دوحة Al Wazany

Freelance copywriter and communications advisor for government entities in Abu Dhabi

Key Responsibilities:
Communications Policy Development:
• Draft the bank’s communication policies in collaboration with executive leaders, business stakeholders and ensure timely upgrading on a continuous basis.
• Develop measures within the policy for handling communications during crisis situations and create awareness regarding it amongst all senior employees.
• Strategize, formulate and implement the department’s workflow with focus on achieving optimum productivity levels on a consistent basis.
PR Team Leadership:
• Assign tasks to various resources, conduct regular follow-ups to ensure completion of allotted PR activities and provide constructive feedback.
• Provide direction to the PR Team in operation, motivate team members to employ industry based PR practices and measure performance periodically.
• Handle staff appraisals based on performance reports, promote employees to higher positions and manage new recruitments for the department.
PR Building Activities:
• Plan and invest in the development of social media channels in order to utilize them for enhancing the bank’s corporate brand identity in online media.
• Devise the annual PR strategy, organize distinctive events as part of it and increase footfalls through targeted promotions across various media channels.
• Develop and deploy the end-to-end communications, messaging, branding and public relations program of the bank, in line with pre-defined business objectives.
Design and Development Efforts:
• Assist the technical team to conceptualize, design, develop and commission the bank’s corporate website as a measure to increase visitor footfall.
• Coordinate with relevant design teams for the re-structuring and implementation of the bank’s brand components, corporate colors, identity designs etc.
• Render necessary consultancy and assistance for the collation of photographic, videographic, and textural content in order to create an archival library for future referencing.

Advising entrepreneurs and small and medium size business in Palestine and Jordan establish their presence digitally across social media platforms. This includes writing content strategies, digital PR plans and overseeing the implementation of these plans, in addition to assessing the progress and advising on the best ways forward for each client based on their market response and needs.

Led PR Teams through the success of Pope Visit to the UAE, UAE Federal National Council Elections. Seconded to EAD and led the Arabic editorial team through the Ocean Summit.

Key PR and Communications Programs / Projects to Credit:
• 2013: Financial Literacy Program
• 2013: Kafa’at Program
• 2012: Emirates Foundation Social Investment Forum (Business Breakfast)
• 2012: Think Science Program
• 2009 - 2012: Emirates Foundation Arts and Culture Program, 2009-2012
• 2009 - 2012: Emirates Foundation Science and Technology Program, 2009-2012
• 2009 - 2012: Formula 1 - Emirati Face of the Race Activities
• 2009 - 2012: International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF)
• 2012: Itijah Project
• 2009 - 2011: Art Abu Dhabi
• 2011: Emirates Foundation’s Relaunch Activity: Created new branding for the Foundation
• 2011: UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennial
• 2010: Science on the Move Project “Reach for the Sky” (in collaboration with Sesame Street Incorporated)
• 2010 - 2011: Earth Pulse Magazine/Arabic Edition
• 2009: Takat of Social Volunteering Program

Key Responsibilities:
• Strategized and implemented effective communications programs for the foundation and its associated activities, events etc, in coordination with a mid-sized PR and Communications Team.
• Tasked with the end-to-end development of entrepreneurial PR and communication campaigns, awareness programs to educate public and media about venture philanthropy etc.
• Provided consultancy to the foundation’s key decision makers with respect to corporate communications, social media consensus building, PR etc.
• Formulated the foundation’s communication objectives and mission practices based on its pre-defined vision, mission and long-term goals.
• Developed and sustained healthy relations with media professionals, rendered local brand management support and supervised over the foundation’s social media campaigns.
• Liaised with various government officials, private sector partners and internal stakeholders for the success of strategic PR and communications programs.
• Led and managed the preparation and publishing of press releases, feature articles and other content promotional activities to enhance brand image.
• Collaborated with various online as well as offline media channels for PR and promotions of events, social activities, exhibitions organized by the foundation.

Key PR Programs to Credit:
• 2009: Megatrends, Abu Dhabi University (ADU)
• 2009: Emiritization Conference, Abu Dhabi University (ADU)
• 2009: Sounds of Arabia-Angham Min Al Sharq: Series of Concerts
• 2009: WOMAD
• 2009: Richard III an Arab Tragedy
• 2009: Abu Dhabi University (ADU) specialized conferences: “Megatrends 2009” and “Emiritization Conference 2009”.
• 2008: The CircleFilm Financing Conference
• 2008: Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF)
• 2008: Artparis Abu Dhabi

Key Responsibilities:
• Led the PR team at the agency and spearheaded the PR account management function with focus on providing end-to-end consultancy to various corporate clients.
• Developed public and media relations strategies for several cultural events and ensure maximum footfalls through promotions across various channels.
• Handled accountability towards the establishment and implementation of an Arts and Culture Practice within the agency, with focus on promoting maximum participation from employees.
• Collaborated with client-end teams to understand their PR requirements and accordingly tailored programs that are best suited to convert their target audience into potential leads.
• Conducted thorough analysis of market scenarios, tracked competitor activities within the client company’s sector and advised the client on various PR parameters.
• Monitored the effectiveness of existing PR programs, identified areas for further improvement and directed responsible PR teams to integrate changes within the strategy.
• Established and sustained firm relationships with clients, media personnel etc and focused on adding new business for the agency on a constant basis.

Key Responsibilities:
• Functioned as the media and public relations advisor for clients from across distinctive sectors including Masdar, Emirates Identity Authority, Ecological Footprint Initiative, Union National Bank, Hyder Consulting, Sorouh Real Estate, IDEX, ISNR etc.
• Handled accountability towards understanding, writing and translating press releases, speeches, advertorials, facts & figure sheets, FAQ sheets etc, based on client requirements.
• Maintained constant communication with client teams in order to receive requirements, process service orders and provide progress status reports.
• Led and managed various activities related to the organization of press conferences, news briefs and round tables, in an effort to build local, regional as well as international PR.
• Involved in the planning, structuring, drafting and presentation of business proposals to external stakeholders, followed by negotiation and closure of profitable business deals.
• Cultivated reliable relationships with media professionals for the successful implementation of PR and communications strategies through online / offline media channels.
• Rendered effective support to regional clients and Asdaa Offices within UAE and the adjoining regions, with focus on ensuring maximum client satisfaction.


PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENTS:
• Jan 2005 - Jul 2005 (7 Months): Translator and Media Coordinator, General Exhibitions Corporation, UAE
• Apr 2004 - May 2005 (1 Year 2 Months): Free-Lance Interpreter and Translator
• Apr 2001 - Oct 2002 (1 Year 7 Months): Translator and Features Writer, Al-Wahda Newspaper

CONSULTANCY EXPERIENCE:
• May 2015: Raya Radio Network - Training on Essentials of Promotion on Social Media, Palestine
• Dec 2014: Canadian Arab Institute - Designing the communications plan for the Sultans and Divas Gala, Toronto - Canada
• Apr 2015 - Jun 2015: Dalia Association - Philanthropy Program
• Oct 2013 - Jan 2014: Al Nayzak for Scientific Innovation: Media and Development Unit