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Iram Zaidi
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, International non-profit, Corporate Communications & PR, Academic Research and Analysis
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Vancouver,
Canada
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Women's Studies/Gender & Public Relations/Communications Professional with 4 years of experience in international non-profit program management, advocacy, outreach and 8 years of global PR experience spanning India, Middle East (Dubai), and Canada. Seeking communications/advocacy/program management positions with international ngos. Currently visiting India and willing to relocate.
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 Contact Iram Zaidi
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Area of Expertise: |
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Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
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Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
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Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
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Social, Education, Gender, Youth, Child
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Professional Experience: |
I have four years of international non-profit program management experience working with a Vancouver-based non-profit agency called Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services specializing in providing culturally-sensitive services to immigrant and refugee women and children/youth impacted by domestic violence. I coordinated and implanted provincially-funded social service programs targeting women and children including the Multicultural Outreach Program, the Stopping the Violence Program, and the Children Who Witness Abuse Program. As an Immigrant Public Legal Education Information Worker at the same agency, I managed the federally-funded Immigrant PLEI Consortium Project aimed to provide legal education to immigrants in Metro Vancouver, in collaboration with 12 other service providers. As part of my responsibilities, I organized, coordinated, implemented, and facilitated three large-scale public legal education training workshops targeting more than 200 professionals/service providers as well as six community workshops targeting diverse linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic immigrant groups. My key areas of expertise are program coordination and implementation, advocacy, outreach, communications, counselling, case management, group facilitation, and government and community liaison/referral.
I also have up to eight years of international public relations (PR) experience which entails working with global PR firms Burson-Marsteller and Edelman in India, Middle East, and Canada across diverse industry sectors like Retail, FMCG, IT, Healthcare, Corporate Affairs, and Real Estate. Some of the leading multinational accounts I have managed in India and the Middle East include Cocoa-Cola, General Electric, Microsoft, 3M, Xerox Emirates, Xerox, and Emaar Properties. In Canada, I led the public relations department of a Vancouver-based cross-cultural ethnic marketing consultancy in 2008-09 whereby I implemented PR campaigns for City of Vancouver, 7-Eleven, and Nando’s Chicken among others. I hold excellent skills in written, verbal, and interpersonal communication, account management, networking, stakeholder relations, media relations, and event management.
I have excellent research skills acquired as part of doing my Master of Arts degree in Women’s Studies and from holding two Research Assistant positions during the course of study. In the first project focusing on Mid-Life and Later Life Parenting, I recruited and interviewed research subjects from diverse ethnic backgrounds utilizing my knowledge of cross-cultural differences/issues and language skills (Hindi, Urdu, and English). In the second study, a CIHR-funded study on Neighbourhoods & Physical Activity of Older Adults, I conducted a review of literature on the use of the photovoice/photojournal technique with older adults and in studies on environment and health behaviour; drafted research protocols for the data collection period; and acted as a liaison point for the s
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Education: |
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I hold a Master of Arts Degree in Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada (2008), a Diploma in Advertising and Public Relations from the Centre for Mass Media, YMCA, India (1997), and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in English from Delhi University, India (1996).
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Affiliations and Achievements: |
Recipient of the National Council of Jewish Women (Vancouver Section) Graduate Scholarship in Women’s Studies (2006/07). Achieved Grade Point Average of 4.00 at end of graduate year at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver.
-Member of Oxfam Canada (attended meetings and provided on-ground support at various promotional events and activities)
-Member of Oxfam’s Canada “We Can End Violence Against Women in BC” Campaign (Participated in Changemaker’s Conference, provided on-ground support at various promotional events and fundraising activities in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment from 2008-2012)
-Member of Amnesty International- provided on-ground support at profile-building events
-Volunteered with Supporting Women’s Alternatives Network (SWAN) aimed to provide culturally appropriate support, education, research, advocacy, and outreach for trafficked, migrant and immigrant sex trade workers. I attended weekly meetings and carried out community outreach by visiting massage parlours to distribute health supplies and disseminate health related information brochures
-Volunteered with Seva Society, a non-profit organization working towards prevention of blindness in Canada. Provided on-ground at media launch of website and other fundraising initiatives. Tabled the SEVA booth at “Eye Screen for Ice Cream” campaign in September 2005
-Volunteered with Al Mosanada Cancer Welfare Association in Dubai – made weekly outreach visits to cancer patients at hospital
-Volunteered with Dubai Centre for Special Needs, a special school catering to the educational needs of children with disability. Assisted the teacher in the classes as a volunteer.
-Member of South Asian Worker’s Network (SAWN) and a member of Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS)- Attended the professional and social networking events of both associations.
- Completed Children Who Witness Abuse Training Module 1 & 2, Canadian BC Provincial government certification focusing on the cycle of abuse, effects on children who witness violence, child and adolescent development, and counseling skills and interventions.
-Holder of valid Level C Emergency First-Aid and CPR/AED certificate (Canadian Red Cross)
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Available for: |
- Consulting assignments
- Job opportunities
- Internships / Fellowships
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