Experience

• 

  European commission

  Oct 1990 - Feb 1991

  Stagiaire at dg i/c/1

  Trainee in the DG responsible for trade and external relations, working in the unit responsible for autonomous trade measures (anti-dumping procedures and trade sanctions).

• 

  Bates & wacker

  Jun 1991 - May 1992

  Consultant

  Part of start up team at this small EU affairs consultancy

• 

  Scottish enterprise

  Jun 1992 - Oct 1996

  Development officer, then senior dev officer at scotland europa, brussels

  Part of start up team for this Scottish Enterprise funded Brussels office responsible for promoting Scotland vis-a-vis the EU Institutions and other EU regions

• 

  Four field court

  Oct 1996 - Apr 1997

  Pupil barrister

  Chambers specialising in commercial, maritime and employment law

• 

  Hill & knowlton

  May 1997 - Dec 1998

  Account director at brussels office

  Manager in multi-national public relations and lobbying consultancy. Responsible for developing integrated media relations and public affairs strategies for clients. Major lobbying / media campaigns and projects included “Review of EU competition policy on ‘vertical restraints’” and 1997 / 1998 review of EU banana import regime as well as research reports for European Commission on “Remote banking and consumer protection” and “EU export of services to Japan”

• 

  British medical association

  May 1999 - Oct 2002

  Eu liaison officer / head of brussels office

  Representing BMA policies to the EU Institutions and the Brussels press corps. Developing and implementing communications strategies. Informing BMA International Committee about EU matters and supporting UK delegations to EU medical organisations (CPME, PWG, UEMO, UEMS). Drafting briefing documents, press releases position papers and letters. Writing for BMA News and other relevant publications / websites. Major EU issues worked on included extension of the Working Time Directive to junior doctors, the EU public health strategy, free movement of patients (ECJ Smits judgement), tobacco control and mutual recognition of medical qualifications, Show less

• 

  European commission

  Oct 2002 - Oct 2005

  Media officer in dg health and consumer protection (sanco)

  My initial responsibilities were drafting press materials and supporting the Spokesperson of the European Commissioner in developing a media forward plan. I later worked with my Head of Unit to develop a communication strategy for the Directorate-General and design a set of "calls for tender" to secure contractors to support the strategy. I also worked with the Commission's in house audio-visual team to develop B-roll packages to support uptake of our stories by TV networks, and with the Director of Resources on drafting the Directorate-General's annual activity report. Show less

• 

  European centre for disease prevention and control, ecdc

  Oct 2005 - Oct 2015

  Advising the Director of ECDC on EU policy issuesWriting speeches and developing presentations for the Director for high profile scientific and political meetings.and helping him prepare for meetings of the Centre's Management BoardPreparing the Director for hearings with Parliamentary Committees, including preparation of briefings, "question and answers" documents and gathering of political intelligenceAssisting the Director with corporate communication to key partners (e.g. Board members) and staffContributing to or leading priority initiatives on behalf of the Director including:* Communication to Board and staff about major re-organisation of ECDC (2011-2012)* Developing the relationship between the Network of EU Agencies and the European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee while ECDC Director was Chairman of the Network (March 2012 - March 2013)* Initial roll out of ECDC "comprehensive independence policy" November 2012 - December 2013, with particular focus on applying the policy to the Board. This involved working closely with the Chair of the Board (Dr Francoise Weber)* Development of ECDC training offer and other initiatives in support of the preparedness element of EU Decision 1082/2013 on serious cross-border health threats* Establishing positive and constructive relations between ECDC and key European Parliament committees after the May 2014 European elections. Show less Working closely with ECDC Founding Director Zsuzsanna Jakab to develop and implement a corporate communications strategy for ECDC.Writing speeches and developing presentations for the Director and setting up press interviews for herProject managing the corporate communications for key events, including major conference with European Commission, national public health institutes from Member States and WHO Country Officer (October 2009) and pan-EU press seminar linked to Board meeting (November 2009)Provided risk communication and corporate communication expertise during ECDC technical support missions to Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (August 2009) and Bulgaria (November 2009)Worked closely with Acting Director Prof Karl Ekdahl and other colleagues to prepare Director-elect of ECDC Dr Marc Sprenger for his hearing with the European Parliament's health committee (March-April 2010). This included me designing, coordinating and editing a briefing pack for the hearing and organising a rehearsal Show less

  • Senior Policy Expert, Office of Director

    Jun 2010 - Oct 2015

  • Corporate Communications Officer

    Jun 2009 - May 2010

  • Head of Public Communication and Media Section, Spokesman

    Jun 2007 - Jun 2009

  • Spokesman and Media Relations Officer

    Oct 2005 - May 2007
• 

  The warning project

  Jan 2016 - May 2018

  Providing advice from a European perspective to The Warning Project, developing the organisations activities in Europe and beyond, leading and participating in international events. The Warning Project is a an independent partnership of leading international practitioners, academics and consultants committed to helping organizations communicate more effectively during emergencies or other high risk events. Providing European input and perspective to the Advisory Board

  • Director for Europe, The Warning Project

    Jul 2016 - May 2018

  • Member of the Advisory Board

    Jan 2016 - Jun 2016
• 

  Cambre associates

  Sept 2016 - now

  Senior adviser, health & wellbeing

  I provide strategic advice on health diplomacy and policy issues as well as on health & wellness campaigns

• 

  Alert not alarmed enterprises ltd

  Apr 2018 - now

  Director and founder
• 

  World health organization, lao pdr

  Jun 2019 - Feb 2021

  Communication consultant
• 

  World health organization

  Feb 2021 - now

  Providing capacity building support to priority countries and surge capacity support to WHE risk communication function in Geneva.

  • Senior Risk Communication Consultant

    Jul 2021 - now

  • Risk communication consultant to WHO Health Emergencies Programme

    Oct 2017 - now

  • Risk communication consultant - documenting the COVID-19 response

    Jul 2021 - Mar 2023

  • Risk Communication Pillar Lead

    Feb 2021 - Mar 2021