Experience

Irish Pharmacy Union

• Ireland
• Professional Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Editorial Manager

  • Oct 2022 - Present

  Managing the IPU Review magazine, Ireland’s leading publication for community pharmacy. Managing the IPU Review magazine, Ireland’s leading publication for community pharmacy.

• Press and Communications Manager

  • Mar 2018 - Mar 2022

  The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) is the representative and professional body for community pharmacists in Ireland, with a current membership of over 2,300 pharmacists and representing 95% of community pharmacies countrywide. Public Affairs: • Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including politicians and their advisors • Prepare and advise on meetings with Ministers, Oireachtas Members, Advisors, and Oireachtas Committees, including the production of briefing materials and presentations • Develop traditional and social media campaigns • Recent campaigns include a successful campaign to stop proposed fee cuts to pharmacies in late 2019; and General Election 2020, which saw pharmacy issues included in manifestos of all main political parties • #SupportPharmacy Campaign won best Public Affairs Campaign at PRII's 2020 Awards Press: • Draft press releases and act as press officer and point of contact for media • Manage IPU relationship with communications agencies and media partners and maintain relationships with key stakeholders • Liaise with and brief key spokespeople Marketing and Publications: • Manage social media accounts • Ensure consistent messaging and branding • Manage and edit the IPU Review, a monthly magazine distributed to over 2,300 pharmacists • Edit IPU Yearbook & Diary, and IPU Annual Reports Show less



Caranua

• United Kingdom
• Health, Wellness & Fitness

• Head of Communications and Engagement

  • Apr 2014 - Mar 2018

  Caranua is an independent Irish state body for survivors of institutional abuse. Public Affairs: - Ongoing engagement with Departmental officials and Oireachtas Members to provide a clear vision of Caranua’s processes and values; - Providing briefings, answering Parliamentary Questions, and acting as liaison for queries from TDs and Senators; Stakeholder engagement: - Driving the development and implementation of outreach and engagement strategy, which includes developing and building relationships with a variety of stakeholders, from survivor support organisations to professional representative bodies and advocacy organisations; - Creation and implementation of a targeted outreach strategy, which focuses on working with stakeholders, including prisoners, people with a disability and people using homeless services; - Planning and executing information days for potential and existing applicants across Ireland and the UK; Organisation development: - Working closely with the CEO and senior management team on strategic organisational issues, and attending Board meetings; - Supporting the establishment of core structures including application procedures, and corporate affairs policies and structures; - Developing my own role within the organisation, and setting targets and objectives with internal strategy documents; Publications and Website: - Managed the redevelopment of the website in 2014; - Development of key publications from service guidelines and application forms to annual reports and briefing documents; Media Management: - Ongoing engagement with the media as necessary, including crisis management; Show less



Inclusion Ireland

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

• Communications and Information Manager

  • Sep 2007 - Apr 2014

  Inclusion Ireland is the national association for people with an intellectual disability Media Management: - I have been interviewed on national broadcast media, including RTÉ Six One News, TV3 News and Newstalk, in addition to many local radio stations, and in the print media; - Development of core relationships with broadcast and print media correspondents on a variety of issues; Public Affairs: - Developing and maintaining relationships with Government Ministers, Members of the Oireachtas and Government officials; - Promoting and building campaigns for policy and legislative change; - Providing briefings and materials for Dáil speeches, including Topical Issues debate and Oireachtas Committee presentations; Publications and Website: - Initiation and execution of social media strategy, and website development; - Produce policy documents, newsletters, annual reports and other publications as needed; Stakeholder Engagement: - Working closely with the CEO and Chairperson on strategic organisational issues; - Working with other non-profit organisations, including event organisation, in addition to bringing together five leading disability organisations for two press conferences; - Representing Inclusion Ireland on national working groups; - Successfully lead and completed several projects with both a national and European remit, including being Irish expert on an EU grouping on the application of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in relation to children with intellectual disabilities; Events Management: - Lead organiser of Inclusion Ireland 50th Anniversary Celebrations (2011), which included events featuring Presidents McAleese and Higgins, and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD; and a forum for candidates in the 2011 Presidential election on disability issues, chaired by broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan; - Lead organiser at six Inclusion Ireland AGM & Annual Conferences – two day events including a social dinner; Show less



Freelance

• Egypt
• Human Resources
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Freelance Journalist and Researcher

  • Sep 2003 - Sep 2007

  Researching and writing commercial and feature articles for national publications including the Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Business & Finance and Irish Property Buyer; Working as a researcher for a number of programmes on Newstalk radio, including the Wide Angle, Lunchtime and The Right Hook. Tasks included setting up interviews and preparing briefs for the presenter; Presenting a daily programme on Community Radio Castlebar, which dealt with local and national topics; Researching and writing commercial and feature articles for national publications including the Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Business & Finance and Irish Property Buyer; Working as a researcher for a number of programmes on Newstalk radio, including the Wide Angle, Lunchtime and The Right Hook. Tasks included setting up interviews and preparing briefs for the presenter; Presenting a daily programme on Community Radio Castlebar, which dealt with local and national topics;



Oireachtas

• Ireland
• Government Administration
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Parliamentary Assistant

  • Nov 2004 - Jun 2007

  Key Responsibilities and Achievements: - Working in Leinster House managing communications for a Front Bench Opposition Spokesperson; - Researching and drafting national party policy: I oversaw the publication of two national policy documents, from the initial phase to completion. This included liaising with stakeholders, drafting the document and launching the policy; - Organising events including a national conference and two press launches; - Writing speeches for Dáil Éireann on proposed legislation and Private Members Motions and Bills, and for Committee debates; - Drafting Parliamentary Questions; - Dealing with constituency based and national media: writing and releasing press statements and liaising with journalists; - Working within Oireachtas structures to further national and local campaigns, including working with legislative staff on drawing up amendments to legislation, and working with Oireachtas committees; Show less