Experience

The Poppy Factory

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of Communications

  • Feb 2023 - Present

  I lead all communications activity for a national employment charity supporting Armed Forces veterans with mental and physical health conditions, managing a small team of marketing and digital specialists. As Head of Communications and previously as Senior Communications Manager, I am responsible for delivering external and internal content including marketing and PR, online and social media, and corporate communications. I have developed and implemented effective communications… Show more I lead all communications activity for a national employment charity supporting Armed Forces veterans with mental and physical health conditions, managing a small team of marketing and digital specialists. As Head of Communications and previously as Senior Communications Manager, I am responsible for delivering external and internal content including marketing and PR, online and social media, and corporate communications. I have developed and implemented effective communications strategies to support fundraising, awareness-raising and operational outreach and engagement throughout England and Wales. Since 2019 our team has transformed the digital presence of The Poppy Factory by overhauling the website and focusing on its visibility and accessibility to key audiences. We have created new systems for digital referrals, embedded search engine optimisation as a discipline, and created powerful new content. Alongside digital development, I have supported the delivery of key events including ministerial, VIP and celebrity visits, ticketed special events, and our annual Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, attended by senior members of the Royal Family. I bring the charity's work to life through stories of the people we support, both online and offline. I have also played a central role in developing our new visitor centre in Richmond-upon-Thames, helping to create a range of audio-visual and display content and shape the visitor experience.

• Senior Communications Manager

  • Nov 2019 - Feb 2023

  As Senior Communications Manager I led all communications activity for a national employment charity supporting Armed Forces veterans with mental and physical health conditions, managing a small team of marketing and digital specialists.

• Senior Media & PR Manager

  • Jul 2018 - Feb 2023

  Leading all media and PR activity to promote the UK’s leading national charity supporting injured, sick and wounded veterans to get back into meaningful work. During this period I oversaw a threefold increase in coverage across print, broadcast and online.



Barnardo's

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• London Media & Communications Manager

  • Mar 2015 - Jul 2018



Hammersmith & Fulham Council

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Officer

  • Aug 2012 - Feb 2015

  Digital video was a key focus of my communications work with the council and I led the development of in-house video by conceiving, filming and editing a series of short films to promote council services and events and the work of partner organisations, and promoting them through social media and other online channels. My role also involved writing, editing and managing online news and other content; responding quickly and effectively to media enquiries relating to the council;… Show more Digital video was a key focus of my communications work with the council and I led the development of in-house video by conceiving, filming and editing a series of short films to promote council services and events and the work of partner organisations, and promoting them through social media and other online channels. My role also involved writing, editing and managing online news and other content; responding quickly and effectively to media enquiries relating to the council; developing campaigns to promote council and community; using social media to ensure maximum impact of communications; writing speeches, drafting quotes and preparing councillors for interview, and selling in stories and developing relationships with journalists, including those working in broadcast, print and online. Until June 2014 I worked almost exclusively on the Team White City project, through which H&F Council worked with the community to empower local people in a part of west London that is undergoing major transformation. I developed, launched and managed the website teamwhitecity.org, and worked across multiple digital platforms to encourage residents take up opportunities for jobs, skills and training, and to learn about local support and take part in decision-making. My role also involved editing and commissioning work for the Team White City fanzine, a bi-monthly magazine designed to reflect the informal, diverse and multicultural nature of the community. I followed a flexible, adaptable approach in order to communicate effectively with everyone from grassroots community members to ministers and representatives of central government. Show less Digital video was a key focus of my communications work with the council and I led the development of in-house video by conceiving, filming and editing a series of short films to promote council services and events and the work of partner organisations, and promoting them through social media and other online channels. My role also involved writing, editing and managing online news and other content; responding quickly and effectively to media enquiries relating to the council;… Show more Digital video was a key focus of my communications work with the council and I led the development of in-house video by conceiving, filming and editing a series of short films to promote council services and events and the work of partner organisations, and promoting them through social media and other online channels. My role also involved writing, editing and managing online news and other content; responding quickly and effectively to media enquiries relating to the council; developing campaigns to promote council and community; using social media to ensure maximum impact of communications; writing speeches, drafting quotes and preparing councillors for interview, and selling in stories and developing relationships with journalists, including those working in broadcast, print and online. Until June 2014 I worked almost exclusively on the Team White City project, through which H&F Council worked with the community to empower local people in a part of west London that is undergoing major transformation. I developed, launched and managed the website teamwhitecity.org, and worked across multiple digital platforms to encourage residents take up opportunities for jobs, skills and training, and to learn about local support and take part in decision-making. My role also involved editing and commissioning work for the Team White City fanzine, a bi-monthly magazine designed to reflect the informal, diverse and multicultural nature of the community. I followed a flexible, adaptable approach in order to communicate effectively with everyone from grassroots community members to ministers and representatives of central government. Show less



