Experience

Community Arts Network

• Australia
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Manager

  • Nov 2022 - Present

  The Community Arts Network (CAN) is a global platform that aims to enable, engage and empower individuals, organizations and communities through arts and unlikely alliances in order to effect social impact. The Community Arts Network (CAN) is a global platform that aims to enable, engage and empower individuals, organizations and communities through arts and unlikely alliances in order to effect social impact.



Resource Africa

• South Africa
• Strategic Management Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Communications Manager

  • Feb 2022 - Dec 2022

  Resource Africa supports rural communities across nine African countries (Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) to secure their rights to access and use their natural resources, including wildlife, in order to sustain their livelihoods. I lead the development and implementation of communications strategy and campaigns, working with partners and stakeholders to help deliver advocacy outcomes. Resource Africa supports rural communities across nine African countries (Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) to secure their rights to access and use their natural resources, including wildlife, in order to sustain their livelihoods. I lead the development and implementation of communications strategy and campaigns, working with partners and stakeholders to help deliver advocacy outcomes.



RappettiCom

• Managing Partner

  • Nov 2019 - Dec 2021

  RappettiCom is a wholly black and women-owned boutique communications agency based in Johannesburg, working beyond borders. Services include communications, media and content strategy; content creation; strategic convening; journalism and media training and advisory. My role was identify, develop and execute projects; provide project management and assist with business development. RappettiCom is a wholly black and women-owned boutique communications agency based in Johannesburg, working beyond borders. Services include communications, media and content strategy; content creation; strategic convening; journalism and media training and advisory. My role was identify, develop and execute projects; provide project management and assist with business development.



CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

• South Africa
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Media Advisor

  • Jun 2017 - Sep 2019

  Based in Johannesburg with more than 9,000 members in 175 countries, CIVICUS is a global civil society alliance that works to strengthen civil society and civic action around the globe. I developed media engagement strategy and rollout for various projects, campaigns and events globally, and contributed to digital communications strategy and communications functions. Based in Johannesburg with more than 9,000 members in 175 countries, CIVICUS is a global civil society alliance that works to strengthen civil society and civic action around the globe. I developed media engagement strategy and rollout for various projects, campaigns and events globally, and contributed to digital communications strategy and communications functions.



"Everything Must Fall" Documentary Film

• CoProducer

  • 2018 - 2018

  "Everything Must Fall" is a multi award-winning feature documentary film by Emmy-winning filmmaker Rehad Desai. It offers an unflinching look at the #FeesMustFall student movement that erupted in 2015 as a protest over the cost of tertiary education, and morphed into the most militant national revolt since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. "Everything Must Fall" is a multi award-winning feature documentary film by Emmy-winning filmmaker Rehad Desai. It offers an unflinching look at the #FeesMustFall student movement that erupted in 2015 as a protest over the cost of tertiary education, and morphed into the most militant national revolt since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.



Africans Rising

• Gambia
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications and Media Engagement Lead

  • Sep 2016 - Jun 2017

  Africans Rising is a 30,000-strong, pan-African, de-centralised social movement working for justice, peace and dignity of all African people on the continent and in the African diaspora. In the lead-up to its official launch of the movement in May 2017, I lead communications and media strategy and outreach, working closely with its coordinator, former Greenpeace International and former Amnesty International head, Kumi Naidoo. Africans Rising is a 30,000-strong, pan-African, de-centralised social movement working for justice, peace and dignity of all African people on the continent and in the African diaspora. In the lead-up to its official launch of the movement in May 2017, I lead communications and media strategy and outreach, working closely with its coordinator, former Greenpeace International and former Amnesty International head, Kumi Naidoo.



Al Jazeera America

• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founding Producer, "America Tonight"

  • May 2013 - Apr 2016

  Al Jazeera America was a U.S.-based news network owned by the Al Jazeera Media Network. "America Tonight"​ was its award-winning, flagship current affairs programme, presenting long-form reporting on under-reported stories and issues. Recruited prior to the channel's launch, worked to help develop the focus, style, tone and content of the show. Role included story generation and planning on the weekday half-hour broadcast as well as production of the in-depth, long-form, often investigative pieces. The channel ceased operations in April 2014.



NPR

• United States
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 700 & Above Employee

• Editor, Newscast Unit

  • Aug 2012 - Apr 2013

  With 30 million listeners on 800 affiliate radio stations nationwide, NPR (National Public Radio) is the US' largest public radio network and one the country's most trusted news providers. NPR's Newscast Unit produces syndicated hourly newscasts 24/7 to affiliate. Responsible for editing anchor copy and reporters' spots for broadcast, under extremely tight deadlines. Overall responsibility for accuracy and newsworthiness of all newscast content.

• Producer/Reporter, International Desk

  • Sep 2011 - Aug 2012

  Based in Washington, responsibilities centred on producing the network's coverage of international events in the field, predominately in the Middle East/North Africa region. Assignments with foreign correspondents included coverage of the Arab Spring uprisings in Libya and Egypt, over multiple deployments, during and directly after the conflicts. Other deployments included Lebanon to report on the neighbouring war in Syria as well as to northeastern Nigeria to cover the Boko Haram armed insurrection. The Libya and Egypt coverage was recognized with prestigious Peabody and Overseas Press Club Awards.



