Professional Experience        

Oct 2014 – Present         Chief Experience Officer, G Adventures, Central America

Currently leading tours throughout Central America. Responsibilities for each tour group include: confirmation of all accommodation and transport, organisation of activities, reservation of restaurants, bars and handling of all and any other requests clients might have. Aim is to try to leave each individual with the most amazing memories of their time travelling with G Adventures.

Best job in the world!

Dec 2013 – Sep 2014       PR Manager, Turret Media, United Arab Emirates

Led a highly successful integrated communications campaign for the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA), largest sustainable agriculture event in the world, held 3-5 February 2014 in Abu Dhabi. Responsible for communications strategy, content creation, management of social media agency, media relations, event management and key stakeholder engagement. From April-September 2014 continued to work for Turret Media on a freelance basis as PR Manager for GFIA 2015.

Jan-Dec 2013                Senior Account Executive, Edelman Middle East & Africa, United Arab Emirates

Led integrated communications campaign for the 2013 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, highest-profile international sporting event in the UAE. Also energy team lead, with a focus on strategic clean energy campaigns. Communications campaign lead for Dubai Global Energy Forum 2013. Oversaw Middle East communications campaign for Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2013. Led communications campaign for Dubai-based Clean Energy Business Council for their 2013 Annual Event. Other clients included a range of government, traditional energy, technology and corporate entities. Role responsibilities included (English & Arabic for all): strategic communications counsel, key message development, content creation, media relations, event management, client relations, social media management, media training and R&D.

Jan-Jul 2012                  Communications Manager, Civil Initiatives Libya, Libya

EU-funded project to provide support to emerging Libyan civil society. Helped unite local environmental groups and integrate them into civil society sector. Managed nationwide team of expatriate and local staff. Represented project at key forums, government presentations and donor meetings. In charge of all communications and marketing output (English & Arabic for all): website content, social media engagement, press releases, newsletters, leaflets, manuals and training materials.

Jun 2011-Jul 2012          Programme Development Officer, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), Libya

French international NGO. In charge of all mission communications and external donor reporting. Integral member of small expatriate team running extensive multi-base operation. Helped oversee transition of mission focus from emergency relief to post-conflict development and rehabilitation. Managed key projects, including urban sanitation and refugee camp water supply maintenance. Deputised as interim Country Director and Area Coordinator on many occasions. Actively engaged in donor, partner and interagency relations. Responsibilities included: project design and implementation, proposal, concept note, donor report, assessment, situation report and security report development, and oversight of logistics, finance, administration and HR teams.

Mar-Apr 2012               REACT Emergency Response Unit, ACTED, South Sudan

Deployed to South Sudan to assist with ongoing refugee crisis. Provided support to Capital Office. Transferred to Jamam refugee camp on Sudanese border. Undertook sustainability assessment of water and forestry resources. Compiled socio-anthropological survey of refugee population. Provided support to camp management team.                                                          

Dec 2010-Jun 2011        Assistant Manager, Summertown Wine Cafe, Summertown, Oxford, UK

Nov 2009-Mar 2010      Bespoke wine purveyor. Assisted in management of stock and finances. In charge of supplier and customer relations. Represented company at external wine industry fairs. Required extensive knowledge of wine, excellent interpersonal skills, adaptability and capacity to cope well under pressure.

Aug-Nov 2009 & Jun-Sep 2008         Sales Officer, Bodegas R. López de Heredia, Haro, La Rioja, Spain

Rioja winery, one of Spain’s oldest. Integral member of customer relations and sales teams. Assisted in events management. Conducted wine tastings and winery tours (English, Spanish & French). Required thorough knowledge of oenological terms and processes, interpersonal skills and linguistic versatility.

Jan-Apr 2005                Teacher, Terige High School, Lessos, Eldoret, Kenya

First French teacher school had ever employed. Taught PE classes. Ran the school basketball team. Organised and oversaw basketball team’s participation in national sports championship.

Education

2005-2009                     University of Manchester, UK                                                                         

BA (Honours) First Class in Middle Eastern & Modern European Languages (Arabic and Spanish, Distinction in Spoken Arabic)

2007-2008                     University of Alexandria, Egypt                

Intensive studies of Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic in advanced level classes.

1999-2004                     Radley College, Oxfordshire, UK

A Levels (all 4 A):      English Literature, Latin, Spanish, French

GCSE’s (all 10 A*):   English, English Literature, Sciences (Dual Award), Maths, French, Spanish, Geography, History, Latin

Languages                                                                                                          

English                        Native

Spanish                        Fluent (C2)

Portuguese                Near fluent (C1)

French                         Near fluent (C1)

Arabic                          Egyptian Colloquial – Near fluent (C1)

                                       Modern Standard Arabic – Advanced proficiency (B2)

Italian                          Intermediate (B1)

International Experience

Have lived and worked in various countries, including the UAE, Libya, Egypt, Spain, Kenya and the UK. Have also travelled extensively in Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East and South and Central Asia.

Organised a three month overland expedition from Kenya’s Rift Valley to Cape Town, South Africa, with several other teaching volunteers after leaving Terige High School, Kenya in 2005.

In 2010, devoted over eight months to exploring the entire South American continent overland, from the Caribbean coast of Venezuela to Patagonia. Trip was entirely self-planned and self-funded. Starred in a film in Bogotá, Colombia. Organised excursions for groups in the Bolivian rainforest.