Robert Shivambu
Midrand
Summary
I am a dynamic and energetic communications professional with extensive experience spanning over 17 years as a journalist, researcher and communications specialist. I excel in crafting and implementing media strategies to enhance campaigns, storytelling and stakeholder engagement, both internally and externally. I have proven ability to craft impactful narratives and management of crisis communications. I bring meticulous attention to detail and strong teamwork skills. I have led successful campaigns that elevated organizational visibility and influence in global health and human rights through my strategic communications skills.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Global Communications Officer
UNAIDS
08.2023 - Current
- Increasing strategic relationships with the media and the volume of people-centered stories in external media.
- Incorporated video storytelling to increase audience engagement, including creating broadcasting partnerships for UNAIDS' content with television stations.
- Built and maintained relationships with diverse stakeholders (journalists, governments, civil society and people living with HIV to end AIDS as a public health threat).
- Generating high-quality media and social media engagement materials, (press releases, stories of impact, key messages, op-eds).
- Influenced news editors to pay more attention to stories of people living with HIV, including bringing Channel of the UK to South Africa in March 2025 to report on the fallout of PEPFAR pause.
- Preparing interview briefs for spokespeople.
- Preparing high level media interview briefs, including for UNAIDS' current executive director Winnie Byanyima to to ensure the delivery of key messages.
- Providing strategic communication support to country offices, including organising media trainings and coaching spokespeople and providing feedback.
- Monitoring news wires for breaking news and crisis communications management.
Media Manager Southern Africa
Amnesty International
08.2014 - 07.2023
- Leading Amnesty International's regional media strategy in Southern Africa, including providing support in East Africa, focusing on storytelling, and working with journalists to expose human rights violations for impact.
- Developing high-quality media materials, including press releases, key messages, op-eds, and lines of response for effective media engagement by spokespeople.
- Working with a broad range of stakeholders, including the Senior Leadership Team, researchers, campaigners, civil society organizations, human rights activists, governments, lawyers, and multinational corporations, to build a culture of human rights in East and Southern Africa.
- Building and maintaining strong media relationships, strategically positioning the organization as a leading human rights organization in Africa, and globally.
- Planning media and social media campaigns, identifying, and capitalizing on media opportunities to enhance the organization's campaigns.
- Providing crisis communication guidance during crisis moments to protect the brand, Amnesty International.
- Preparing media briefs and pitching spokespeople to the media.
Africa Correspondent
Power FM 98.7 (South Africa)
05.2013 - 07.2014
- Building and maintaining relationship with key stakeholders, including governments, politicians, civil society leaders, political activists, private sector and ordinary people to broaden my sources of news.
- Generating news ideas and conducting research to produce high-quality news content.
- Identifying news sources, and conducting interviews to develop news reports for broadcast.
- I wrote and compiled news stories, including identifying audio to accompany the stories.
- Conducting news investigations on complex stories to build authoritative reports.
- Conducted live interview crossings on breaking news to inform listeners on developing stories.
- Staying informed of political developments and current affairs.
News Reporter, Writer and Producer
eNCA
10.2008 - 04.2013
- Building and maintaining relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, politicians, business and other newsmakers to expand my network of sources of news.
- Generating news ideas and developing stories.
- Conducting research on potential news stories and identifying and tracing news sources for interviews to build stories.
- Ensuring that my scripts matched the visuals for great television storytelling.
- Preparing news reports for broadcast.
- Carrying out news investigations to produce top quality news stories.
- Staying on top of news and doing live interview crossings on breaking news.
Journalist/Columnist/Sub-Editor
Jozi Weekly
02.2008 - 08.2008
- Generating story ideas and conducting research on news stories.
- Compiling news stories for publication in the newspaper.
- Part of the editorial board that decided on weekly stories for publication.
- Editing stories to ensure accuracy, and writing a weekly editorial column on topical issues.
- Building partnerships with different stakeholders, including civil society, government, politicians, civil society and ordinary people to enhance the growth of the newspaper and generating stories.
Education
Master of Laws - Multidisciplinary Human Rights
University of Pretoria
South Africa12-2024
BA, Honours - International Relations
University of The Witwatersrand (Johannesburg)
South Africa12-2019
Baccalaureus Technologiae (B-TECH) - Journalism
Tshwane University of Technology
South Africa12-2009
National Diploma - Journalism
Tshwane University of Technology
South Africa12-2007
Skills
- Strategic communications leadership
- Influence
- Media and stakeholder engagement
- Communication skills
- Solution-focused
- crisis communication
- Highly reliable
- Teamwork skills
- Excellent critical analysis skills
- Public and media relations skills
References
- Ben Philips, Former Director of Communications, UNAIDS, benedictphillips@hotmail.com, +66 61 364 9866
- Dr. David Matsinhe (PhD), Director Policy, Advocacy and Research, Amnesty International Canada, dmatsinhe@gmail.com, +27 (0) 65 5163473/+(236) 979 8151 (What’sApp)
- Deprose Muchena, Senior Director – Global Human Rights Impact, Amnesty International, deprose.muchena@amanesty.org, +27 (0) 79 294 4368
Timeline
Global Communications Officer
UNAIDS
08.2023 - Current
Media Manager Southern Africa
Amnesty International
08.2014 - 07.2023
Africa Correspondent
Power FM 98.7 (South Africa)
05.2013 - 07.2014
News Reporter, Writer and Producer
eNCA
10.2008 - 04.2013
Journalist/Columnist/Sub-Editor
Jozi Weekly
02.2008 - 08.2008
Master of Laws - Multidisciplinary Human Rights
University of Pretoria
BA, Honours - International Relations
University of The Witwatersrand (Johannesburg)
Baccalaureus Technologiae (B-TECH) - Journalism
Tshwane University of Technology
National Diploma - Journalism
Tshwane University of Technology
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