Experience

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  Various newspapers and magazines nationwide

  Jan 1988 - Jan 2000

  Journalism

  National newspapers and magazines covering media, business, popular culture, and social affairs. Staff roles included: Assistant Editor, The List (Scottish arts magazine); Senior Writer, Sunday Herald (Scottish national newspaper); news reporter, London-based Centaur Business Publications. Regular freelance contributor to BBC Scotland, The Guardian and The Scotsman.

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  Demos

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2006

  Head of external relations

  Member of senior management team for a high-profile social policy think tank. Led comms team, including national media relations, Westminster events, business development and advising project partners on communications, including National College for School Leadership. Personally secured external project funding worth over £150k in six months, and contributed to numerous funding bids. Organised sponsored fringe events programmes at party conferences.

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  Improvement and development agency for local government (idea)

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2007

  Head of communications and marketing

  Led team of 10 covering PR/media, design, public affairs and internal communications for national agency providing improvement services to councils (subsidiary of the Local Government Association). Coordinated communications activities with LGA and organised national events. Led staff engagement ahead of a successful Investors in People assessment and developed new corporate narrative.

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  London borough of redbridge

  Jan 2008 - Nov 2012

  Head of marketing and communications

  Communications advisor to cabinet members and directors, with team of 15. Relaunched monthly resident magazine, winning ‘Council Magazine of the Year’ (LGComms award) Increased "well-informed" resident survey and internal client satisfaction scoresImplemented ‘top task’ website focus securing 3/4* SOCITM usability score.Transformed in-house print unit by investing in nw technology and developed new marketing and design function.

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  Oxfordshire county council

  Nov 2012 - Feb 2020

  Head of communications and engagement

  Strategic comms advisor to councillors and directors. Accountable for strategic communication and engagement. Member of the Extended Leadership Team. Led team of 15+ focused on media and stakeholder relations; behaviour change campaigns; brand; internal communication; staff and resident engagement, and audience research.Major change campaigns including health and social care, transport infrastructure and organisational transformation. Led comms response to major reputational threats including child sexual exploitation in Oxford.Transformed digital capability and creativity, with measurable impact. Show less

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  Homes england

  Mar 2020 - Dec 2020

  Head of external communications (interim)

  Leading a team of external communication experts focused on media, digital and stakeholder events. Working closely with specialists in internal communications, campaigns and public affairs. Homes England is the government’s housing accelerator, with responsibilities including:* increasing the number of new homes that are built in England, including affordable homes and homes for market, sale or rent* improving existing affordable homes and bringing empty homes back into use as affordable housing Show less

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  Capital letters

  Dec 2020 - Sept 2022

  Head of pr and communications

  Leading the communications strategy for this dynamic start-up with a social purpose. The challenge is to build a high-profile brand in the private rental market. Capital Letters is funded by the government and works on behalf of London boroughs to prevent and relieve homelessness across the capital.

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  Future of london

  Sept 2022 - now

  Head of communications and engagement

  Leading communications and stakeholder engagement for a not-for-profit organisation connecting public and private sector professionals working on the built environment in London. We are the capital’s independent network for regeneration, housing, infrastructure and economic development practitioners, with 6,000+ professionals using Future of London for sector intelligence, connection and professional development, with a mandate to prepare the next wave of cross-sector city leaders.