Experience

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

• United Kingdom
• Information Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Public Affairs & Strategic Communications Director

  • Feb 2022 - Present

• Head of Policy & Communications

  • Jan 2021 - Feb 2022

  * A member of Suffolk Chamber's Policy Directorate* Responsible for all tactical and strategic communications, public relations, campaigning and people and skills policy development* Leading on key strategic initiatives including the Kickstart Scheme, health & wellbeing partnerships and the local delivery of the British Chambers of Commerce's Workplace Training & Development Commission proposals

• Head of Communications & Campaigns

  • Oct 2018 - Jan 2021

  * Responsible for the strategic communications, public relations and campaigning direction of the company* Co-author of Suffolk Chamber's suite of manifestos• Responsible for developing and delivering a range of tactical communications and policy plans• Advising the Chief Executive, the Director of Operations, Chamber board and town chamber boards on tactical and strategic marketing and communication issues• Direct delivery of public relations outputs including media releases, features and ghost-written columns, Chamber Voice and Chamber pages in Business East Monthly

• Marketing & Communications Manager

  • Apr 2016 - Oct 2018

  • Responsible for developing and delivering a new communications strategy and relationship plan to support the business plan (2016-19) objectives* Author of Suffolk Chamber's suite of manifestos• Responsible for developing and delivering a range of tactical communications and policy plans• Advising the Chief Executive, the Director of Operations, Chamber board and town chamber boards on tactical and strategic marketing and communication issues• Communications representative on key campaigns, including No More Not-Spots, Ipswich Vision, No More A14 Delays In Suffolk, Sizewell C supply chain, TechEast, Young Chamber and Suffolk Business Women• Direct delivery of public relations outputs including media releases, features and ghost-written columns for the Chief Executive and town chamber chairs, social media, news elements of the website, E-newsletters, Chamber Voice and Chamber pages in Business East Monthly• Jointly responsible for the implementation of a comprehensive re-branding exercise* Developed and facilitated the implementation of a new onboarding strategy for new members* Direct involvement in developing policy, including writing and coordination of Suffolk Chamber's manifesto and that of its component parts* Running internal and external focus groups* Leading on the analysis of and commentary on the Quarterly Economic Survey results



Provider of strategic public relations, public affairs and lobbying services

• Strategic public relations, public affairs and lobbying services

  • Dec 2018 - Present

  * experienced communications professional: available for short-term and interim PR, marketing and journalism roles. Currently providing services for: Anchor Storage (www.anchorstorage.co.uk), ISCRE (www.iscre.org.uk), Konings UK, Omnis Software (www.omnis.net), Poundfield Products Ltd. (www.poundfield.co.uk), SMART (www.smartgardenoffices.co.uk) and Suffolk Preservation Society (www.suffolksociety.org.uk) * provision of full service public relations services including media relations, event management, social media, speechwriting, journalism, design and branding, interview practice, campaigning and media release training * freelance feature writer for local and regional titles, including EADT, EADT Suffolk magazine, iQ magazine and the Bury & West Suffolk magazine, and for national titles on a range of themes, including UK and Indian politics * book (fiction and religion) reviewer for a national newspaper



ISAIAH CONSULTING LTD

• United Kingdom
• Political Organizations

• Director

  • Apr 2001 - Dec 2018

  * provision of full service public relations services including media relations, event management, social media, speechwriting, journalism, design and branding, interview practice, campaigning and media release training * freelance feature writer for local and regional titles, including EADT, EADT Suffolk magazine and Bury & West Suffolk magazine, and for national titles on a range of themes, including UK and Indian politics * book (fiction and religion) reviewer for a national newspaper * provision of full service public relations services including media relations, event management, social media, speechwriting, journalism, design and branding, interview practice, campaigning and media release training * freelance feature writer for local and regional titles, including EADT, EADT Suffolk magazine and Bury & West Suffolk magazine, and for national titles on a range of themes, including UK and Indian politics * book (fiction and religion) reviewer for a national newspaper



Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Corporate Manager - Communications

  • May 2012 - Feb 2016

  • Responsible for both the direct delivery and the mentoring, coaching and training of internal (Corporate Voice) and external (Community Voice) stakeholders in reputation management, public relations, communications, engagement and empowerment best practice. • Responsible for the delivery of reputation-enhancing solutions promoting the achievements of both Councils aimed at accurately positioning Babergh and Mid Suffolk as leaders in transformation thought and practice. • Responsible for ensuring that internal communications contributes directly and positively to the Councils'​ organisational development and culture change agenda. Most of this work is based on extensive partnership working involving staff, councillors, other councils and outside organisations. • A key player in the successful bid teams that both secured the 2013 MJ Award for 'Shared Services'​ for Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils and c.£167,000 in funding from the Government's Transformation Challenge Award. • Focused on interweaving good internal communications practice into the broader cultural shifts the two Councils are undergoing. These allowed us to be best placed to operate within the new performance-related funding environment in which the public sector found itself and to help Babergh and Mid Suffolk achieve their strategic objectives and partner successfully with other like-minded organisations • Direct management responsibility for a five-strong communications team • Blogged for PRWeek on how we are attempting to transform the traditional council PR model



Babergh District Council

• Hadleigh, Suffolk

• Communications & PR Manager

  • Sep 2001 - May 2012

  • jointly responsible for the strategic and tactical delivery of internal and external communications outputs for the integration and transformation of Babergh District Council with Mid Suffolk District Council • responsible for the co-ordination of the reputation management of Babergh to all external and internal audiences through both a small communications team and liaison with other parts of the Council and with partner organisations • planning for the public relations function to support the strategic priorities of the Council, as well as overseeing the tactical and operational delivery of outputs such as media relations and direct communications channels including Council magazines, newsletters and innovative social media • direct and advisory involvement in consultation and engagement exercises with both internal (eg staff surveys etc.) and external (eg budget consultation, major planning proposals etc.) audiences to ensure high levels of mutual understanding with key stakeholders • key advisor, trainer and mentor to officers and councillors on all matters relating to public relations and reputational management skills and issues • search, selection and management of external contractors on a tactical basis (including stakeholder research companies)



Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

• London, United Kingdom

• Commercial & Marketing Director

  • Jul 1999 - Apr 2001

  • launch director of a separate company within Independent News & Media with a turnover of £1.5m plus • responsible for building and extracting value from viewers’ database (10,000 names-plus), contract publishing, syndication and microsite initiatives – plus trade media relations and online/offline marketing • launch director of a separate company within Independent News & Media with a turnover of £1.5m plus • responsible for building and extracting value from viewers’ database (10,000 names-plus), contract publishing, syndication and microsite initiatives – plus trade media relations and online/offline marketing



News International Internet Publishing

• London, United Kingdom

• General Manager

  • Oct 1998 - Jul 1999



TSMSi

• London

• Director

  • Oct 1996 - Oct 1998