PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Member of the International Public Relations Association (MIPRA)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (MCIPR)
Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists
(ACIL)
United Nations Certificat d’Aptitudes Linguistiques (French)
LANGUAGES: French (bilingual) ; German (good) ; Danish
(fluent) ; Dutch (basic) + Spanish (reasonable).
CAREER Feb 1998 -
Established own company - CommDirect,
offering UK and international corporate
communications services (see client list).
IN-HOUSE CAREER Sept 1996 to mid- Dec 1997
International Corporate Communications
Manager, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux (SLDE), Paris, France.
SLDE is the world leader in potable and wastewater treatment
and potable water supply - it supplies over 73 million people
worldwide with drinking water and has 220,000 employees in
120+ countries. It is also one of the leaders in its three
other core business sectors - energy (gas + electricity),
waste management and communications. When Alison worked at
SLDE it had a turnover (revenues) of US$ 40 billion. Post
was expatriate status and necessitated being bilingual in
French with a fluent third language (German). Alison was seconded to Paris to take up this post from the company’s British subsidiary Northumbian Water Group plc.
Outline:
• Externally, responsible
for all Group-level international PR and communications
functions. Main areas of activity - all
international media relations (inc. press trips,
conferences/roadshows for media and financial
analysts; news releases regarding
contracts, mergers and acquisitions; advertising;
general communications strategy;
documentation; exhibitions. Frequent overseas
travel, often accompanying Group
chairman.
• Internally, acted as communications
link between head office and overseas offices
worldwide at Group level + provided advice
to staff on the ground on communications
issues.
SKILLS NEEDED
• The ability to develop
media contacts in countries where none previously existed
with
the company;
• The ability to work with
clients and colleagues at all levels;
• The ability to cope with
deadlines, very heavy workloads and extensive world-wide
travel;
• The ability to work with
people from different nationalities and cultures;
• The ability to speak several
languages;
• Strong organisational
skills; budget planning and management.
July 1993 - Nov 96
Public Relations + Advertising Manager, Entec Europe Ltd,
Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Major environmental and engineering consultancy, ranked no.
2 in the UK; subsidiary of Northumbrian Water Group (privatised
in 1989).
• Planned and carried out
all media relations and advertising strategy including full
budget planning and control. Planned campaigns
in the countries where Entec had
offices - the UK, France, Germany, Oman,
Bahrain and the UAE.
• Planned internal and external
communications and corporate identity strategies to turn
11 independent companies(10 of which had been the subject
of acquisition) into one
homogenous entity, Entec.
July ‘92-’93
Marketing Executive, Northumbrian Water Group plc
May ‘88- July '92
Corporate Affairs Executive, Northumbrian Water Group plc
During this period, Alison was fully involved with the team
carrying out the communications strategy for NWG in preparation
for privatisation of the company by the British government.
Also Editor of in-house magazine.
Aug ‘87 - May '88
Higher Executive Officer, Central Office of Information, Newcastle
upon Tyne (British government press office).
• Organised programmes for
visits to the region by foreign visitors based on their
particular interests and requirements. Visitors
included government ministers,
diplomats and other VIPs.
Oct ‘86 - Aug '87
Public Relations Officer, Komatsu UK Ltd, Birtley, Co. Durham
• Set up PR function at
this start-up factory and played a major role in organising
the
official opening by HRH The Prince of Wales.
• Organised distributor
conferences and press visits.
Dec ‘85 - Oct '86
• Public Relations Officer, Indy Electronics
Ltd, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland
• Set up PR function for
this start-up company.
Mar ‘84 - Nov '85
Promotions co-ordinator, Hyster Europe Ltd, Basingstoke, England
• Responsible for advertising,
public relations, exhibition management and corporate gift
scheme in France, Germany and Denmark.
Mar ‘83 - Mar '84
Administrative Assistant, World Health Organization, Copenhagen,
Denmark
• Worked on programme for
prevention and control of alcohol and drug abuse.
Mar ‘82 - Mar '83
Programme Organiser, United Tours of Scandinavia, Copenhagen,
Denmark
• Organised and accompanied
tour programmes for inbound convention delegations of
up to 1,200 participants.
Nov ‘76 - Feb '82
Personal Assistant to UK Director of French Government Commission,
Bordeaux, Paris and London
• Interpreting, organising
events and functions in Bordeaux for British business investors
in Aquitaine (tourism/leisure industry projects).
