Professional Experience:
Four months’ experience living and working in the Middle East. Currently intern with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), working with the Barrier Monitoring Unit in Ramallah, West Bank. Responsibilities include advising on content and layout of proposals, reports and communications material for donors and other stakeholders. Emphasis on presenting human interest stories in the occupied Palestinian territories, through field visits. Also volunteering with NGO, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms.
Highly effective media spokesperson for seven years, reporting to senior Government Ministers in Australia. Provided full daily briefing on media issues, advised on media strategy and responded promptly to negative media issues. Developed and implemented year-round media plans and a social media strategy to raise the profile of Ministers. Maintained relationships with national and international journalists, non-governmental organisations, the Prime Minister's office and the private sector. From 2009-2011, provided high quality policy advice on international and domestic policy issues. This included advising on issues such as territorial claims in Antarctica, Indigenous land management and Australia's first coal seam gas operations. Also accompanied Environment Minister on key international visits to discuss trade issues in Washington and to attend the 2011 International Whaling Commission meeting in the Channel Islands.
Developed in-depth understanding of public and private sector investment and decision-making. Understand the relationship between policy development and communications. In-depth knowledge of governance and politics (worked on three election campaigns). Promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff in office of the Australian Government Minister for the Environment. Managed a team of 20 staff and prioritised a heavy workload in an unpredictable environment. For nine months in 2005, gained international experience, working in London. During this time, accompanied an Australian State Government delegation to the West Bank and Gaza.
Three years’ experience as a journalist, working at an Australian daily newspaper. Generated fresh story ideas on a daily basis, relying on thorough research and a network of contacts.
Other volunteer experience includes teaching English to asylum seekers and volunteering with Sydney branch of international non-profit organisation Room to Read.