Trinity Mirror Southern

• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• News Editor / Chief Reporter / Senior Reporter - Chronicle & Gazette series

  • Jan 2008 - Aug 2012

  I managed a team of nine reporters covering four London boroughs: Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Ealing. During my tenure as chief reporter and later news editor (2011 onwards), the newspaper series went from having a modest paid-for circulation to a comprehensive free circulation of around 200,000 copies across four boroughs, supported by online news sites and social media. Key stories and campaigns included the fight to save local A&E units from… Show more I managed a team of nine reporters covering four London boroughs: Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Ealing. During my tenure as chief reporter and later news editor (2011 onwards), the newspaper series went from having a modest paid-for circulation to a comprehensive free circulation of around 200,000 copies across four boroughs, supported by online news sites and social media. Key stories and campaigns included the fight to save local A&E units from closure; environmental and development issues relating to the Thames Tunnel sewer project, and large-scale urban regeneration proposals for Earls Court, White City and other major sites. Working to the demands of continuous, multiple deadlines, my responsibilities included directing reporters, evaluating and sub-editing stories, arranging and proof-reading pages, organising pictures, checking legal issues, dealing with complaints and maintaining high standards across several weekly newspapers and accompanying websites. I used social media to promote news stories and as a news gathering tool, and used web analytics to track the impact and reach of particular stories and campaigns. Show less I managed a team of nine reporters covering four London boroughs: Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Ealing. During my tenure as chief reporter and later news editor (2011 onwards), the newspaper series went from having a modest paid-for circulation to a comprehensive free circulation of around 200,000 copies across four boroughs, supported by online news sites and social media. Key stories and campaigns included the fight to save local A&E units from… Show more I managed a team of nine reporters covering four London boroughs: Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Ealing. During my tenure as chief reporter and later news editor (2011 onwards), the newspaper series went from having a modest paid-for circulation to a comprehensive free circulation of around 200,000 copies across four boroughs, supported by online news sites and social media. Key stories and campaigns included the fight to save local A&E units from closure; environmental and development issues relating to the Thames Tunnel sewer project, and large-scale urban regeneration proposals for Earls Court, White City and other major sites. Working to the demands of continuous, multiple deadlines, my responsibilities included directing reporters, evaluating and sub-editing stories, arranging and proof-reading pages, organising pictures, checking legal issues, dealing with complaints and maintaining high standards across several weekly newspapers and accompanying websites. I used social media to promote news stories and as a news gathering tool, and used web analytics to track the impact and reach of particular stories and campaigns. Show less



WestEnder, Vancouver

• Film Critic

  • Mar 2007 - Nov 2007

  Regular freelance contributions to Vancouver’s urban entertainment newspaper, including weekly film reviews from press screenings, festival coverage and longer arts features on filmmakers and authors. Regular freelance contributions to Vancouver’s urban entertainment newspaper, including weekly film reviews from press screenings, festival coverage and longer arts features on filmmakers and authors.



Futures for Business

• Professional Training and Coaching
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Reporter / senior reporter

  • Sep 2004 - Nov 2006

  Reporting for a daily regional newspaper with two early editions, including news and business features, campaigns and reviews. Reporting for a daily regional newspaper with two early editions, including news and business features, campaigns and reviews.



QVC

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Copywriter / sub-editor

  • Jun 2001 - Jan 2003

  Copywriting work for the firm's home shopping website and interactive TV directory, including online features, product descriptions and competitions, sub-editing copy and working closely with a team of photographers and graphic designers. Copywriting work for the firm's home shopping website and interactive TV directory, including online features, product descriptions and competitions, sub-editing copy and working closely with a team of photographers and graphic designers.