BET

• Entertainment
• 700 & Above Employee

• Specials Producer

  • Mar 2006 - Oct 2009

  Available in more than 90 million households across the U.S. as well as dozens of countries via satellite TV, BET (Black Entertainment Television) is America's largest and oldest media network catering to African Americans.Worked with the network's news and public affairs division, BET News, in New York to produce several documentary specials on the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Black America as well as special coverage of both the 2008 and 2012 Presidential elections and posthumous documentary tributes to Michael Jackson, James Brown and Nelson Mandela. This work was recognised with a total of 10 American journalism awards.



Black Public Media

• United States
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Supervising Producer: New Media Institute: Africa

  • 2007 - 2007

  The New Media Institute was a project of the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC). In 2007, The NMI launched a project that brought together young, emerging African American media-makers and young, emerging media-makers from Ghana, South Africa and Tanzania to collaborate on short, digital storytelling productions in those countries. I worked with groups of producers in South Africa and Tanzania, playing a training role and supervised daily story production. All the narrative digital stories were produced into a film depicting the project and presented at the 2007 Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in Zanzibar.



BBC News

• United Kingdom
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 700 & Above Employee

• Freelance Producer/Reporter

  • Nov 1998 - Jun 2005

  The BBC World Service for Africa reaches some 14 million radio listeners across the continent daily. Worked on on a variety of African news and current affairs programmes as a produced based at London HQ from 1998 - 2000. These shows included the daily flagship newsmagazines, "Focus On Africa" and "Network Africa"; BBC/SABC newsmagazine co-production "PM Live; documentary series, "African Perspective"; discussion show "Talkabout Africa"; weekly arts show "ArtBeat" and sportsmagazine, "FastTrack". Contributed reports, including breaking news coverage, packages and features to many of these shows as well as BBC Online, while from Johannesburg and Durban between 2000 and 2005.



SABC

• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 700 & Above Employee

• Show Producer: "Morning Live"

  • 2004 - 2005

  The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is South Africa's national public broadcaster. "Morning Live" has been the country's leading TV morning show.As show producer, overall responsible for the on-air broadcast, including oversight of half-hourly newscasts, sportscasts and business newscasts, as well as live interviews. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is South Africa's national public broadcaster. "Morning Live" has been the country's leading TV morning show.As show producer, overall responsible for the on-air broadcast, including oversight of half-hourly newscasts, sportscasts and business newscasts, as well as live interviews.



Various Online and Print Titles

• Writer

  • 2004 - 2004

  A selection of pieces I've written published by Al Jazeera America, BBC Online, Mail & Guardian and Independent Online. A selection of pieces I've written published by Al Jazeera America, BBC Online, Mail & Guardian and Independent Online.



ETV

• South Africa
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 700 & Above Employee

• Reporter/Producer

  • 2001 - 2002

  e.tv is South Africa's only private, free-to-air terrestrial television channel. Worked first as a general assignment reporter, covering the Gauteng region, and later as a producer/researcher with leading weekly investigative magazine, "3rd Degree". e.tv is South Africa's only private, free-to-air terrestrial television channel. Worked first as a general assignment reporter, covering the Gauteng region, and later as a producer/researcher with leading weekly investigative magazine, "3rd Degree".



SABC

• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 700 & Above Employee

• Executive Producer: "Today in Africa"​, SABC Africa

  • 2000 - 2001

  SABC Africa was the SABC's 24-hour pan-African news and information channel, distributed across the continent on the DSTV satellite service. "Today In Africa" was the channel's flagship programme and, at the time, the first and only show of its kind in the world --- a daily, live, African TV morning newsmagazine broadcast from Africa, produced by Africans, covering African events for an African audience. Responsible for overall show direction and editorial oversight, including management of an eight production member team and a network of stringers and corresondents.



Vuleka Productions

• Producer

  • 1995 - 1997

  Vuleka Productions is a non-profit production company creating media for social development, distributed in South Africa and internationally. Projects I worked on include:* "Sharp Zinto!"​ - 26-part radio drama series aired on community radio stations in English and isiZulu, promoting voter education ahead of the country's first local government elections in 1995.* "Come Duze"​ - 25-part radio drama series in English and isiZulu promoting good governance.* "Rights On Radio"​ - a radio production manual, funded by the EU Commission on Human Rights, for producing human rights-orientated programming, distributed to community radio producers countrywide.* Human Rights radio PSA campaign for Amnesty International distributed internationally in English, Swahili, French and Portuguese.* A comprehensive strategy for the production of a message-driven talk show series, commissioned by the South African Department of Education and the SABC, promoting understanding of the newly launched Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) curriculum among teachers and students, implemented on all 11 SABC language stations.* "Now The Story Can Be Told" - a 13-part radio docu-drama series uncovering apartheid-era atrocities committed by state security forces, funded by the Open Society Foundation and aired on SABC radio, in the lead up to head the launch of theTruth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).