Rethink Mental Illness is a national mental health membership charity, working to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.
So what's your background?
I joined Rethink Mental Illness in July 2010 after five years working for Jack Straw as his special adviser. This included spells in the Foreign Office and Ministry of Justice working on policy and communications. Prior to that I was a special adviser to Baroness Amos when she was Leader of the House of Lords. I came to that role after 13 years as a journalist at the BBC, CNN and Liverpool Daily Post and Echo.
How did you get this job?
I saw it in the Guardian in the run up to the last general election. Whatever happened in the election I had decided to move on from my role with Jack. The Rethink job was everything I was looking for: a cause about which I am passionate, a chance to develop my comms skills and a new sector to work in.
How long have you worked at your current organisation for?
One year.
What do you actually do on a daily basis?
I'm currently implementing a communications strategy which I drew up with colleagues following my appointment, so a lot of time is taken up with that. We are re-branding and will be launching the new look later in the year. But my role also covers campaigns, research, advice and information, young people, mental health education and social marketing, so lots of day-to-day issues, as well as longer term development in those areas too.
What's been your biggest achievement in this role so far?
The communications strategy is a big step forward for Rethink. There is a real sense of the whole organisation getting behind it, so that's been great, though there is much more work to do on it. I'm also proud of the work our social marketing team is doing on Time to Change, the anti-stigma campaign. We've just picked up an award for last year's campaign and this year's has already led to our Facebook following doubling.
What are the most challenging parts of your role?
Balancing day-to-day demands with the need for strategic overview and development. Also trying to deal with my phobia about long meetings.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
It's a privilege to work for an organisation campaigning to change society over what is the last taboo – mental illness – and representing people affected by mental illness. I've met some amazing people as a result and work with some pretty amazing people too.
Anything you don't enjoy?
Did I mention long meetings?
What kind of personality is best suited to working in a job like yours?
Good question to which I'm not sure of the answer. You need to be able to juggle lots of balls, for sure, and I think you also have to be clear-eyed about the priorities: that means being pretty remorseless about pursuing them when on occasion it may be tempting to put them in the "too difficult" pile.
Any top tips for people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Don't try to run before you can walk. Don't over-complicate and don't be pressured into making decisions until you've had time to really assess what needs to be done. That probably takes longer than you might think. Trust your instincts.