Simone Foster
Tortola
Summary
Diligent Communications Manager with 20-year progressive career across both internal and external communications. Offering excellent management and organizational skills to coordinate multiple, concurrent projects. Articulate writer with talent for creating engaging content. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
A successful public relations professional with substantial experience developing and executing successful PR campaigns. Skilled at creating positive relationships with media, stakeholders and clients. Strategic and committed to staying responsive and proactive in dealing with crises. Adept in creating and implementing effective communication strategies. A collaborative professional and committed to nurturing relationships with stakeholders, media and clients for the ultimate outcome of ensuring each receives exceptional experiences, service and quality products.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Programme and Communications Manager – HR Department
Harneys
01.2019 - Current
- Responsible for the coordination and delivery of HR communication to staff, both time critical and routine
- This includes preparation and delivery of HR instructional and protocol documentation
- HR content and platform design management
- Establish strong global relationships by building and maintaining trust with individuals at all levels of the organization, with external stakeholders and keeping the right people connected
- Coordinate with team leaders to assess impacts of projects scope and programme adoption communication plans
- Develop and deliver project communication plans and programme content
- Coordinate and develop communication plans specific to the firm’s Learning and Professional Development team for new programmes, office, and policy implementation
- Coordinate the firm’s employer brand awareness campaign
- Raise profiles and highlight star performers internally and externally
- Wellness and wellbeing committee implementation and programme coordination and support globally
- Firm Culture and employee awareness coordinator, including new staff induction and change management during new firm initiative campaigns.
Marketing Manager (Technology) – Marketing & Business Development Department
Harneys
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Responsible for the firm’s technology platforms and technology based initiatives relating to the marketing and business development functions
- This included a leadership role in the implementation and management of SugarCRM client relationship management software across the firm globally
- Management of various platforms and systems including our content management systems and databases which support our various websites as well as our project management and tracking systems for the global marketing and business development team
- Project team member which drove Harneys Award winning rebrand project which involved everything from concept to implementation across electronic and physical assets
- Delivered the firm’s internal blog (internet) to enable easier and more engaging communication with staff across the firm’s 14 offices; to specifically address the communication difficulties as the firm grew from a single BVI office to several offices across the world
- Responsible for the development, documentation and training in various team processes and procedures, including change management
- Management of bespoke projects and data analysis reporting requests.
CRM Administrator – Marketing & Business Development Department
Harneys
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Global launch and administration of the firm’s new CRM System, including documenting, analyzing and assessing data quality control and optimization of the firm’s CRM System
- Data validation and migration, Software Licenses management, developer and software support management
- Ongoing data analysis and reporting, periodic CRM System analysis and upgrades
- Management and control of data imports and exports throughout the firm’s marketing technology systems and databases
- Plan, facilitate and execute training of all required staff globally in using the newly launched CRM system while providing continuous global CRM support
- Management of the global training platform for induction of staff who will be using the CRM and other marketing technology systems
- Generate, manage and update user guides and training materials for the firm’s marketing technology systems
- Quality control and launch of the firm’s newsletters and client news alerts
- Management and stock control of the firm’s physical marketing assets
- Maintaining the department budget spread sheet and expense records
- Assist with hosting the firm’s local Quarterly Seminars as well as Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Relations initiatives.
Account Manager – Fiduciary & Custodial Dept.
Harneys Corporate Services Limited
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Wealth Management & Custodial Services
- Fiduciary Administration & Management of a portfolio of 200+ entities
- General Directorship Services
- Bearer Share Custodian Services
- Safe Custody Services
- Cross-border group restructuring and financing
- Foreign and Local Companies Management
- Coordinating department activities.
Head Legal Secretary – Corporate & Banking Depts.
Harney Westwood & Riegels
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Personal Assistant to Partner and Head of two Departments
- Management of satellite office and two departments therein including the supervision of legal secretaries and support staff, orientation and training of new staff into the departments
- Orientation and onboarding of junior lawyers into the firm’s PDP program
- Facilitated the improvement of the departments’ target and realizations
- Coordinating department activities.
Legal Secretary – Corporate & Commercial Dept.
Harney Westwood & Riegels
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Assisting lawyers with various correspondence, legal research and administrative duties including personal assistance to a senior lawyer who was voted to the firm’s partnership
- Voluntary Liquidation of International Business Companies
- Preparing and filing Registers of Mortgages and Charges
- Assisting with the listing, merger and continuation of BVI companies
- Coordinating department activities.
Company Administrator – Incorporations Dept.
