Sarah Fernandes | Freelancer Resume

Sarah M. Fernandes Citizenship | Canadian MA in Professional Communication -‐ Specialization in International and Intercultural Communications Honors BA Email - PROFILE Project, Knowledge and Communications Leader with over 15 years of diverse experience working with Non-‐Governmental Organizations, Private Business, Financial Institutions, Consulting, Communications and Media; employment experience in both North America and emerging markets. RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE September 2013 to present Project Manager/Oversight – Consultant Childminding Monitoring Advisory & Support Remote § Funded through Citizenship and Immigration Canada to monitor and support programs that provide on-‐site child care for the children of newcomer parents enrolled in Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada English as a second language courses § Develop and implement a model, including processes, procedures and policies, of project management specific to the needs and culture of the organization § Oversee the planning, implementation, and tracking of projects from beginning to end to ensure specified deliverables are achieved and quality of output § Provide training and mentoring to Consultants to ensure they are able to carry out their projects § Focal point for all project management related decisions § Projects include new terminology rollout, engaging the funder, implementation of new assessment and monitoring requirements, new tools to support programs and training development October 2015 to December 2018 Head of Communication Medical Research Council – Unit The Gambia at the Banjul, The Gambia London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine § Lead the development and implementation of a communications strategy to enhance the Unit’s reputation and profile within The Gambia and sub-‐region § Manage a suite of communication channels and events including quarterly newsletter, weekly e-‐newsletter, website, social media, annual report, corporate events, scientific posters, press releases, internal communication and a variety of other products as needed § Brand management through regular monitoring and advising on all aspects of the use of the brand (logo, templates, signage and color palette) and take appropriate action to correct misuse § Community engagement by promoting dialogue with local communities about the value and impact of our research through community sensitization activities, training and events § Build government relations and engagement to improve the understanding and support of our research January 2014 to December 2016 Knowledge Management Online Dialogue Producer/Project Manager – Consultant United Nations Development Programme Remote § Plan, design, execute, manage, monitor knowledge mobilization, dialogue, exchange and networking initiatives, for example online E-‐Discussions to support high level meetings and reports § Primary focal point and liaison to provide client-‐oriented support, advisory services, training and guidance to staff, clients and partners on facilitation, community management, communication, social media, outreach, client engagement, content management and event management § Analyze and consolidate statistics, lessons, good practices and guidelines on knowledge mobilization, dialogue, exchange and networking initiatives, and communicate them internally and externally to foster learning, raise awareness and improve client-‐services § Coordinate communication, social media and internal and external websites related the initiatives August 2013 to September 2014 Community Coordinator -‐ Consultant Blue Hills Child & Family Centre Toronto, ON, Canada § Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to bring social services closer to communities that need them § Assist collaborative leadership/steering committee team on service and needs assessment, program development, planning and implementation, and evaluation § Develop standards of practice and protocols for formal, coordinated and collaborative services and programs based on a hub model of service delivery § Create and execute a community engagement strategy to shape the scope and direction of future programs and services, specifically opportunities to influence and advise direction of programs that are relevant to children, youth and families, including the development of a website § Coordinate regular and ongoing community networking and engagement to determine community strengths, challenges and trends, and funding and volunteer opportunities, such as town halls, focus groups and open houses § Work closely with diverse groups of people and organizations to promote better understanding about the programs and services available at the hub and community resident’s needs January 2013 to March 2013 Knowledge Management Consultant United Nations ESCAP/United Nations-‐Habitat Suva, Fiji § Develop a knowledge management plan for knowledge capture and dissemination in support of regional policy learning and sharing to help position the UN-‐ESCAP Pacific Office and UN-‐Habitat as leading ‘source’ organizations for relevant socio-‐economic and environmental information in support of sustainable development in the Pacific § Establish integrated communications and knowledge management services for UN-‐ESCAP and UN-‐Habitat’s main audiences (such as policy makers) in Pacific Island Countries through innovative knowledge management and social marketing approaches § Consult