STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
Before founding and leading LOATAD, I spent more than 15 years working in strategic communications, helping governments, international organisations, nonprofits, and social impact initiatives communicate complex ideas, navigate change, and build public trust.
My approach to communications is shaped by a belief that narratives influence policy, institutions, and behaviour. Whether supporting supranational organisations or governments, building a cultural institution, or leading a public history initiative, I see communications as a strategic leadership function rather than simply a promotional tool.
Over the course of my career, I have developed communications strategies, advised senior leaders, managed multidisciplinary teams, overseen significant budgets, and led high-profile communications initiatives across local, national, and international contexts.
Leadership in Complex Communications Environments
One of the most significant chapters of my communications career was serving as Communications Director for the European Union’s EURES network between 2010 and 2014. EURES is the EU’s employment mobility network, supporting Freedom of Movement across Member States and helping citizens live and work across borders.
Working on Freedom of Movement meant operating within one of the European Union’s most politically sensitive policy areas. The role required balancing diverse political, cultural, institutional, and national perspectives while ensuring consistency of messaging across a highly complex international network.
I led communications for 851 advisers across 27 EU Member States, developing a communications strategy that connected staff across borders, strengthened internal cohesion, and enhanced the network’s identity and effectiveness. I advised directors and senior leadership on communications challenges, developed strategic frameworks and annual communications plans, led roadshows and town halls, and managed a seven-figure budget. At the end of my four-year tenure, the network achieved a 90% staff satisfaction rating following independent evaluation.
The experience taught me how communications can be used not only to inform but also to align stakeholders, build trust, strengthen institutions, and navigate complexity at scale.
Strategic Communications Practice
Since 2014, I have worked as a principal communications consultant supporting organisations working across social justice, international development, environmental advocacy, culture, education, and philanthropy.
My clients and partners have included Greenpeace, Enabel (the Belgian Development Agency), and the European Union, as well as a range of organisations and initiatives committed to social and cultural change.
My work has included:
- Strategic communications planning
- Narrative and messaging development
- Leadership and executive communications
- Internal communications and organisational alignment
- Thought leadership and reputation building
- Stakeholder engagement
- Campaign development
- Content and editorial strategy
- Communications for social and cultural impact
Communications, Culture, and Institutional Leadership
Today, my communications work sits alongside my broader work as an institution builder and cultural leader.
The same skills that enable organisations to communicate effectively – clarity of vision, strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, narrative development, and public trust-building – are also essential to building institutions that endure.
Whether advising a senior leader in local or supranational government, developing a public engagement strategy, or supporting a foundation, my focus remains the same: helping important ideas, organisations, and initiatives find the clarity, confidence, and public understanding they need to achieve lasting impact.
Areas of Expertise
- Strategic communications
- Narrative change and messaging
- Leadership communications
- Internal communications
- Organisational strategy
- Reputation and brand development
- Stakeholder engagement
- Social and behaviour change communications
- Culture, heritage, and knowledge-sector communications
- Institutional development and public engagement
Let’s Work Together
I work with government departments, international organisations, foundations, cultural institutions, nonprofits, universities, and mission-driven initiatives seeking strategic communications expertise, organisational insight, and experienced leadership.
Whether developing a communications strategy, navigating organisational change, building public engagement, or strengthening institutional impact, I bring a combination of senior communications experience and hands-on institution-building expertise developed across Europe, Africa, and the global nonprofit sector.
Sylvia Arthur 