HWR Services Limited
01.2000 - 01.2004
- Incorporating International Business Companies and local Companies
- Continuation of International Business Companies from other jurisdictions into the British Virgin Islands
- Transferring of International Business Companies from other registered Agents to our Registered Office
- General company administration duties which included preparation of corporate resolutions and other ancillary documents – such as Powers of Attorney, Declarations of Trusts and Indemnity, Registered Agent’s Certificates, share certificates, directors and shareholders resolutions, registers, etc
- Creation and maintenance of companies’ physical and data files
- Spearheaded special projects
- Supervision of Department’s operation in manager’s absence.
Assistant Office Manager
National Parks Trust
Tortola, BVI
07.1997 - 09.2000
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Management Studies (Hons) -
University of The West Indies Open Campus (via Distance)
12.2012
Associates Degree in Legal Studies (Paralegal) -
University of the West Indies in collaboration with HLSCC
12.2005
Administrative Professional Secretaries Certification -
University of the West Indies
12.2000
Forms 4 and 5 Science -
British Virgin Islands High School
12.1997
Forms 2 and 3 -
Bregado Flax Educational Centre
12.1995
Form 1 -
President’s College
12.1993
Secondary School Entrance Examinations (SSEE) -
Stella Maris Primary School
12.1992
Skills
- Marketing Collateral Development
- Product Development
- Program Development
- Project Management
- Video Content Production
- Website Maintenance
- Campaign Coordination
- Communication Planning
- Content Development
- Thought Leadership
- Public Speaking
- Event Planning
Accomplishments
- Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
- Achieved [Result] by introducing [Software] for [Type] tasks.
- Achieved [Result] by completing [Task] with accuracy and efficiency.
- Achieved [Result] through effectively helping with [Task].
- Collaborated with team of [Number] in the development of [Project name].
Hobbies and Interests
- Advocating for and empowering persons with special needs and their caregivers
- Environmental Awareness and Protection –community environment cleanups and recycling campaigns
- Tortola Toastmasters Club of the BVI – debate and speech competitions and metorship
- Youth Motivational Speaker & Trainer – facilitated youth speech & mentorship opportunities
- Event Planner and Coordinator, Catering and Event Decorating
- BVI Red Cross (since 1994) – first aid and rescue trained
- Up and coming sailing fanatic –team finalist in the Financial Services Challenge IC24 Regatta (2006). Power boating - now a certified RIB captain.
- Travelling and meeting new people while experiencing different cultures
References
Provided upon request.
Affiliations
- Society of Human Resource Management
- Toastmasters
- Lions Club
Certification
- Certified DEIB Specilist, AIHR - 2022-2023
- Equity First: The Path to Inclusion and Belonging, LinkedIn Learning - 2023
- Difficult Conversations: Talking about Race at Work, LinkedIn Learning - 2021
- Out and Proud: Approaching LGBT Issues in the Workplace, LinkedIn Learning - 2021
- Fighting Gender Bias at Work, LinkedIn Learning - 2021
- Certified CPR, First Aid and Rescue, BVI Red Cross - 1997-present
Passions
Advocating for and empowering persons with special needs and their caregivers in our communities. I have formed a parent support network for parents of children with special needs and their support network. Lemonade BVI, est. 2019
Environmental Awareness and Protection – community environment awareness, cleanups and recycling campaigns
Youth Motivational Speaker & Trainer – facilitated youth speech & debate mentorship opportunities through the Tortola Toastmasters Club
Event planning and coordination, catering and venue transformation
Travelling and meeting new people while experiencing different cultures
Timeline
Programme and Communications Manager – HR Department
Harneys
01.2019 - Current
Marketing Manager (Technology) – Marketing & Business Development Department
Harneys
01.2017 - 01.2019
CRM Administrator – Marketing & Business Development Department
Harneys
01.2013 - 01.2016
Account Manager – Fiduciary & Custodial Dept.
Harneys Corporate Services Limited
01.2009 - 01.2013
Head Legal Secretary – Corporate & Banking Depts.
Harney Westwood & Riegels
01.2007 - 01.2009
Legal Secretary – Corporate & Commercial Dept.
Harney Westwood & Riegels
01.2004 - 01.2007
Company Administrator – Incorporations Dept.
HWR Services Limited
01.2000 - 01.2004
Assistant Office Manager
National Parks Trust
07.1997 - 09.2000
Bachelor of Science in Management Studies (Hons) -
University of The West Indies Open Campus (via Distance)
Associates Degree in Legal Studies (Paralegal) -
University of the West Indies in collaboration with HLSCC
Administrative Professional Secretaries Certification -
University of the West Indies
Forms 4 and 5 Science -
British Virgin Islands High School
Forms 2 and 3 -
Bregado Flax Educational Centre
Form 1 -
President’s College
Secondary School Entrance Examinations (SSEE) -
Stella Maris Primary School
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