Susan Simmonds LLM MCIPR

Experience

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  Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT)

  Oct 1987 - Oct 1988

  Assistant Editor
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  Public Relations Consultant

  Jan 1991 - Jan 2003

  Communications Consultant

  Contracts and consultancy with; Refugee Council, Business in the Environment (a Business in the Community Campaign) Real World, IND Home Office, Association of London Government, Refugee Week, Child Poverty Action Group, Brendon Care, NSPCC, Glidewell Panel, Shopping Hours Reform Council, Book Trade Benevolent Society, London Borough of Islington, London Borough of Lewisham, London Liberal Democrats Regional Officer.

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  Sureway Parking Services

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1995

  Marcoms Manager
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  Refugee Council

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1999

  Freelance Public Relations/Media Consultant

  • Media Manager and senior media spokesperson for Kosovo Humanitarian Evacuation Programme UK 1999.• Directed and delivered fast paced global strategic communications to control the global, domestic and local news interest around airlifts medi/vacs • Provided on-call 24/7 communications counsel, guidance and briefings to UNHCR, UK government, local authorities and NGOs partnering in the resettlement program• Senior media spokesperson for broadcast pools at airports after airlifts. Briefed and supported refugees on media interviews.Acting Head of the Advocacy Team • Devised advocacy priorities and strategies, identified opportunities, integrated policy and directed lobbying focused on creating, influencing and maintaining external relationships with government, NGOs, human rights bodies and experts • Developed and implemented a campaign strategy, (global media, advocacy, events, strategic legislation and technical assistance to Refugee Community Organizations’) against provisions in the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996• Developed and implemented a proactive, global, 24/7 media strategy which gained worldwide broadcast and media coverage in over 40 countries as well as syndicated coverage through agencies - campaigns, parliamentary lobby and celebrity led events• Managed the communications, public affairs/government relations/advocacy and education teams - budget holder for EU grant, provided Secretariat for APPG on asylum rights, representative on Asylum Rights Campaign.Refugee Week (for the Refugee Council and UNHCR as RefAid)Created the theme ‘Celebrating Sanctuary’ and advised on the communications strategy and stakeholder involvement for the launch of the first high profile awareness raising Refugee Week. This included a launch with supermodel Alek Wek which allowed placing of softer positive stories and to increase fundraising reach across the women’s press and commercial outlets. Show less

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  Business in the Community

  Sept 1998 - Mar 1999

  Communications Consultant

  Consultant to the Business in the Environment Campaign, event managed 10th anniversary celebration in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales. Drafted/Edited FTSE100 Corporate Index of Environmental Engagement.

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  UK Home Office

  Jan 2000 - Jun 2000

  Communications Consultant

  • Strategic internal and external communications advice to Minister and the National Asylum Support Service to review their “voice” on communications and launch their first Refugee integration Strategy• Drafted responses on parliamentary questions on asylum, resettlement policy and dispersal

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  Commonwealth Foundation

  Jun 2000 - Jul 2000

  Communications Consultant
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  OSCE

  Sept 2001 - Dec 2013

  International Election Observer

  Iraq - Kurdistan Parliamentary Election, 2013 (IFES)Kyrgyzstan, Presidential Election, 2011 (OSCE)Cambodia, Presidential Election, 2008 (CALD)Ukraine, Presidential Rerun, 2004 (OSCE)Kosovo, Presidential Election 2001(OSCE)Acquired detailed knowledge of the election law and procedures concerning election day.- Acquired detailed knowledge of the electoral and political situation in the country.- Attended training sessions, briefing and debriefing sessions, as required by the Core Team and Regional Coordinator.- Supervised the local support staff.- Monitored election day procedures and counting operations.- Prepared and submitted regular reports to assess opening, voting and counting. Show less

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  Transport for London

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2003

  Communications and Consultation stream leader

  Responsible for leadership and strategic counsel on the public consultation of on a major infrastructure project. Led on drafting the strategic communications plan for approval by the Mayor’s office and communicating to high level political, internal and external stakeholders. This included running conferences, workshops, securing legal approval and co-ordinating planning approvals, environmental, market research and crisis communications for the consultation strategy.

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  National Benevolent Fund

  Jan 2005 - Nov 2007

  Chief Executive Officer

  Responsible for the charity’s leadership, strategic growth and governance in providing practical assistance to socially isolated older people who live on a low income. • Developed their first strategy and instigated and led the implementation of an operational redesign of existing service and grant eligibility criteria leading to increased uptake of services among a wider target group and more aligned with charitable objectives• Developed relationships with national, local and statutory organisations for older people and carers to develop capacity for service uptake• Created HR, training modules and policies to diversify and increase volunteer recruitment and retention to amplify safeguarding capacity. Increase from two to forty volunteers• Successfully restructured the charity to increase and diversify the fundraising capacity in event, individual and corporate fundraising, reducing reliance on legacy and investments. Devised GAYE, and monthly giving campaigns. Exceeded all yearly income generation targets Show less

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  Young Citizens

  Feb 2005 - Dec 2018

  Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees

  The Citizenship Foundation inspires people to take part in society as equal members of it and helps young people to understand how the law, politics and public life affect them. Championing civic participation - through policy and thought leadership Supporting schools and colleges to deliver empowering citizenship education Working to redress democratic imbalance for groups on the margin

