Credentials

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

THE AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES (AIMS)
February 2013 – present
Home-based and Cape Town, South Africa
Manager of Strategic Communications (Consultant on retainer)

  • Conducted an audit of the AIMS website, promotional materials, proposals, and reports.
  • Crafted a Strategic Communications Strategy to be carried out by the secretariat and all AIMS country offices.
  • Build AIMS-NEI’s reputation by increasing awareness and understanding of their work.
  • Coordinate information dissemination, media outreach, and public events within the Network.
  • Oversee the use of social media platforms as an engagement tool.

 ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL
2011 – 2012
Johannesburg, South Africa
Special Assistant to the CEO & Internal Communications Manager (Interim)

  • Supported the ActionAid federation by utilising AAI’s intranet, assuring that it serves as a key tool for communication, knowledge exchange and learning.
  • Built and updated pages for the Women’s Rights Team during the 16 Days of Activism.
  • Managed relations with the International Board and International Directors including planning meetings and producing communiqués.
  • Collaborated with key stakeholders and staff as needed to serve as an informed liaison to the CEO.

Gender Links
2009 – 2011
Johannesburg, South Africa
Manager, Gender and Media Diversity Centre (GMDC)

  • Directed all management functions of the GMDC, the knowledge and “communications” center of Gender Links, including: a team of three, the GMDC Advisory Group, Virtual Resource Centre, Gender and Media Diversity Journal, website, and internship program.
  • Established strategic partnerships with INGOs, learning institutions, gender rights NGOs thereby growing GL’s Advisory Group from one to 30 official members.
  • Crafted research methodologies and conducted primary research on the Gender in Media Education Audit in Malawi, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, managed all researchers in 10 SADC countries, and assisted in editing.
  • Raised funds from IOM, UNESCO, DFID and DANIDA.
  • Organised events, including awards, colloquiums and grassroots meetings.

United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW)
2008 – 2009
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Gender Training Community of Practice Assistant

  • Built a Gender Training Community of Practice (CoP), a virtual, global “think-tank” for networking, resource sharing and idea-generation, which comprised over 40 global professionals.
  • Created, managed and edited the CoP website, and maintained multimedia and image galleries.
  • Prepared and collected data, materials and resources for the CoP and wrote UN-INSTRAW reports including “The Current Situation in Gender Training”.

The International Women’s Tribune Centre
2007 – 2008
New York, NY, U.S.A.
Project Coordinator

  • Oversaw the Uganda-based radio drama series, The Open Cage, which dealt with GBV in post-conflict regions.
  • Drafted articles and conducted primary research on resource and action guides on Gender, Peace and Security for women in the Global South using UNSCR 1325.
  • Represented IWTC at various United Nations meetings and events.

 Doc’s Duds
2002 – 2006
Red Bank, NJ, U.S.A.
Creative Director

  • Supervised the promotional aspects of Doc’s Duds, a manufacturer of female focused healthcare apparel.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH CONSULTANT, New York, NY
March 2012 – present
Serving various law firms as an “expert witness” for female asylum seekers. Specifically, conducting research and drafting affidavits in cases where women have fled Southern and East Africa due severe physical and sexual violence, as well as discrimination and threats based on sexual identity.

Organiser: Jishuhuwishe Group, Maji Ya Chai, Tanzania
2005
Initiated a grassroots movement aimed at empowering survivors of sexual and domestic violence. This included hosting fundraising events, program development, community outreach, face-to-face dialogues, and crafting a framework for women to self-organise.

EDUCATION

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, UK – 2007
Master of Arts, Gender Studies (Merit Class Award)
Studied Gender Theory, Sexuality and Body Politics, with an emphasis on Social Anthropology

The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA – 2000
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Music and Theatre (Honors)
Minor in Sociology and Media Studies with Dr. Camille Paglia

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION / CERTIFICATES (abridged version)

ASIAN FORUM ON GLOBAL GOVERNANCE, New Delhi, India
October 2011
Hosted by ZEIT-Stiftung and the Observer Research Foundation.
Dean: Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament

United Nations, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic                                                                               2008
Certificate: Intermediateand Beginner Security Training in the Field

PUBLICATIONS / ARTICLES (selected works)

PANELIST (abridged version):

Revealing Privacy: Debating Understandings of Privacy,  May 2011
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. Helsinki, Finland

Child Trafficking in Post-World Cup South Africa, October 2010
Johannesburg Child Welfare: Lekgotala. Johannesburg, South Africa

Expert Brainstorm Session on Gender Stereotypes, September 2010
BRIDGE/Institute of DevelopmentStudies. Brighton, U.K.

UNESCO: Global Intergenerational Youth Forum, January 2010
Session: Gender, Media, Democracy and Change. Kigali, Rwanda

Caster Semenya and “Gender Testing” , August 2009
SABC International. Johannesburg, South Africa

Leave a comment