Communications and Engagement Specialist

Summary

Sarah has communications expertise at both strategic and operational levels with experience engaging diverse audiences to inspire action.

Sarah’s podcast - How to Be Good? - is finalist in 16th Annual People’s Choice Podcast Awards

Most recent news

Career

  • Postgraduate Researcher - PhD in Literature and Sociology focusing on the future of reading (2024 to present)

  • Communications Consultant (2011 to present), accepting both short and long-term contracts. Long-term contracts include:

    • Digital Lead, New Books in German (2021 to present)

    • Director of Communications, Academy for Systems Change
      (2016-2021)

    • Communications Co-ordination, INASP (2014-2016)

  • Communications Manager, UK Collaborative on Development Research (2012-2014)

  • Project Development Officer, RSPB (2011-2012)

  • Research Communications Manager, Sustainable Uplands project
    (2009-2011)

  • Field Researcher, Zoological Society London (2008)

  • Seasonal Field Biologist, Texas A&M University (2008)

  • Project Coordinator, Energy Savings Trust (2007-2008)

  • Events Fundraising Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Society (2006-2007)

  • Internship with Secretary of State for Education, UK Government (2005)

Education

Current: PhD Literature and Sociology (2024- )
University of Portsmouth

MSc Ecology and Environmental Sustainability (Distinction)
University of Aberdeen, 2009

BA (Hons) English Literature and German (First Class)
University of Southampton, 2006

A-Levels: English Literature, Media Studies, Business Studies, German
College of Richard Collyer (A,A,A,B), 2002

Training

  • UK Tea Champion, certified by UK Tea Academy (UKTA)

  • Systems Mapping for Social Change; software for mapping social systems (focus on Kumu)

  • Awareness-based Systems Leadership, trained by Peter Senge and Robert Hanig

  • Advanced Facilitation Skills

  • Writing for the Media

  • RSPB Working with Volunteers Advanced Training Course

  • Introduction and intermediate Web-Authoring

  • Managing and Sharing Participant Data

  • Good practice Stakeholder Participation

  • City & Guilds 6176 Energy Awareness

Sarah is bilingual (English/German)