Experience

Lexington

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Director

  • Sep 2022 - Present



Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

• United Kingdom
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant Director of Communications & Engagement

  • Oct 2020 - Sep 2022

  Strategic lead for communications, engagement, press and reputation management for the Trust. Responsibilities include: - Leading the communications and engagement response during COVID-19, including working with DHSC and NHSE&I to create and deliver a communications service at an external quarantine facility and managing a two-episode Ross Kemp documentary on the pandemic at MKUH.- Working with the Board of Directors to deliver world-class communications and engagement on change programmes, transformation projects and estates development.- Developing the communications and engagement function to ensure it plays a pivotal role in the delivery of the Trust's objectives and improvement priorities. Show less

• Head of Communications and Engagement

  • Apr 2016 - Sep 2020

  Leading the five-person communications and engagement team for Milton Keynes University Hospital. Key accountabilities:• Develop and deliver the organisation’s communication and engagement strategy• Lead communications on large-scale transformation and change programmes• Increase the engagement of staff, stakeholders and patients• Enhance the reputation of the hospital with a sustained and prominent PR and marketing programme, including: national broadcast and print press; increased social media presence and local and national advertising campaigns• Work closely with the board of directors to ensure they are well briefed and supported in major projects across the hospital• Develop, deliver and engage staff in the organisation’s new vision and values, and ensure they positively influence organisational culture. Key achievements:• Leading the communications workstream during the COVID-19 pandemic, including working with DHSC and NHSE&I to create and deliver a communications service at an external quarantine facility and managing a two-episode Ross Kemp documentary on the pandemic at MKUH• Established the hospital as national nominated media site for NHS England, hosting on regular media visits and developing relationships with BBC TV and radio, ITV, Channel4, Channel 5 and Sky News• Communications team nominated for multiple national awards, winning a Comms2Point0 award for large scale staff engagement event ‘Event in the Tent• Leading communications and engagement on £25 million digital transformation project which introduced a new electronic patient record to the hospital • Organised site visits of the Prime Minister, two different Health Secretaries, the leader of the opposition and the Duke of Kent • Developed and delivered the organisation’s new vision, values and strategy• Developed and delivered a new website and staff intranet for the organisation which has seen an increase in engagement of stakeholders across digital platforms. Show less

• Communications Manager

  • Nov 2015 - Apr 2016

  Working across multi-million pound projects as part of the communications and engagement team within the hospital.Key accountabilities:• Leading on communications for estates modernisation programme and launch of new electronic patient record system.• Audit internal and external communication functions of hospital• Develop relationships with local and national media to increase press coverage of hospital• Write, edit and oversee design of hospital newspaper• Develop recruit campaign for domestic and international nurse recruitment.Key achievements:• Led press coverage of four Junior Doctors’ strikes - coordinating local and national press access to junior doctors, the chief executive and national union representatives, and developing media briefs for interviews• Worked with Heart FM to create on-air recruitment campaigns across three counties, resulting in record attendance to open days and applications • Created and conducted a communications survey to develop strategy to reach hard to reach offline staff, leading to enhanced staff engagement and improved reputation of team within hospital • Organised and conducted both public and staff consultations on new facilities and buildings proposed by the hospital, ensuring staff, stakeholder and local press buy-in for multi-million pound estates Show less



Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

• Law Enforcement
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Manager

  • Jun 2015 - Nov 2015

  Managing the design and branding across this mental health Trust, in addition to managing all digital content and platforms. Key accountabilities: • Ensuring branding and brand consistency across all publications, including posters, newsletters and patient information • Monitoring social media and website, using analytic tools to report to Board of Directors • Content editor for CPFT’s intranet and website • Developing social media strategy to increase brand recognition. Key achievements: • Increased the organisation’s social media audience by over 200% and increased traffic to the website through the creation of engaging digital content and better marketing material • Launched new therapist liaison service, helping to create web referral portal and securing positive press coverage in local media • Using Gorkana, Hootsuite and Google analytics, introduced a new way to monitor KPIs and manage organisation’s external reputation. Show less



Thomson Reuters

• Canada
• Software Development
• 700 & Above Employee

• Journalist

  • Jul 2013 - Jul 2015

  Working on the London news and sports desk sourcing, researching and writing stories for the global newswire, supplying over a billion readers a day. Key accountabilities: • Sub-editing and publishing copy from journalists in the EMEA region on the newswire. • Providing live coverage, including match reports and interviews, from sports events including Premier League and Champions League football, Six Nations rugby, International Test cricket and the Wimbledon Championships. • Exercising news sense to collate stories and source appropriate images to compile Top News segments for EMEA clients. • Developing and maintaining relationships with press contacts and marketing and PR agencies. Key achievements: • Secured a number of exclusive interviews with sportspeople that secured worldwide coverage in outlets such as The New York Times, The Times of India and The Sydney Morning Herald • Senior member of a two-man team that provided full coverage of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, including producing exclusive interviews and news stories. • Covered two FA Cup finals. Show less



Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

• United Kingdom
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Press and Social Media Officer

