Worthing, England, United Kingdom
A confident and creative communicator with 7+ years experience in press and communications, achieving consistently high levels of national media coverage, writing high quality copy to tight deadlines, and handling reputational issues.
The King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People brings together world-leading mental health expertise from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), supported by the Maudsley Charity. This role lead high-impact communications and engagement work to elevate the profile, influence and reach of the Partnership’s research, clinical innovation and public impact.
A media specialist at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, responsible for accurately translating the Faculty’s world-leading research into accessible and engaging media coverage. I oversee all proactive media opportunities while also fielding and triaging the many calls from journalists that the Faculty receives.
I primarily provide media support to the charity’s Policy and Campaigns teams, placing news stories in print, online, and broadcast outlets at a national level. Accomplishments - Actively helped to bring the charity’s social justice campaigns to national attention via the media, including reforming the Mental Health Act, cannabis and mental health policy, and patient welfare in secure hospitals (Seni’s Law). - Worked extensively with groups and services to highlight stories in local media - Translated complex and nuanced policy positions into successful media pitches - Led the briefing and training of colleagues at Director and Associate Director level ahead of national media appearances - Developed excellent relationships with correspondents at target media outlets to help highlight the charity’s expertise
Supported the External Affairs team in conducting public engagement, PR, and online campaigns that improved attitudes to severe mental illness, raised awareness of the issues, and increased Rethink Mental Illness’s public. Accomplishments • Coordinated key charity spokespeople, media volunteers, journalists, and pr agency colleagues ahead of the Review of the Mental Health Act (2018), gaining extensive national broadcast coverage for the charity. • Point of contact for all new media volunteers, proactively growing the available pool of volunteers significantly. • Successfully pitching numerous stories to national print journalists across a range of topics. • Developing good relationships with journalists and producers as a result of delivering high quality copy and case studies at short notice, advertising the team as a reliable source of expertise.
Provided creative team support and copy for the agency’s clients, primarily for 2K, Royal Philips (Sonicare and Oral Health Care franchise) and Philips Lighting accounts. Accomplishments • Produced articles in support of the international release of Phillips Global Beauty Index, which were disseminated globally and adapted in market • Contributed to development of global toolkit materials and their dissemination • Produced briefing packs for pan European media events, such the launch of Sonicare Diamond Clean Smart toothbrush • Successfully converted an interest in the gaming industry into valuable consumer insight which allowed me to create unique and engaging campaigns for 2K releases • Generated consistent and thorough media monitoring reports that allowed for in depth competitor analysis • Offered secondment to a client’s Amsterdam offices based on ability to manage internal stakeholders and communications
Produced communications outputs at a company-wide level whilst maintaining brand image to external stakeholders. Accomplishments • Became Acting Head of Communications from August to October 2016 in order to meet the company’s interim needs at an executive level • Secured national and local media reporting of key company events, thereby maintaining the company’s market profile • Organised and managed visits of key influencers, including MPs, to Circle Health hospitals • Aided in the production of marketing materials ahead of the opening of Circle’s international rehabilitation service • Role expanded to include a lead role in the implementation of a new contract, including presentation of Circle Health’s position at local and central government reviews