About me

I have over 27 years in communications. I have experience in the whole publication process - from coming up with initial ideas to commissioning, interviewing, writing, sub-editing, proofing, page layout, and liaising with printers. This has been on a diverse range of publicity materials, including magazines, websites, adverts, posters, newsletters, fund-raising letters, press releases, video, and even books. The nature of the different publication forms has taught me to write for different audiences.

I am very experienced in all the main Microsoft packages, plus Adobe Indesign and Photoshop. I am well acquainted with Adobe Illustrator, Quark XPress, and the website packages Go Live and Typo 4. My career has been one of learning, development and improving. When presented with a new challenge I have embraced the opportunities to grow.

During my career I have benefited from working both freelance and in teams. This means I have the ability to be self-motivated and work on my own initiative, but at the same time I am a good team-player. In my most recent positions - as leader of a multicultural team and then as communications director of an international project - I have learnt management skills across cultures and between generations.

I am a detailed person who tries to do my work to my absolute best. I am able, however, to work at speed when needs must - meeting the deadline but always to the highest standard too. The nature of my current organisation means being flexible and adaptable in the midst of doing the job.

My most recent post has been about inspiring young people across the world to get involved in community-based efforts in our inner cities during this Olympic season. This has required me to grasp the big picture - developing and implementing the communications strategy for the two-year project - while also being ready to look at the smallest details - such as answering daily enquiries from both individual staff and potential clients.

Skills

Copy editing - first trained as a copy editor, I now have 27 years' experience on a variety of publications, including newsletters, magazines, websites, booklets and books., Copy writing - over 20 years' experience in writing copy for a variety of settings, from press releases to news and feature articles., DTP - over 20 years' experience of creating page layouts using DTP packages, including Adobe Indesign and Quark XPress., Web design - I have helped to create several websites, advising on strategy, look and content., Web maintenance - since 2004, I have been involved in the day-to-day maintenance of websites for my company, including developing the site map, writing and editing content, choosing images, and creating and laying out new pages.

Sector Experience

Through my career, I have worked in communications in a variety of settings and sectors. Having begun as a copy editor on a leading medical journal 27 years ago, I have since developed both my skills and subjectmatters. From opera to sports, from medicine to computers, from charity work to a festival company, I have broadened my knowledge. I have also widened the range of publications and materials I have worked on, including newsletters, press releases, magazines, websites, booklets, books, social networking sites and websites.

Awards

BA (Hons) English Literature (Class 2.1) from the University of Leicester, Diploma in Printing and Publishing Studies from the London College of Printing

Clients

Athletics Today magazine, Athletics Weekly magazine, British Medical Association, Butterworth Scientific Ltd, Opera Now magazine, Reed Business Publishing, Spring Harvest, Youth With A Mission (YWAM)

Trade Associations

Member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ)