Lyn Drummond

Self Employed

 

Lyn Drummond: Resume

Budapest, Hungary

+36 70 290 0564

ldrummond75@gmail.com

 

https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile

http://lyndrummond.com/

 

PROFILE

 

A communications specialist skilled in compiling complex technical reports, web copy, media management (traditional and social), event management, speech writing and public speaking.  Advertising and marketing management including copy writing and total campaign concepts.  Content editor and proofreader. Sound negotiating skills with wide experience working with other cultures as an Australian Foreign Service diplomat, as a volunteer with aid agencies and in ESL teaching positions and universities in various countries.

I have been fortunate to work in a very diverse range of roles in some of the most challenging areas of humanitarian support, including being involved in promoting women’s political rights in Africa and the Middle East; protecting and enhancing the environment and raising awareness of water, hygiene and sanitation issues in developing countries.

Current interests: global humanitarian and social justice issues; diversity; environment; cultures and languages enhanced through extensive travel, working in senior foreign affairs positions and living/working in nine countries.

 

EXPERTISE

 

Stakeholder engagement and cultural awareness

 

 

Engaging, negotiating and collaborating with people of differing cultures

 

• Sensitive to political environments and cultural responses.

 

• Keen eye for political trends, media moods and the fine details of potentially contentious issues

 

Examples

 

Creating communications strategies in Australian Federal and NSW government departments through effective negotiation as some of the ideas had been untried. For example, using funding generated by placed articles I had written for mainstream media about the former Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service for further projects. As it was a statutory authority, I was able to bypass the normal bureaucratic procedures on funding for departments and turned around former negative publicity about the agency.

 

As First Secretary Public Affairs, Australian Embassy, Brussels and Public Affairs Manager at the Australian Embassy, Budapest I worked with key stakeholders to negotiate, for example, the first Australian exhibition at the National Library of Luxembourg at no cost to the embassy and the first Australian exhibition (on the environment) at the European Parliament and Council of Europe, Strasbourg.

 

In Budapest I initiated the first conference of Australian embassies in Central and Eastern Europe to progress pooling resources and organised what was described as the best Australian film festival in Hungary by raising funds through sponsorship.  Successful management of cultural budgets in both embassies.

 

Journalism, media management, public relations, speech writing, public speaking, author

 

• Successful writer for daily newspapers, business and lifestyle magazines. Including The Australian national newspaper and Australia’s The Saturday Paper, a national journal.
• Management of domestic and international media through timely advice to Ambassadors, Ministers and Chief Executive Officers on effective strategies.
• Well received speech writing for Ministers and Ambassadors. Public speaking to domestic and international audiences in Belgium and Hungary- often representing Ambassadors.
• Apt management of national and international events.
• Author of three non-fiction books including one on my experiences in Central and Eastern Europe and The Federated States of Micronesia. The third book, a companion to the last one, was published in Australia by com.au on May 30, 2022. See details http://lyndrummond.com/painters-philosophers-and-poets-sustain-a-seven-year-cycle/

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Manager

Lyn Drummond Communications, Jan 2015 – current

Website editor and proofreader.

• Contracted as copy editor and proofreader on the new Central European University (Vienna), Executive MBA website. Reference follows:

 

‘Lyn was contracted as a copy editor to proofread our new CEU Executive MBA website. She has been a pleasure to work with, bringing her attention to details to the project. I can highly recommend her for the opportunity that you have available, she is well suited to the challenges it provides. If you need any additional information, you can contact me at kisilowski@ceu.edu. Maciej Kisilowski, Faculty Director, CEU Executive MBA Associate Professor of Law & Strategy,’.

 

• English as a Second Language business and general English teacher. International House language school. Budapest.  Including groups and directors at the Office of Assembly in the Hungarian Parliament and ministers in the Hungarian government.

 

• Writer for mainstream media including Australia’s The Saturday Paper, The New Internationalist and The Australian daily newspaper.

 

• Writer for the Rotterdam School of Management Outlook magazine.

 

• Investigative journalist into alleged scams for an agency in the Netherlands.