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  Habitat for Humanity (Southwark)

  Nov 2007 - Aug 2011

  Chief Executive Officer

  Successfully led the strategic growth, financial stability and diversification of the charity’s mission by creating a programme of three new housing models, based around volunteers and statutory, corporate and NGO partnerships to ensure future financial stability.- Developed and managed an innovative house building and construction skills training project (value £1.8m) for young people not in education, employment or training in Oxfordshire with multiple statutory/voluntary partners (included Cherwell District Council, Cherwell Valley College and the Homes and Communities Agency)- Initiated and implemented a new legal and funding model for refurbishing/renting empty privately owned property and providing construction skills training to young unemployed people.- Developed cost-free redecorating programmes for charitable housing providers in partnership with corporate volunteers and young unemployed people.- Created and implemented Corporate Social Responsibility Programs for FTSE100 companies and other influencers such as Disney, Cisco, CitiBank and Law Firms. Show less

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  Fifth Estate

  Apr 2009 - Mar 2015

  Committee Member - Education and Learning - Chartered Institute of Public Relations

  I was a member of the Fifth Estate Committee of the CIPR - now the Not for Profit Group, leading on Education and Learning. I was also a Judge for CIPR Excellence Awards.

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  LEARNING FOR LIFE UK LIMITED

  Mar 2012 - now

  Chair Of The Board Of Trustees

  Learning for Life is an INGO which provides and supports education in Bangladesh, Nepal and India through schools for children who are excluded through poverty, child labour or geography; adult vocational training and women’s empowerment. Funders have included DfID, Big Lottery and Comic Relief. I am currently leading on strategic development and digital inclusion in isolated and hard to reach communities.

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  Prisoners'​ Education Trust

  Mar 2012 - Sept 2012

  Director
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  NORTHDOWN ALEXANDER LTD

  Oct 2012 - now

  Founder and Director

  Communications advisory working with global clients. Included IFES, Iraq, UMAMI United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq, BRAVE Movement, AIRE Centre, NHS and University of Southampton.

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  BRITISH MUSLIMS FOR SECULAR DEMOCRACY

  Mar 2013 - Jun 2014

  Rapporteur - National Commission on Forced marriage

  Researched and authored a report into the human rights impacts of Forced Marriage funded by Rowntree Charitable Trust and Co-Founded the National Commision into Forced Marriage

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  International Foundation for Electoral Systems

  May 2013 - Oct 2014

  Iraq Strategic Communications Consultant/External Relations Advisor

  I was funded by USAID to provide technical assistance to the Independent High Election Commission in Baghdad and Erbil (Kurdistan) focussing on strategic communications and external stakeholder relations. Working with the Board of Commissioners, senior media and electoral communications staff on Council of Representatives elections, national implementation of digital technology for Automated Voter Registration (AVR) (e-cards) and democratic awareness campaigns. • Provided strategic counsel and technical assistance to the Board of Commissioners on developing, implementing and having effective governance of a Communications Strategy for the Electoral Commission, focusing on crisis and reputation management and enhancing relationships with external electoral stakeholders and worldwide media in an increasingly fragile and hostile political environment• Directed assessments of communications capacity across Baghdad, Kurdistan (KREO) and 18 governorate offices (GEO) including identifying learning opportunities, setting objectives, mentor and coach to senior staff members. Facilitated skills development and training workshops (including Lessons Learned) with local trainers on writing skills, message development and media planning. Provided technical assistance on governance and development of social media engagement strategy • Provided technical assistance and training to Media, Public Outreach, Public Relations and Political Entity Departments including planning and risk management on the nationwide implementation of new digital technology for voter recognition at polling centres (e-cards and fingerprint recognition). Working at pace to achieve cohesive, transparent and compelling messaging for the nationwide media launch across multiple terrestrial, satellite and digital channels, social media including diversity/gender/IDP resources Show less

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  United Nations

  Sept 2021 - Oct 2021

  Short term Electoral Expert

  Short Term Electoral Expert for UNAMI in Iraq. Leading a team in a high security environment to monitor IDP Special voting and E-Day for the early elections, October 2021.Acquired detailed knowledge of the election law and procedures concerning election day.- Acquired detailed knowledge of the electoral and political situation in the country.- Attended training sessions, briefing and debriefing sessions, as required by the Core Team and RegionalCoordinator.- Supervised the local support staff.- Monitored election day procedures and counting operations.- Prepared and submitted regular reports to assess opening, voting and counting. Show less

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  Brave Movement

  Jan 2022 - May 2022

  Director Global Communications
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  Democracy Club

  Jan 2022 - now

  Non Executive Director
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  University of Sussex

  Jul 2022 - Oct 2022

  Associate Director Communications, Digital and Creative Media

  • University of Sussex is a leading UK research University with over 20,000 students, 1000 academics and an annual income of £320m.Responsible for nine direct reports and a team of forty-seven communications staff across Creative, Campaigns, Digital, Internal Communications, Brand and Media.

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  Universities UK

  Nov 2022 - Feb 2023

  Communications Advisor
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  NHS England

  Jul 2023 - Sept 2023

  Communications Consultant

  Providing communications consultancy on vaccinations campaigns planning and delivery.

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  University of Southampton

  Oct 2023 - Apr 2024

  Communications Consultant