Introduction

I started out working in communications back in 1993 - as a press assistant in the EU Delegation in Moscow. It was an exciting time, with the former Soviet states just beginning to climb out of the economic meltdown following the breakup of the Soviet Union. It was also my first taste of public relations, marketing and communications. 

After a year back in the UK to complete a Masters Degree in Journalism Studies I moved into the field of EU communications, based out of Belgium for eight years working on a wide range of communications projects across central and eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, and the Member States of the EU. These projects focused on marketing and communicating the European Union, its policies, programmes and projects to (often sceptical) national publics. This included a two-year spell at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, a stab at running my own company (Integral Communications) and several years as a freelance communications consultant. 

In 2005, I moved to Turkey to head the press and information section of the 130-strong EU Delegation in Ankara. This coincided with a high point in EU-Turkey relations, with information at the forefront of efforts to promote closer relations between Turkey and Europe as part of the accession process. Managing large budgets (3.5 million euros annually) I was able to steer through some innovative initiatives during my time tenure.

From there, I moved to an EU-funded project in Ukraine - building and managing information campaigns on women and children's rights. Running until the end of December 2011, I led a team of 12 communications professionals designing and running national, multi media information campaigns on a rolling annual basis to raise awaress of domestic violence, children's rights and gender equality. 

At the same time I continued to run communications trainings for project managers, organised a conference in Jakarta, and helped companies with their business development activities.