Experience

Allegory Communications

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

• Associate Director of Client Services

  • Aug 2019 - Present



Freestone-Walker Communications

• Director

  • Jul 2019 - Present

  I am an experienced communications professional who has worked for more than 20 years across government, policing, transport, third sector and facilities management industries, as well as for creative agencies.During my career I have led on crisis communications during high profile policing incidents and have developed strategies for national and international events, including the Aintree Grand National, the Papal visit to the UK in 2010, the Football World Cup domestic policing campaign in 2010 and the International Liaison Unit for safety and security at the 2012 Olympic Games, providing a link between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Policing and international security representatives. Skilled in strategic communications, crisis management, corporate social responsibility, media relations, writing, communications/ media training and digital communications, I am used to working flexibly for clients, offering advice and support when it is most needed.



Stagecoach Group plc

• Corporate Communications Manager

  • Feb 2013 - Jun 2019

  •Delivery of proactive communications campaign •Reactive media relations, including share of 24-hour on-call service and crisis communications support •Producing digital content for the Group’s website, stagecoach.com, and social media channels •Briefing and advising senior managers •Supporting stakeholder relations and internal communications•Development of Corporate Social Responsiblity strategy •Delivery of proactive communications campaign •Reactive media relations, including share of 24-hour on-call service and crisis communications support •Producing digital content for the Group’s website, stagecoach.com, and social media channels •Briefing and advising senior managers •Supporting stakeholder relations and internal communications•Development of Corporate Social Responsiblity strategy



ACPO

• Farming

• Senior Communications Officer

  • Mar 2010 - Jan 2013

  •Identify proactive opportunities to promote ACPO policy to the media, briefing journalists, explaining the ACPO position or referring the enquiry to an appropriate ACPO spokesperson.•Develop communications strategies to promote and protect the reputation of policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. •Demonstrate best practice and identify new innovative ways to promote reoccurring stories.•Develop and nurture effective relationships with national policing units and chief officers to build confidence in the communication department and improve coordination. •Lead on communications projects including counter-terrorism, domestic communications strategy for the 2010 Football World Cup, ACPO summer conference and the 2010 Papal visit to the UK, in support of UK and international policing. •Develop and promote effective communication systems, ensuring effective rebuttal and reaction to media, providing a service for dealing with queries out of hours. Anticipate the emerging media agenda whilst taking advantage of opportunities to promote the organisation.•Work with government department and partner agency communications departments (including Home Office, Downing Street, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Cabinet Office) to provide advice, guidance, information and briefing.



International Liaison Unit

• Communications Manager

  • Apr 2012 - Aug 2012

  • Developed and implemented communications strategy to enable UK Safety and Security partners to communicate with 204 competing countries and 55 sponsors before, during and after the Olympic Games.• Established minimum standards to ensure accurate and consistent messaging to all customers and internally within the unit.• Analysed staffing requirements and recruited additional communications staff for Games time.• Designed an induction programme for communications officers working within the unit.• Designed and managed the implementation of processes to enable the swift flow of accurate information to customers.• Developed and presented training to unit members on communications processes, skills and awareness.• Produced communications guidance to ensure professionalism through communications.• Developed a manual/ guide to enable consistency in communications products, responses and outcomes.• Introduced a process to ensure understanding of issues that could cause reputational harm and how they should be dealt with. • Advised senior managers on key messaging, communications opportunities and tools.



Home Office

• Design
• 700 & Above Employee

• Regional Press Officer UK Border Agency

  • Mar 2008 - Mar 2010

  •Research positive news opportunities and work with journalists to implement them.•Respond quickly and accurately to reactive queries from journalists•Educate journalists about the role of the UK Border Agency•Offer media advice and support to staff members of all grades in the UK and overseas•Draft media/comms plans for proactive opportunities.•Organise and facilitate media opportunities with the Minister.•Liaise with partner agency press offices to ensure consistent messages.



Merseyside Police

• United Kingdom
• Law Enforcement
• 700 & Above Employee

• Press Officer

  • Jan 2003 - Jun 2007

  •As above•Provide analysis of strategic papers to the media•Manage a range of projects•Provide on call support on a 24 hour basis •As above•Provide analysis of strategic papers to the media•Manage a range of projects•Provide on call support on a 24 hour basis