MARY STOKES

Namiwawa, Blantyre, Malawi

+265 998 111 903 | skype: mary.e.a.stokes | maryeastokes@gmail.com

Online Portfolio | Messages from Malawi | El País Articles | Instagram | @stokes_the_fire | LinkedIn

Language skills: English (native), Spanish (fluent), French (professional), German (intermediate)

As a versatile, creative and motivated communications officer within the development sector, I have a proven track
record producing high-quality, engaging and insightful content from the organisation’s largest programme country
to further their aim to end world hunger through education. I am now looking to utilise my skills within the NGO
sector in a role which supports in-country communications, helps upskill staff, and sets communication strategies.

COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIENCE
Mary’s Meals, Malawi Communications Officer May 2017 – Present
International NGO feeding more than 1.2 million children globally every school day. As the Malawi communications
officer, I produce photographic, video and written content from programme schools, manage the Sponsor a School
team, and manage international visitors and media requests.
Key Achievements:
 Successfully delivered quality content to brief and to deadline for high-priority supporters.
 Photos frequently featured in campaign imagery, social media headers and email signatures.
 Effectively lead Sponsor a School team to clear significant report backlog within a term.
 Multiple case studies chosen by CEO for use in his personal campaign mailshots to supporters & staff
 Zambia chosen as Q2 thematic focus due to quality of content collected when I visited in February

World Bank, Argentina Online Communications Associate Apr 2013-2017

Online Spanish-speaking role producing engaging multimedia, written and social media content to communicate
news and results from 11 programme countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with regular travel to
programmes in the region.
Key Achievements:
 Video slideshow produced in wake of Hurricane Matthew viewed over 5,400 times.
 Feature article written for El País shared over 3,000 times.
 Social media post promoting article shared over 6,400 times on Facebook alone.
 Article written for El Dinero published as full-page spread in weekly print edition.
 First in WBG to use FB notes to promote project results.

Global Environment Facility Online Communications Producer Apr 2014-Dec 2015

Part-time (50%) secondment providing support with Spanish-language social media and online content to position
the GEF as an online influencer.
Key achievements:
 Active Facebook page grown to over 49,000 fans in 10 months.

World Bank, Argentina Social Media Producer Apr 2012-2013

Social media community manager role for regional and Spanish-language global channels, providing guidance
and best-practice tips to other LAC producers.
Key achievement:
 Organically grew @bancomundiallac to become most-followed non-English WBG account, 3rd overall.

Roundhouse, UK Digital Communications Assistant Oct 2010-Mar 2012

Online role at leading multi-arts venue with direct responsibility for social media and web marketing.

Action Against Hunger, UK New Media Intern Jan-Apr 2010

Voluntary role managing social media for Haiti earthquake campaign and Chad malnutrition crisis

KEY SKILLS
Multimedia and communication skills:
 High proficiency in stills photography and videography proven in a humanitarian context.
 Exceedingly capable editing to a professional standard using Adobe CC & Final Cut Pro.
 Adaptable, web-friendly writing style in English and Spanish with numerous published articles.
 First-hand knowledge and understanding of how media functions developed through interaction with
local, national & international media in WBG role.
 Creative and effective social media user proven in a professional context.
 Up-to-date knowledge of current social media trends and tools, as well as their value for NGOs and the
International Development sector.
 Prior success ghost writing OpEd and blogs for experts with little or no edits requested.

Training and coaching experience:

 Prior classroom teaching experience as a volunteer teacher and as a language assistant.
 Currently leading set up of pilot scheme to upskill field staff to autonomously collect quality content for
school donor reports.
 Developed technical skills of Malawi & Zambia SAS teams through mentoring and coaching.
 Lead training of WBG-wide Online Producers on social media at CommNet event.
 Coached regional colleagues on social media tips and best practice as social media producer.

Teamwork and interpersonal skills:

 Proven team player with strong experience working in diverse, multicultural and multinational teams in
Latin America and Africa.
 Demonstrable capacity to effectively integrate into and lead tight-knit, established team as
communications officer.
 Displayed successful negotiation skills with multiple interlocutors as communications officer to secure
additional vehicle to clear backlog without jeopardising others’ work schedules.
 Displayed initiative and tactful negotiation skills at WBG to raise profile of Caribbean projects within the
regional narrative despite language barrier and cultural differences.

Strategic planning and organisational skills:

 Devised optimal school visit schedule to reduce report backlog, increase efficient use of resources, and
prevent a similar build-up in future.
 Well-honed ability to balance shifting priorities between multiple clients in diverse locations.
 Successfully planned and completed numerous content collection trips, often at short notice.

EDUCATION
Instituto de Cervantes, Spain Certificado de calificación DELE Nivel C2 2016
University College Falmouth, UK MA Multimedia Broadcast Journalism 2008-2009
University of Liverpool, UK BA (Hons) French and Hispanic Studies 2003-2007

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Silverstream TV Floor Manager/ Producer Jun & Oct 2010
One Potato, Two Potato Runner: Ramsay’s Best Restaurant Sep 2010
BBC Horizon Researcher July 2009
Bright Young Folk Website Administrator Jul 2009-Jan 2012
Review Artists.com Blogger Jul 2009-Jan 2011
Daily Music Guide Music Journalist Apr 2009-Sep 2010
Thembelitsha Primary School Volunteer Teacher May 2008
Gary’s Surf School Surf School Volunteer Jan-Feb 2008