of the Kingdom. • Supported the design and delivery of crafts development programmes in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and the Royal Commission for AlUla. • Built an effective communication department, including establishing internal procedures, defining goals and success criteria, and managing team development. • Provided training for communication team on best-practices, including effective reporting, establishing 2-way feedback systems, and supporting community engagement and empowerment. •Provided training to clients such as the Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence, Riyadh, so that their employees can effectively speak about the hotel’s artisanal collections. •Collaborated with Google to provide training for artisans, and to create online training in Arabic on topics such as entrepreneurship and marketing. •Featured as a speaker and panelist on traditional crafts in the Irish Embassy in Riyadh, Princess Nora University, The Women’s' Skills Business Bureau, the British Embassy in Riyadh, Corona women's association in Riyadh. • Helped showcase traditional crafts in international and national platforms including exhibiting in the G20, E-Visa, Red Sea Week. Show less



Fairmont Raffles Hotels International

• Social Media Assistant Manager

  • May 2012 - Jun 2013

  •Developed the first centralized social media department for three iconic hotels and oversaw all aspects of social media projects from strategic planning and budgeting to implementation, hiring staff and working with third party agencies. •Ensured brand cohesiveness across the hotels in keeping with worldwide corporate directions and values, while maintaining the unique positioning and individuality of each hotel. •Audited and participated in social media platforms to generate insights about guests and optimize direct communication. Show less



Syria Trust for Development

• Non-profit Organization Management
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Communication Consultant

  • Dec 2011 - Apr 2012

  Restructured the communication department to integrate strategic communication into programmes and to promote two-way dialogue with beneficiaries. Project tasks included training the communication team (strategy writing skills, presentation skills, building communication working groups etc.), creating communication manuals and overseeing a case study in Aleppo. Restructured the communication department to integrate strategic communication into programmes and to promote two-way dialogue with beneficiaries. Project tasks included training the communication team (strategy writing skills, presentation skills, building communication working groups etc.), creating communication manuals and overseeing a case study in Aleppo.



Rawafed,The Cultural Project of The Syria Trust for Development

• Syria

• Communication Manager

  • Mar 2010 - Dec 2011

  • Authored and implemented communication strategies for several development programmes (The Cultural Projects Incubator, Investment in Cultural Resources, Interactive Theatre in Public Schools) with a focus on grassroots communication and community mobilization. • Produced more frequent and higher quality media coverage of Rawafed by developing a proactive approach for engaging, assisting and creatively pitching media. • Developed a holistic 5-year strategy for Rawafed that integrates communication in the early planning stages of programmes and built a solid communication infrastructure and processes for team to produce high-quality literature and support materials. • Wrote a digital strategy based on online research and mapping and managed the development of two websites. • Authored and implemented a fundraising strategy, including the creation of The Creativity Support Network, a distinguished platform for corporate sponsors who are leaving a cultural footprint in Syria. In addition, lead on sustaining and improving donor relations (meetings, donor reports, monthly updates). Show less



Tompkins Builders

• Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator

  • Aug 2006 - Aug 2008

  • Successfully developed relationships with media outlets and reporters including the Washington Business Journal, the Washington Post, and local and national trade magazines. Increased company visibility through press releases interviews and article placement. • Planned and coordinated marketing campaigns and publicity events, including the Annual Market Breakfast Forecast, the Centennial celebrations, and the Martin Luther King Memorial Community Outreach Campaign. • Created, designed, edited and authored The Builder, a quarterly magazine for employees and clients relaying the latest company and industry news and happenings. Show less



American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communication Coordinator

  • Sep 2004 - Jul 2006

  • Initiated and planned media relations and publicity events, including conferences, film festivals, and the annual four-day convention. • Co-authored a successful proposal on behalf of a disadvantaged individual for grants from the Small Business Association (SBA). Only three Arab American individuals have successfully petitioned for such grants. • Quoted by media outlets including The Associated Press, Times Online, MSNBC, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. • Networked with major Hollywood studios, filmmakers, and advertising agencies to address cultural sensitivity and accuracy issues. Show less