Lukas Clark-Memler

Comms & Campaigns @ UNICEF | Ex-Press Sec for Ardern Govt

Greater Barcelona Metropolitan Area

About

I lead the Communication and Campaign workstreams for UNICEF's Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health. Previously led global business media engagement and thought leadership strategy as part of the UNICEF's Media & PR team. Before that, I served as a Press Secretary for the New Zealand Government, supporting various ministers in the Cabinet of Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand. MPhil graduate (with Distinction / Magna Cum Laude) in Political Theory from the University of Oxford. First-class Honours graduate in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Otago.

Experience

  • UNICEF (2 yrs 10 mos)
    • Communication and Campaign Lead, Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health
      Dec 2025 - Present · 8 mos

      Leading the Communication and Campaign workstreams for UNICEF's Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health.

    • Lead, Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health (secondment)
      Aug 2025 - Dec 2025 · 5 mos

      Leading UNICEF's flagship mental health initiative, the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health. The Coalition is the largest private sector alliance dedicated to youth mental health, bringing together private sector and foundation partners, who have collectively invested over $40 million in UNICEF programming. The goal of the Coalition is to improve mental health and well-being for 150 million children and youth in 150 countries by 2030. This role leading the Coalition is a Secondment from my previous role as Communications Specialist in UNICEF PFP's Media & PR Unit.

    • Communication Specialist
      Oct 2023 - Aug 2025 · 1 yr 11 mos

      Working within the Media & PR team – developing global communication strategies, international media relations, supporting UNICEF National Committees' press activities, implementing B2B media plan, managing risk, crisis communications.

  • Press Secretary at New Zealand Parliament
    Aug 2021 - Nov 2022 · 1 yr 4 mos

    Press Secretary for the 53rd Parliament of New Zealand (2020-2023), supporting various ministers in the Cabinet of Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand. – Coordinated media appearances – liaising with journalists and stakeholders, answering media questions, organised events and policy launches – Relationship building across Government, media, public sector, key stakeholders, unions, NGOs – Responsible for drafting speeches, press releases, articles, social media – Highlights include: led communications for Auckland Light Rail (largest infrastructure project in New Zealand history), coordinated media for NZ–USA bilateral space agreement; comms on increasing minimum wage, COVID-19 vaccination, and climate change

  • SolarPower Europe (2 yrs 1 mo)
    • Head of Press and Communications
      Oct 2020 - Sep 2021 · 1 yr

    • Press and Communications Advisor
      Sep 2019 - Oct 2020 · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Communications Advisor / Editor at UITP
    Jan 2017 - Oct 2017 · 10 mos

    – Wrote for website and publications; edited policy briefs and reports – Wrote feature articles for PTI Magazine, coordinated with press for interviews and articles – Organisation, marketing, and strategy for 2017 Global Public Transport Summit in Montréal, Canada

  • University of Otago ()
    • Tutor / Teaching Assistant
      Jul 2016 - Dec 2016 · 6 mos

      - Tutor / teaching assistant for POLS 101: Introduction to Political Philosophy - Prepared and delivered tutorials to students - Marked essays and met with students to develop research questions

    • Workshop Facilitator
      Feb 2015 - Dec 2016 · 1 yr 11 mos

      - Created and facilitated workshops on academic writing skills for Disability Information & Support - Worked as tutor and proofreader for a variety of politics, philosophy and psychology courses

    • Writing Tutor (Peer Writer)
      Feb 2013 - Dec 2016 · 3 yrs 11 mos

      My work at the University of Otago's Student Learning Centre, involved tutoring students from all levels (from first-year through to PhD) in areas such as essay structure, grammar, style, syntax, as well as subject-specific essay/exam techniques. I was the head Humanities and Commerce 'Peer Writer' in the program and conducted individual and group writing sessions with students. I helped to develop and implement the Peer Writing programme at the Student Learning Centre. A key area of work was with international students, and helping get them ready for their English language exam - as well as general academic writing technique.