Experience

Cynon Taf Community Housing Group

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

• Communications Lead

  • Apr 2023 - Present

  Providing strategic and operational communications input, working across the organisation to embed effective practices and protocols for internal and external audiences. Developing the comms strategy and how this aligns with the organisational corporate plan. Creating behaviour change campaigns around key priorities around cost of living, damp and mould, financial support. Providing strategic and operational communications input, working across the organisation to embed effective practices and protocols for internal and external audiences. Developing the comms strategy and how this aligns with the organisational corporate plan. Creating behaviour change campaigns around key priorities around cost of living, damp and mould, financial support.



University of South Wales

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Lecturer

  • Oct 2022 - Present

  Developing and delivering lectures and workshops for the PR and Reputation Management module, including assessment brief and marking. Developing and delivering lectures and workshops for the PR and Reputation Management module, including assessment brief and marking.



Carpanini Communications

• Public Relations Communications Specialist

  • Aug 2022 - Present

  Working with organisations within the technology and housing sectors within Wales to provide PR and strategic communications support, alongside content writing, stakeholder management, event management and providing appropriate counsel on brand awareness, as well as reputation management. Working with organisations within the technology and housing sectors within Wales to provide PR and strategic communications support, alongside content writing, stakeholder management, event management and providing appropriate counsel on brand awareness, as well as reputation management.



Technology Connected

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

• PR & Programme Manager

  • Oct 2022 - Mar 2023

  Providing public relations strategy and delivery, alongside programme / operational management for Wales Tech Week 2023. Providing public relations strategy and delivery, alongside programme / operational management for Wales Tech Week 2023.



Alcumus

• United Kingdom
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Internal Communications Partner

  • Feb 2022 - Jun 2022

  Leading on the global internal communications and employee engagement across the Alcumus structure; developing the strategic approach and building on existing channels to enhance the company's ability to inform, educate and empower its employees to become true advocates for the organisation. Leading on the global internal communications and employee engagement across the Alcumus structure; developing the strategic approach and building on existing channels to enhance the company's ability to inform, educate and empower its employees to become true advocates for the organisation.



Velindre Cancer Centre

• United Kingdom
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior Communications & Engagement Manager

  • Oct 2020 - Feb 2022

  Working with the Transforming Cancer Services team to develop content strategy and implementing communications activity regarding the planned new cancer centre, the Trust's transformation programme and working alongside the Asst. Director of Comms to deliver stakeholder engagement activity. Working with the Transforming Cancer Services team to develop content strategy and implementing communications activity regarding the planned new cancer centre, the Trust's transformation programme and working alongside the Asst. Director of Comms to deliver stakeholder engagement activity.



Scruffy Dog PR

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services

• Campaigns Director

  • Feb 2020 - Sep 2020

  The new name for Wilkinson PR. Scruffy Dog PR is a boutique agency, where I led the specialism in outcomes-led campaign strategy and delivery, as well as driving client communication strategy development, brand narrative and reputation management which includes strategic counsel. Projects included: • Media relations • Strategic planning and stakeholder engagement • Campaign and digital communications delivery for Eden Project Communities Wales and their Big Lunch 2019 campaign; partnership development with Urdd Gobaith Cymru • Communications strategy development, which included undertaking workshops with senior management team to understand values, objective setting, audience mapping and strategic themes, as well as messaging Show less



Wilkinson PR & Communications

• Senior PR Consultant

  • Jan 2019 - Feb 2020

  Strategic communications Crisis communications Campaign strategy and delivery Digital communications Content and copywriting Internal communications and employee engagement Public Affairs and stakeholder engagement Strategic communications Crisis communications Campaign strategy and delivery Digital communications Content and copywriting Internal communications and employee engagement Public Affairs and stakeholder engagement



Newydd Housing Association

• Coryton

• Head Of Marketing Communications

  • Jan 2018 - Jan 2019

  Provided strategic communications counsel, campaign planning and delivery, as well as reputation management. Through the course of the contract, I worked with the team to increase the digital communications output across all channels, including the launch of a blog and implementing an e-reader onto the website to enable publications to be read online. I also undertook a branding exercise for the organisation's homes for sale subsidiary, which included logo design and website development. Provided strategic communications counsel, campaign planning and delivery, as well as reputation management. Through the course of the contract, I worked with the team to increase the digital communications output across all channels, including the launch of a blog and implementing an e-reader onto the website to enable publications to be read online. I also undertook a branding exercise for the organisation's homes for sale subsidiary, which included logo design and website development.



South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

• United Kingdom
• Public Safety
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Media And Communications Manager

  • Dec 2016 - Dec 2017

  Providing maternity cover so have taken over the running for the department, which has grown to include three designers, a communications officer, digital communications officer and communications assistant. We are a busy team with proactive campaigning being our main focus this year, with four major campaigns being launched, alongside smaller campaigns to ensure that the communities of South Wales is kept safe from risk. We also maintain a reactive press office in relation to emergency incidents and I provide Command Room cover when a major incident is declared to manage media relations. I provide a Fire & Rescue Service communications lead presence at the Warning and Informing regional groups - South Wales and Gwent - and at All Wales Safety Groups e.g. water safety, home safety and business safety. I have also acted as Silver Communications Commander at major events, such as the UEFA Champions League finals. In collaboration with internal departments and external partners (when necessary), I produce detailed communications plans for outlined campaigns and work with my team to implement and deliver the required activity. I have also updated the communications strategy so that we have a clearer digital focus for the future. Show less

• Comms & Engagement

  • Jan 2016 - Nov 2016

  Providing communications lead and support for safety campaigns and initiatives - home safety, business safety and road safety - for the communities of South Wales. Continuing to lead on internal communications for transformation programme (SoF), as well as providing 'critical friend' comms guidance for national multi-agency exercises. Developing engagement opportunities with partner agencies and local communities to raise awareness of key issues.