  • Mar 2015 - Jun 2015

  Acting as the first point of contact for media enquires and developing a programme of media coverage to enhance HCT’s reputation. Key accountabilities: • Dealing with all of the organisation’s press coverage, writing proactive and reactive press releases • Managing the organisation’s social media accounts, devising and delivering social media campaigns, overseeing ad campaigns and providing social media training to senior staff • Accompanying senior staff to interviews, providing media training where necessary and accompanying journalists, news crews and photographers on site visits • Producing content for website, intranet and internal newsletters, and copywriting for recruitment advertisements. Key achievements: • Devised and delivered a number of successful social media campaigns, including flu vaccinations and stop smoking initiatives • Designed and wrote copy for a print and social media recruitment campaign • Organised the visit of an MP to a local clinic for the launch of a new service, coordinating press coverage • Successfully averted negative press from Good Morning Britain by managing PR crisis in a calm and timely manner • Arranged social media workshops for staff across Hertfordshire to learn about best practice on digital platforms • Used Moz Analytics and Adobe Social to map success of press coverage and Google Keyword Tools to optimize digital content for search engines to increase hits on digital content. Show less



Co-Founder, Partner and Head of Content

• WeAreSix

  • Feb 2015 - Jun 2015

  WeAreSix is a design and communications team that combine strong branding and powerful messages to help organisations, no matter how big or small, create a unique and distinguished identity. I co-founded the company with two former colleagues and oversee all the copy, marketing and social media work for our clients. I also manage the company's social media accounts and co-ordinate our promotional material. WeAreSix is a design and communications team that combine strong branding and powerful messages to help organisations, no matter how big or small, create a unique and distinguished identity. I co-founded the company with two former colleagues and oversee all the copy, marketing and social media work for our clients. I also manage the company's social media accounts and co-ordinate our promotional material.



Beds SU

• University of Bedfordshire

• Marketing and Communications Officer

  • Jul 2013 - Aug 2014

  Developed and implemented communications strategy for the University of Bedfordshire’s Students’ Union, resulting in greater membership engagement, increased website traffic and the introduction of new media Key accountabilities: • Managing all of the organisation’s digital platforms • First point for press enquiries • Copywriting for promotional materials • Editing student magazine • Producing fortnightly podcast. Key achievements: • Successfully conceptualised and launched the organisation’s new website, curating all of the content • Provided copy for the SU’s sponsorship brochure, which saw the organisation’s annual targets for corporate sponsorship met within the first month of circulation • Filmed and edited promotional videos for commercial enterprises, such as the launch of a new bar, and to increase membership engagement at both the AGM and student elections. Show less



Hayters Teamwork

• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Sports Writer

  • Dec 2012 - Dec 2012

  Writing FA Cup match previews for TheFA.com, including interviewing players and managers, and providing copy for publication in The Sun and on the Talksport website. Sourcing and writing Premier League breaking news stories for television broadcasts on ADTV. Writing FA Cup match previews for TheFA.com, including interviewing players and managers, and providing copy for publication in The Sun and on the Talksport website. Sourcing and writing Premier League breaking news stories for television broadcasts on ADTV.



BBC Three Counties

• Luton, United Kingdom

• Researcher/ Production Assistant

  • Sep 2012 - Dec 2012

  Led a team of students conducting research about the Police and Crime Commissioner elections and presented the results on-air. Part of the production team for the Saturday breakfast show. Led a team of students conducting research about the Police and Crime Commissioner elections and presented the results on-air. Part of the production team for the Saturday breakfast show.



University of Bedfordshire

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Beds SU Communications and Marketing Assistant

  • Sep 2012 - Nov 2012

  Editor for the student e-zine The Blend. Updating the website and social media outlets. Editor for the student e-zine The Blend. Updating the website and social media outlets.



Radio LaB

• Luton, United Kingdom

• Station Manager

  • Jun 2011 - Sep 2012

  - Oversaw the day-to-day running of a community radio station with a 24-hour FM licence broadcasting throughout Bedfordshire. - Mastered and managed Myriad playout system, using both Adobe Audition/Pro Tools editing software to manage playlist and pre-recorded content. - Produced station sound, shows and outside broadcasts, including presenting a twice-weekly entertainment show and weekly news bulletins. - Increased audience engagement by developing relationships with local organisations and expanding coverage of local issues. - Recruited and mentored new and existing volunteers, providing training and guidance. Show less



talkSPORT

• United Kingdom
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Production Assistant

  • Apr 2012 - May 2012

  Worked as part of a three-man production team to produce the Hawksbee and Jacobs show. Contributed ideas to the show, sourced and booked interviewees, wrote cue scripts and edited audio. Worked as part of a three-man production team to produce the Hawksbee and Jacobs show. Contributed ideas to the show, sourced and booked interviewees, wrote cue scripts and edited audio.



Various publications

• Exclusive interview with MP Eric Joyce

  • Apr 2012 - Apr 2012

  Conducted an exclusive interview with MP Eric Joyce within hours of his conviction of multiple assault charges. Interview was featured in The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, The Private Eye and on the Press Association's newswire. Conducted an exclusive interview with MP Eric Joyce within hours of his conviction of multiple assault charges. Interview was featured in The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, The Private Eye and on the Press Association's newswire.



BBC Sport

• Wimbledon Tennis Championships

• Production Assistant

  • Jun 2011 - Jul 2011

  Assisted the editor of the website, interviewing pundits and players to write articles that were published on BBC Sport’s website. Worked as part of the production team on outside television shoots, live match commentary and assisted 5Live production team on John McEnroe’s 6-0-6 show. Assisted the editor of the website, interviewing pundits and players to write articles that were published on BBC Sport’s website. Worked as part of the production team on outside television shoots, live match commentary and assisted 5Live production team on John McEnroe’s 6-0-6 show.