Avasha Papa-Balram

Senior Corporate Communicator
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
2011 to Present

Corporate Communication & Digital Media:

• Strategized and implemented digital media campaigns across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, engaging with a broad audience and increasing the department's online presence.
• Developed and supervised the creation of digital content from concept through delivery, ensuring relevance and engagement.
• Built and managed social media profiles, leading trend analysis and keeping the department current on trending topics.
• Maintained meticulous records, including historical data on project outcomes and departmental achievements.

Events Management:

• Led project management efforts for various events including ceremonies, launches, and summits, ensuring successful execution and stakeholder engagement.
• Spearheaded event marketing strategies, enhancing face-to-face promotional activities and achieving team coordination for seamless event execution.
• Managed departmental exhibitions to promote services and initiatives to the public, coordinating task teams and planning workshops.

Internal Communication:

• Conducted comprehensive media monitoring across audiovisual, audio, print, and digital platforms, compiling detailed reports for senior management meetings.
• Authored and edited articles on departmental events, ensuring high-quality internal and external communication.
• Coordinated interviews and conducted in-depth research, contributing to well-informed departmental publications.
• Collaborated with the Publications team to develop graphic templates and newsletters.

Briefings and Presentations:

• Prepared and coordinated briefings for senior officials, including the Director and Assistant Director, ensuring they were well-informed for stakeholder meetings and public appearances.
• Developed bespoke presentations and speaking notes, incorporating key messages and the latest data to effectively communicate the department's initiatives.
• Maintained and updated a comprehensive database of presentation slides, integrating new examples and case studies as needed.

Consultations:

• Managed and coordinated departmental responses to consultations and calls for evidence, planning and gathering necessary information.
• Led efforts to identify relevant consultations and determine the appropriate level of response, collaborating with policy colleagues to craft comprehensive responses.

External Communication:

• Directed branding efforts for social and departmental events, ensuring consistent and impactful stakeholder engagement.
• Delivered customer service excellence and created presentations for various audiences, enhancing the department's public image.
• Coordinated logistics for political events and conferences, including invitations, registrations, and branding materials.

Administrative Duties:

• Managed administrative tasks including memo writing, file routing, report preparation, and logistical arrangements for transportation and event accommodations.

• Strategic Insight & Execution: Proven ability to develop and implement strategic plans, adapting to changing contexts to achieve organizational goals.
• Relationship Management: Expertise in building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including high-level executives.
• Public Speaking & Presentation Development: Skilled in creating and delivering presentations to diverse audiences, conveying complex information clearly and effectively.
• Collaborative Leadership: Demonstrated collaborative ability to work in team settings across cultures, fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment.
• Digital Media Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and CRM/database management tools, with a keen interest in leveraging technology for enhanced communication.

• Regional Knowledge: Extensive experience working in various sub-regions across Africa, providing valuable insights into regional dynamics and opportunities.
• Language Proficiency: Proficient in English, with experience in multicultural and multilingual environments, enhancing communication and collaboration efforts.
• Aligned business planning and financial processes with performance improvements.
• Liaised with the commercial function for cost, change and risk analysis pre-contract and on projects.
• Stayed abreast of all company and federal regulations to ensure that the organization's processes were fully compliant
• Coordinated city redevelopment efforts and resolved zoning disputes.
• Utilized established manufacturing approaches to maximize efficiency and productivity.
• Directed planning and procurement of raw materials, scheduled production jobs and coordinated logistics.
• Utilised strategic and forward-thinking business techniques to maximise turnover.
• Led complex business transformation projects, including the development of work, product development and support, customer training and user experience plans.
• Liaised with counterparts in competitor businesses to understand impact and identify opportunities.
• Managed new hire training and onboarding to educate employees on company policies and procedures.
• Maintained integrity of system demands by contributing to estimates, bids and new business plans to gain complete understanding of needs.
• Initiated and deployed change requests through IT to improve existing systems.
• Performed market analysis to gather industry insights and inform strategic plans.
• Built competitive bidding environment with broad range of suppliers.
• Assisted and supported heads of construction in development of successful teams.
• Utilized exceptional communication skills to liaise with clients via phone, email and face-to-face to provide expert advice and guidance.
• Managed production of planning scheduling and material scheduling to work and mitigate risks.
• Organized data and modelled information for use in key decision-making.

Key Responsibilities: