20+ years of driving achievement of strategic objectives by developing and delivering strategic communications for national, regional, and international public and private sector organisations and agencies.
Expertise crafting communication strategies and annual development plans to drive audience engagement, process improvements, competitive advantage, and bottom-line gains. Engaging communicator, able to forge solid relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and stimulate change, fostering collaborative cultures within organisations and across international borders. Communications expert with broad multinational experience in delivering social and cultural change that strengthens reputations of organisations.
I am passionate about creating better societies for all, and I have advocated for this goal through impactful strategic communications, storytelling, and movement building for over 20 years. I have worked with major comms agencies and in-house for local, national, and supranational governments, NGOs and charities, and their audiences.
Whether raising awareness of the perils of climate change by producing standout digital content and campaigns while managing comms at an INGO, or drafting reports, developing toolkits, and creating communication assets for international development agencies and EU departments, to nurturing an online and offline community of Black nature lovers to grow engagement and influence policy through inclusive environmental advocacy, I believe communications should be political, purposeful, and bold.
My goal as a strategic communicator and storyteller is to make a difference by changing the narrative. I do not perform communications to maintain the status quo; I practice communications to create positive change and influence agendas.
I led communications for the European Union’s EURES network for four years, promoting Freedom of Movement despite significant resistance from the majority of Western European governments. During this period, morale within the network was low, and when I began working with the 851 members in the then-27 Member States, I had to counter scepticism from all sides. However, by the end of my tenure, I had not only greatly improved cohesion among the geographically dispersed network members through a comprehensive, multi-platform communications strategy, but also significantly boosted the perception of the EURES brand among external audiences and stakeholders.
Throughout my career, I have developed and implemented campaigns that change behaviour and influence policy. For example, as communications manager for the government’s Change4Life pilot Healthy Borough Campaign, I oversaw a 15% increase in awareness of the campaign’s objectives over 12 months among residents in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. I did this through a comprehensive communications strategy and campaign utilising social and traditional media, press and PR and OOH advertising, and in-person and online events.
Collaborating with senior leaders to advise and sometimes persuade them of the importance of communications has been central to my work, supporting my case with verified, evidence-based arguments—such as achieving a 90% satisfaction rate in an independent employee survey, up from 55% at the start of my contract.
I have worked remotely since 2013, managing teams with members based across Europe and the world, coordinating web, editorial, design, and social media colleagues through individual leadership and collaborative working.
Areas of Expertise
- Strategic Communications
- Internal Communications
- Integrated Marketing
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Business Development
- Copywriting/Editing
- Project Management
- Advocacy/Leadership
- Team Collaboration
- Strategic Planning
- Bid Preparation
- Strategic Partnerships
Sylvia Arthur 