Lunga Memela

Experience

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  University of KwaZulu-Natal

  Feb 2009 - Dec 2009

  Attended weekly meetings with fellow tutors and respective lecturers; read and summarised course material before tutorials; conducted internet searchers for stimulating material prepared for tutorials; marked essays and assignments.Acting (Grahamstown Arts Festival 2008 and UKZN Drama Department); actor training; scriptwriting; workshopped ideas for touring theatre plays; playwriting; play directing; assisted first-year students with monologue writing and developing their acting techniques for the Acting module; writing and pitching play proposals to Drama lecturers. Show less

  • Media and Drama Tutor

    Mar 2009 - Dec 2009

  • Research Assistant

    Feb 2009 - Dec 2009
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  University of KwaZulu-Natal

  Mar 2010 - May 2016

  • Develop and implement an annual public relations strategy.• Produce high-end print and digital publications.• Website and social media content administration.• Events management and proactive student recruitment.• Oversee interns in line with the University’s overall objectives and values for the College. Wrote extensively, sub-edited, proofread and did translations and photojournalism for UKZN publications: UKZNDABA, UKZN Online, UKZNTouch (Alumni Magazine), UKZN Research Report, and newsletters for the Colleges of Law and Management, Humanities, Health Sciences, UKZN Development Brief and UKZN website.

  • Public Relations Officer (College of Health Sciences)

    Jan 2012 - May 2016

  • Journalist (Corporate Relations Division)

    Mar 2010 - Dec 2011
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  Universiteit Maastricht

  Apr 2014 - Jun 2014

  Research Intern at Art2Connect, Maastricht

  Responsible for conducting qualitative in-depth interviews with the local municipality and visual artists from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands to analyse and present as research data to ART2Connect leading to the annual KunstTour (ArtTour) event; managed and updated ART2Connect’s social media pages with regular posts to generate traffic and advertise KuntTour; presented weekly reports on research progress to the Director of ART2Connect; interviewed artists, audiences and ART2Connect Director during KunstTour for a final internship report submitted to the organisation for archiving and Maastricht University for appraisal. Show less

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  University of Johannesburg

  Jun 2016 - Apr 2017

  Faculty of Science Marketer

  “Could you be the next Albert Einstein?” was one of the first teasers that I placed in the inside back cover of the popular nationwide science magazine Quest to attract maths and science fundis to the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Science when I joined the institution as Faculty Marketer. Drive all internal and external communication, marketing and PR activities within the faculty in line with the University’s overall Marketing and Communication Strategies.• Developing and implementing marketing and communication of programmes/strategies.• Managing Faculty and institutional marketing and communication initiative.• Providing support to the Faculty in the area of marketing and communication.• Engagement with departments, divisions and relevant stakeholders.• Making appropriate and effective use of social media platforms to engage with relevant stakeholders.• assisting departments with and initiating community engagement initiatives.• Building relationships with relevant university structures and external parties.• Implementing programmes such as event planning and direct marketing campaigns.• Implementing advertising campaigns and brochure development.• Updating all Departmental publications on information regarding academic programmes.• Managing financial, personnel and other resources needed to implement marketing and communication programmes. Show less

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  Northam Platinum

  May 2017 - Jun 2020

  Communication Specialist

  I joined the deepest platinum mine in the world to spearhead its first Communication Department – an invaluable opportunity, which, from a white canvass challenged me to reimage corporate communication, fashioning my skills and thinking to design.Successfully implemented and oversaw an internal communication strategy that effectively bridged the gap between management and employees at different levels of literacy, cultural backgrounds, and then to also each external stakeholders for the greater good of the JSE-listed entity. Championed the creation, editing, budget, distribution, monitoring and evaluation of all advertising, communication, marketing and public relations materials and events.Supported CSI initiatives as an enabler of ‘smart platinum mining’ – as goes the Northam group’s slogan.Project Managed, Edited and oversaw the production of a first-of-its-kind Women In Mining Special Publication.• Develop effective corporate communication strategies.• Manage internal communications.• Draft content for mass media and company website.• Organise initiatives and plan events.• Liaise with media and handle requests for interviews, statements etc.• Foster relationships with advocates and key persons.• Manage marketing and produce copy for advertisements or articles.• Facilitate the resolution of disputes with the public or external vendors. Show less

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  Health Systems Trust

  Sept 2020 - Mar 2023

  Communications Engagement Lead

  There is thrill in waking up to know your work will have a positive impact in the health outcomes of other people’s lives. My role was to engage HST’s internal and external stakeholders through strategic public relations and corporate communications. I was tasked to conceptualise, produce, deploy, do analytics and report on the efficacy of the organisation’s multifaceted print and digital content. I executed health advocacy campaigns, events, branding and marketing initiatives in line with the organisation’s overall strategic objectives; its support function to the National Department of Health; and the HST’s vision for improved health equity in a healthier Africa. Key Functions & Responsibilities: Developed and implemented effective communication strategies that built customer loyalty programs, brand awareness, and customer satisfaction.Managed and produced monthly content calendar and all social media content.Story development in support of profiling the work HST does for dissemination via the HST blog, social media and other relevant channelsRepresented the HST brand at conferences and events, fielding enquiries and creating linkages to potential future partners.Sourced content and work with colleagues in writing, compiling and disseminating the monthly HST blog, staff newsletter and social media channels with topical, inspirational and engaging content.Drafted and disseminate other ad hoc internal communications via various channels, as required (e.g. email, noticeboards, SharePoint). Implemented internal communications plans to include innovative toolsDid media monitoring for news and debates relevant to HST's work.Source, compile and publish relevant public health news and research into weekly bulletin and 60percent subscription newsletters. Performed daily content management on the HST website and ensuring up-time of the platform.Contributed to organisational governance processes including planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting. Show less

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  University of KwaZulu-Natal

  Apr 2023 - now

  Public Relations Specialist

  Implementing internal and public-facing strategic health advocacy through corporate communication aimed at enhancing public health and engaging stakeholders (locally and internationally).Conceptualising, producing, deploying, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the efficacy of the organisation’s multifaceted print and digital content, campaigns, events, branding and marketing initiatives that drive HST’s overall strategic objectives.• Develop and implement effective communication strategies.• Draft and disseminate other ad hoc internal communications via various channels.• Implement internal communications plans to include innovative tools.• Regularly scan the external environment for news and debates relevant to HST's work.• Source, compile and publish relevant public health news and research. • Manage HST Bulletin subscribers.• Story development in support of profiling the work HST does.• Day-to-day content management on the HST website.• Manage and produce monthly content calendar and all social media content.• Represent the HST brand at conferences and events. • Contribute to organisational governance processes.• Manage the Sharepoint security/permissions matrix.• Develop and maintain communications contacts database.• Manage the communications inventory of branding and materials. Show less