Jane Gitau, Fellow, PRSK

Experience

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  Kenya Times Media Trust

  Jan 1986 - Jan 1991

  News Feature Writer

  Interviewing subjects and writing their stories to the world, writing a weekly education column, writing a weekly childrens column

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  Anglican Church of Kenya

  Jan 1992 - Jan 2000

  Communications Officer

  As Communications Officer and later Director at the national level of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), I was involved in the Strategic Planning and Fundraising for both the larger organization and the communications centre. This involved public awareness creation that the Church in Kenya was involved beyond spiritual matters and had a role to play in social and development issues. I was responsible for the preparation of project funding proposals and their follow-up as well as maintaining donor relations.In 1994 I produced a video documentary entitled In Their Footsteps. It was a video production of the impact of the Church in Kenya over its 150 year history. It drew on the history and captured the visit to Kenya by the world-wide head of the Anglican Church, Most Rev George Carey. Show less

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  Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI)

  Feb 2000 - Jan 2003

  Program Officer, Communications & Networking

  Program Officer, Communications & NetworkingEastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) KAMPALA, UgandaI was one of three top managers and I worked with the Coordinator who was effectively the chief executive officer. As the first full time Communications Officer, I was responsible for branding the organisation. I suggested the design of the logo, upgraded the Eastern African Initiatives from an occasional publication to a full-fledged 24 page full colour bilingual (French/English) quarterly magazine. I was responsible for Annual Reports, and occasional publications such as issue briefs and conference reports. I designed and maintained EASSI’s first website. I was also involved in strategic planning and fundraising activities, ensuring communication with partners and donors was on going and thriving. I generated support for the Women in governance program by creating a lobby group known as the Coalition for Political Accountability to Women (COPAW) in Uganda to support the programme on women’s political governance. COPAW united gender and academic political activists to demand accountability to women by Uganda’s parliamentarians and local councillors. On the development of strategic partnerships, I found EASSI’s physical mailing list with just about 100 members. I left it three years later with a membership of over 500. Show less

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  Uganda Christian University

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2007

  Lecturer

  I was the team leader in the Public Relations section and I developed a curriculum that emphasizes publicity through new/social media, reports and proposal writing, media relations, editorial development, Monitoring and Evaluation of projects as part of PR and planning work and briefing notes. Alongside my teaching duties, I helped establish the communications/Public Relations office of the university, opting to move to full time teaching when the office was operational. I was also a member of the editorial committee that established a university teaching newspaper called The Standard. I was involved in continuous training and consulting relationships that kept me abreast with issues in the industry and development. Show less

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  Public Relations Association of Uganda

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2007

  Secretary General

  Managing the secretariat, writing and filing minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee, managing the membership register

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  St. Paul's University

  Jan 2008 - Nov 2019

  Visiting Lecturer

  I visit the University to mentor students on different aspects of Communication and Public Relations as well as the career field in general. This space is much appreciated by the students and communication lecturers.

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  International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

  Feb 2008 - Jun 2015

  Communications Specialist

  At ILRI, I communicate the results of research done by the Animal Sciences for Sustainable Productivity Group (ASSP). ASSP is a global program working to increase the productivity of livestock systems in developing countries through high-quality animal science (breeding, nutrition and animal health) and livestock systems research.I also support the Animal Biosciences team that deals with the genetic selection and transformation of breeds to match various environments. In this position, I supported the People Livestock and Environment (PLE) theme Director to make visible PLE research and activities. PLE scientists work on the nexus between livestock keeping and natural resource management and climate change. Supporting the unit with communications means providing clear, effective and timely dissemination of research products as they are produced and ensuring messages sent out are coherent. My work was to write, edit and oversee production of theme publications, including articles, reports, policy briefs, brochures, multimedia products and posters. Show less

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  Chevening Alumni Association, Kenya (ChevKenya)

  Jul 2014 - Apr 2022

  Chairman of the Board

  The Chevening Alumni Association brings together elite academy scholars who studied for the graduate degree (Masters level) under the British Governments Scholarship. The Alumni in Kenya have translated themselves into a think tank to support government and private sector on governance, economy and education. The association has just got it first grant (2016). Chevening is the UK government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders and offers a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK.More information about the Chevening Fund is found here http://www.chevening.org/ Show less

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  Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK)

  Sept 2014 - now

  Chairman

  The Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) was established in 1971 to guide and bring together PR practitioners in Kenya. The Society’s broad objective is to advance excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management in Kenya and to ensure that the practice continues to thrive within the ethical framework defined by the profession.To keep abreast with the global dynamics of the profession and to create networking opportunities for the practitioner, PRSK affiliates to regional, continental, and global PR bodies. PRSK is a member of the East African Public Relations Association (EAPRA) and the African Public Relations Association (APRA) the continental body for all PR national associations in Africa, http://www.afpra.org/# . At the global level, PRSK is founder member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management (GA) www.globalpr.org. Members subscribe to the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), www.ipra.org thus forming the Kenya IPRA chapter. Show less

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  The African Public Relations Association (APRA)

  May 2016 - now

  Secretary General

  The African Public Relations Association (APRA) is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit making professional association. It exists to foster unity via interaction and exchange of ideas amongst public relations practitioners in Africa. Inaugurated in 1975 as the Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FAPRA), the organization promotes social, political and economic integration on the continent. APRAs flagship event, the annual conference, remains central in promoting the profession. Show less

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  Freelance

  Jan 2020 - now

  Senior Communications Consultant