Tutors

It’s a real privilege to meet and work with so many professional communicators. Studying provides a great opportunity to step back a bit from the “day job” and so I like sessions to be reflective, challenging and interactive.

I get a buzz from teaching as I like to explore new ideas and ways of working. I like to think big about PR, internal communication and employee engagement. So teaching and learning is about thinking differently in ways that can be applied to better practice.

I’m a passionate advocate for investment in sustainable professional development and the benefits that effective learning brings to individuals, teams and organisations. At a time of unprecedented change in working practices, we all need to keep up to date with latest thinking, new ideas, and emerging practices.

There is always a new channel, concept or communication approach to discuss.  I like to ensure my sessions are full of real life case study examples which collectively we can either praise or pull apart.

I feel very lucky because love what I do. I meet lots of bright people through PR Academy – many of them rising stars and I am always learning.

As a tutor on the Foundation Award, I enjoy helping students gain what might well be their first formal public relations-specific qualification and hearing all about their fresh perspectives on communications issues and approaches.

The value of public affairs is often underrated but engagement with government and officials can offer huge benefits to any organisation.  I’ve always had a passion for spreading the word about public affairs both through training and in books.

I enjoy bringing new perspectives to students’ everyday practice. It’s great when students begin to see their practice in a broader context or in a different light. In turn, I learn from them about the complexities of organisational life and the challenges they face.

I’ve been an internal communications practitioner for over twenty years and have witnessed some big changes in what we do and advances in our understanding of theory and practice. I’ve never stopped learning and am passionate about helping other internal communicators to do the same. The satisfaction I get from seeing them develop and grow into true professionals is the reason why I’m still working in this business after all this time.

I often talk about internal communicators being trusted advisors. I strongly believe that undertaking a professional qualification gives you the credibility in your organisation and in the Board room, as well as the confidence to advise effectively.

It’s a real privilege to help others understand the power of communication in the workplace. Sharing stories that bring the theory to life, how I have learnt from failing and the importance of relationships all form part of the workshops I teach. Investing in yourself to better advise others is the best way to gain confidence and progress in your career – a qualification is the perfect way to do that.

Learning and teaching have never not been important. Today, it’s critical we realise that we’re learning (and teaching) all our lives. Communication makes us who we are – as human beings, as citizens, as practitioners. So it’s just as well that we aim to understand it a little better every day. That’s why I’m here.

For me, PR is a specialism changing beyond recognition. No longer is it just about gaining third party endorsement through opinion leaders and opinion formers; and no longer is it just about reputation management. Today, PR professionals need to have a clear understanding of digital channels, advertising, direct marketing, SEO behavioural science, measurement and evaluation and they need to be able to deploy them effectively to influence and communicate with key stakeholders and target audiences.