• Writer/editor of technical reports for the NGO, The International Water and Sanitation Centre, The Hague

 

• Writer/editor Real Estate Europe, Amsterdam

 

Main achievements

 

• Successful investigation of potential fraud by international matchmaking company and Australian launch of a new Netherlands based games product.
• My The Saturday Paper article on age discrimination in the Australian workplace resulting in dire social issues led to commissioned articles on similar issues for magazines and responses from businesses/interviewees for a government inquiry.
• Co – presenter City Limits program Radio 3CR, Melbourne. I broadcast programs on social issues affecting minority groups and ineffectiveness of government to resolve them. I was the sole presenter of a special International Women’s Day program I initiated on social and gender issues affecting women, producing and editing podcasts which led to proposals for new government policies on inequities.

• Convenor of neighbourhood programs in Melbourne for a successful national street by street campaign.

 

June – December 2014: Media Relations Specialist, Greenpeace International, Amsterdam

 

• Crisis management responses during weekly rostered 24- hour media management including extensive use of social and traditional media and updating of website content.
• Creating international focus for local campaigns, blogs and web content, as the officer tasked with promoting oceans and nuclear policies. For example, aggregating devices which attracted international media attention.
• Rewrote and edited a cookbook on sustainable fishing written by staff without native English.
• An investigation I initiated into the effects of mine tailing spills in countries such as Canada and Mexico uncovered a rash of allegations about weak regulations which fail to adequately protect health risks to affected communities and of negligible compliance monitoring and enforcement of environmental management of mining. These articles were placed in the media of the various countries affected and social media used extensively through the national and regional offices to garner support.

 

January 2013 – June 2014

Editor of websites for a Sydney management consultant. Tutor at Leiden University, the Netherlands teaching academic writing to undergraduate students of international studies, and general and business English to adults. Private tutoring in English exams.

October 2012 to Jan 2013. Full time outreach manager with the NGO, Gender Concerns International, The Hague, Netherlands. Replacing an absent incumbent.

• Initiated and organised a major event at the House of Europe to highlight the lack of education of primary school children, particularly girls, in the MENA region. I brought together a high level panel in 10 days and was the moderator, leading to ongoing support.

 

June, 2012-October 2012. Recipient of a diploma for studying transitional justice and conflict resolution at a symposium run by the Washington Peace and Security Institute, The Hague. Freelance editor and writer for the Balkans Investigative Reporting Network, Serbia.  Writer for the International Correspondent, Amsterdam. One included an analysis of how international justice worked in The Hague, to mark the 100^th anniversary of the Peace Palace.

January 2011-May 2012. Journalist/editor/web manager with www.thefifthestate.com.au.  This on- line newspaper focused on the sustainability of the built environment. I have been freelance writing for the Sydney publisher.

January 2007- July 2009. Teacher of English as a second language to high schools, businesses, international summer schools and universities in Hungary, Montenegro, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, and England. Freelance journalism for various English language journals including the Budapest Business Journal.

March 2006 -Jan 2007. Marketing/Publishing Officer, WorkCover NSW, Australia.

February 2003-February, 2006. Public Affairs Manager, Australian Embassy, Budapest.  I was granted 3 years leave without pay from my employer WorkCover NSW, Sydney to fulfil this position.

Jan 2000-February 2003. WorkCover NSW. Media relations officer and content editor for the website.

July -September 2002. Gender specialist, Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia.

1989-1993. First Secretary Public Affairs and Cultural Attache, Australian Embassy, Brussels.

 

TERTIARY EDUCATION and ROLES

 

Macquarie University, Sydney (July 2009 – December 2011)

• Masters of International Relations degree;(July 2009 – December 2010. Graduated April, 2011).
• Results included high distinctions in International Political Economy and Asia Pacific and Australia. Other subjects: Cross Cultural Communication; International Relations Theory; The International System; Globalisation and the North-South; Entrepreneurial Business Leadership; International Law. I received an academic excellence award. The degree was complemented by two months working in Hanoi, Vietnam helping disadvantaged young people studying hospitality at KOTO (Know One Teach One) college.
• (February 2011- December 2011). I coordinated a key unit at senior undergraduate level, “Political Thought In Action.”  Oversaw Open University course and examinations.

 

 

 

University of Technology, Sydney (2006)

• CELTA Cambridge certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages.

 

• Journalism Proficiency Diploma (The National Council for the Training of Journalists, England) coupled with 4- year journalism apprenticeship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://lyndrummond.com/

More information: View PDF file

Years in the field: 40
Years freelancing: 10