regional partners and other key entities to identify information needs, research current modes in knowledge management, document good practices in the region, analyze lessons learned and knowledge management implications, and assemble and analyze Pacific urban information, including the Rio+20 and the Pacific Urban Forum outcomes § Support the establishment of a web-‐based knowledge platform (in close consultation with partners) to support areas such as sustainable development and urbanization as well as highlight best practices in policies, facilitate discussions between key stakeholders, consolidate work in evidence-‐based policy analysis, disseminate regional experiences and good practice to increase awareness and understanding of the state of Pacific Island Countries November 2011 to January 2013 Head, Information, Knowledge Management and Training Africa Rice Center (part of CGIAR) Based in Benin/Projects throughout Africa § Leading pan-‐African rice research org, improving food security and livelihoods through science and partnerships § Develop innovative ways of communicating, packaging and disseminating information in formats appropriate to the needs of key stakeholder groups, farmers, extension systems, development partners, policymakers, donor community, media and the public – using video (training, project output/impact), audio, print (brochures, posters, newsletter) conferences, websites, and mobile technology § Liaise and collaborate with experts to develop appropriate content for the Rice Information Gateway for Africa web portal, the source of all rice related research material for Africa § Facilitate information exchange and learning efforts across all research programs, projects and task-‐forces § Capacity building activities through organizing and managing 25 training courses/workshops as well as 150 individual trainings per year. Revamped execution of trainings, including developing new policies and procedures. § Responsible for Digital Design/Publishing, Library, Publications, Media Production and all research communications Career note: Sabbatical from September 2010 to October 2011 September 2009 to August 2010 2 Accounts/Project Manager within the Communication, Research and Strategy Department Moby Media Group Kabul, Afghanistan § Clients include: British Embassy, Danish Embassy, DAI, USAID, and NATO -‐ International Security Assistance Force § Manage the production of TV shows, radio programs, documentaries, proximity marketing using Bluetooth technology and the first Youth House in Afghanistan § Oversee project implementation to ensure deliverables are met in accordance with contracts and grants § Organize, manage, and participate in client outreach events § Support and liaise with donors and commercial clients § Create proposals and develop contracts, as well as monitoring and evaluation April 2009 to August 2009 Program & Communication Consultant Reconstruction Agency of the Hindu Kush Kabul, Afghanistan § Liaison between engineers, project contracting offices/donors, including manage all Kabul office staff and hiring § Clients include various Government of Afghanistan Ministries, US Military and other international agencies § Proposal writing, budgets range from $100,000 to over $2 million USD, as well as monitoring/status reports § Responsible for increasing the number of rehabilitation and reconstruction projects, such as building schools, roads, community centers, training centers throughout Afghanistan July 2008 to March 2009 Project Manager Cetena Group Kabul, Afghanistan § Manage client projects (budgets ranging from $50,000.00 to $10 million USD) from inception through to dissemination, including initial strategy, design, radio and TV production, distribution/placement, monitoring and reporting, as well as supervising relevant staff. § Clients include commercial companies, government agencies, and international non-‐governmental organizations. Specifically UNDP, International Election Commission, US Government, and the US Military. § Conduct new business development, negotiating contracts, writing reports and running client communications 2001 to July 2008 BMO Bank of Montreal Toronto, ON, Canada 2007 to July 2008 Technology & Operations, Development Portfolio Services, as an Analyst 2005 to 2007 Project Management Office as an Analyst, Project Infrastructure and Technology & Operations 2001 to 2005 MasterCard Cardholder Services, as a Fraud Containment Officer Awards: Bravo Recognition Program for Top Quarterly in 2006 and 2007, and Annual Performance in 2006 2006 to 2007 Project Coordinator for the Seven National Youth Builds Habitat for Humanity Canada Waterloo/Toronto, ON, Canada § Manage project requirements, key messaging and mandate as directed by sponsor § Ensure events were managed within scope, timeline and budget § Provide communication support that is aligned with the organizations strategy EDUCATION 2018 International Institute for Executive Training United Kingdom § Certified International Business Leader 2006 to 2008 Royal Roads University Victoria, BC, Canada § Masters in Professional Communication, Specialization in International and Intercultural Communication 2006 to 2008 BMO Institute of Learning & York University Schulich School of Business Toronto, ON, Canada § Project Management – Level 1 & 2 2002 -‐ 2005 University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada § Honors Bachelor of Arts and Science, Major in Canadian Studies and Minors in Political Science & History 3