• Communications Manager for Shaping Our Future

  • Jun 2015 - Nov 2016

  Leading on the communications relating to the transformation / change programme being carried out internally by SWFRS. The role will focus on developing and implementing a communications strategy, delivering effective and regular messaging to all staff across the Service via email, intranet and newsletter. Working closely with the programme team to communicate developments within the reviews being undertaken and reflect positive impact. Also looking at best practice from external organisations who have already carried out a change programme or are in the process of it. Show less

• Media, Marketing & Communications Manager

  • Jun 2014 - Jun 2015

  Managing a team of designers and e-communications professionals to deliver campaigns across the service. Developing and leading on media and communication strategy for projects and working with key individuals on engagement activity.



Freelance

• Experienced PR professional

  • Nov 2012 - Jun 2014

  Providing communications support to smaller businesses on an ad-hoc, sometimes pro bono basis. I am able to create and monitor social media content, develop communications strategy, write articles and blogs, organise events and on the day attendance, as well as advising on how to build brand awareness using multiple media channels. Clients include: Freshwater Wales (content producer), Spilsolv UK (PR consultant), Rhomco Consulting (content producer), Cynnal Cymru (communications officer), ClearlyPR (content producer) Show less



Creditsafe

• Caerphilly

• Digital Communications & Events Manager

  • Jan 2013 - Nov 2013

  Creating and managing content for the company's social media, website and content campaigns, including establishing new communication channels with stakeholders e.g. blog, newsletter and external content networks to increase brand awareness amongst potential customers and strengthen reputation with existing ones. As well as developing social media guidelines for staff to ensure that social media is used appropriately and advising on new website content. The events element includes arranging exhibition space and attendance at key industry events, organising smaller niche events aimed at promoting products to a target audience, as well as managing larger scale events including conferences. Show less



Culture Group

• United Kingdom
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• PR Executive

  • Jul 2010 - Nov 2012

  I handled the day to day PR for Culture Group and its clients including UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs. My responsibilities included developing PR strategies, social media policies, proactive and reactive media relations, campaigns, events management, managing social media content, updating website copy and copywriting. Achievements include securing interviews for UnLtd Award Winners in national publications including Daily Express and Full House magazine; over 250 tweets being shared during a one day conference on social entrepreneurship in an ageing society - external contributions to the conversation from Age UK and Grey Pride. Show less



Grayling

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Account Executive

  • Oct 2009 - Jun 2010

  Working within the Corporate team of the second largest independent global communications company on clients such as The Royal British Legion (Friends of the Forces Awards), Colt (pan-European telecoms company) and Think London (inward investment into the Capital) Working within the Corporate team of the second largest independent global communications company on clients such as The Royal British Legion (Friends of the Forces Awards), Colt (pan-European telecoms company) and Think London (inward investment into the Capital)



Comic Relief

• Fundraising
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Regional Marketing and Media Coordinator

  • Sep 2008 - Apr 2009

  Working as part of the satellite regional office based in BBC Wales to promote the Red Nose Day 2009 campaign across Wales, the West, West Midlands and South West. Key Achievements: Generating 1.7million potential views of the Comic Relief '(Barry) Islands in the Stream' music video by securing free use of shopping centre screens throughout our region Liaised with Jersey Heritage and Delta AV Services for Mont Orgueil to be lit red for the final week of the Red Nose Day campaign. This was organised free of charge by Delta AV Services, but calculated as £4,500 worth of Visual support Supported Polydor Records during the regional tour of The Saturdays, who visited a Comic Relief funded project - Merthyr Mind - this required my attendance during the visit and liaising with a Media Wales reporter regarding interview and photo-call opportunity Show less



Merlin Marketing & PR

• Public Relations and Events Assistant

  • Jul 2006 - Jun 2007

  48 week placement as part of the PR degree from Bournemouth University. Clients included Llanelli Scarlets, Macob, Finance Wales, General Teaching Council of Wales, Cool Cymru and Landmark Wales. 48 week placement as part of the PR degree from Bournemouth University. Clients included Llanelli Scarlets, Macob, Finance Wales, General Teaching Council of Wales, Cool Cymru and Landmark Wales.



Miskin Manor Hotel

• United Kingdom
• Hospitality
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Marketing Assistant

  • 2005 - 2005

  • Created and maintained a client database for use by the Hotel, for promoting the conferencing facilities and special events in the Hotel via telemarketing and mail outs • Researched competitors’ websites for use when updating the Hotel’s own website • Dealt with telephone enquiries in the Conference & Banqueting department and making provisional bookings • Compiled wedding and party literature for mail out to interested parties • Organised and hosted potential client tours around facilities – including location opportunities for film/TV Show less