Senior Country Manager
Expo 2020 Dubai
Total years of experience :16 years, 5 Months
Allocated a group of ten countries to project manage at Expo 2020 Dubai. This includes lobbying and fostering of country relations, as well as completion of organizational and local government requirements, and related operational steps.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Responsibility for the comprehensive and overall management of relations with participant countries.
• Provision of advice to participant countries on the allocation of national resources for alignment to organizational policies, business programs and initiatives; establishment of financial and administrative controls relating to participant countries; formulation and approval of promotional country campaigns.
• Use of the CRM software tool to record daily interactions with countries on the system to support strategic decision making processes.
• Responsibility for thorough and in-depth knowledge, analysis, and research of countries under my mandate to ensure pavilions have a strong and meaningful content.
• Responsiblility for ensuring that opportunities in participant countries are identified that would contribute to the UAE’s international relations and global positioning.
• Reporting of technical and operational progress to guide decision making structures.
• Collaboration with participant countries and provision of guidance where necessary towards the organization and establishment of their National teams, including guiding stakeholders from both private and public sector on participation at Expo.
• Representation of the organization during meetings, events or other official functions.
• Front facing of the Expo 2020 Dubai’s ‘one-stop shop’ system, for a smooth process for countries participation. Active utilization of the Expo engine to support countries’ progress in participation whilst continuing to be the face of Expo to those countries.
• Reporting of technical and operational progress
• Management and delivery of high-level visits, site tours, and presentations.
A dual role with responsibility to oversee the Seychelles’ bilateral dossier between 35 countries spanning North, Central and South America and its multilateral dossier with the European Union. Project and promote a positive image of Seychelles to the international community through representation at events and meetings of national importance. Develop and maintain cordial working relations with bilateral and multilateral partners within Seychelles. Coordinate and assist in the preparation of high-level international activities (conferences, seminars, workshops) held in Seychelles. Monitor and follow-up of various programmes, projects and grants. Attend official meetings, seminars, events, functions, as and when required. Oversaw and drove the conclusion of a number of bilateral agreements and MOUs across various sectors. Lobbying and Campaigns. Projects and Grants management.
Provided diplomatic and consular services and protocol assistance. Conducted in depth research and analysis and wrote technical reports. Drove conclusion of visa waiver agreements with countries such as; Russia, UAE, Mexico and Liechtenstein. Drafted official National Day messages to each country on their National day, requiring extensive social, cultural, and political research to develop a tailored message which would deepen inter-country relations. Wrote condolence letters on behalf of the President of Seychelles to countries impacted by national disasters. Demonstrated acute sensitivity and cultural awareness. Managed the accreditation of global Ambassadors and Honorary Consuls to Seychelles, interviewing and guiding candidates and drafting suitability reports. Undertook this role alongside studies for Master’s in International Relations through full scholarship at Dokuz Eylul University.
Oversaw the opening of the Seychelles High Commission in South Africa at a time when it was the only Mission on the African continent. Led and coordinated the moving of the Embassy to a new location. Maintained the Office’s budget and accounts and led the HR function, ensuring that all locally recruited staff were compliant with local South African Labour Law requirements. Promoted Seychellois culture in South Africa through various platforms such as Diplomatic Fairs and events. Successfully collaborated with the Seychelles Tourism Board (Tourism Attaché) on a number of projects in order to achieve its objectives in Africa through exposing the public to Seychelles’ beauty and culture by organizing workshops, tradeshows and other events.
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