Dhammika Dharmawardhane
Dhammika Dharmawardhane
Communications Specialist
Dear Sirs
I am a successful Communications Specialist with a proven track
record helping companies develop messages that persuade and captivate. I am
confident that I will bring tenacity and penchant to the success of your
organisation.
As such here are the skills I bring to your organisation:
Strong experience of
developing multi-channel communications plans:
· Practice
Unilever Advanced Brand Communications and Communication Channel Planning
models. Two marketing communications models that cater to c-suite thinking and
decision-making.
· Use Dr. John
Kotter’s 8-step process for leading change.
· Versed and use
360-degree communications tools: Print, Audio Visual, Social Media, Digital,
Outdoor, Database and Outdoor.
· Personal career
highlights of developing a media dissemination program for the Ministry of
Finance Sri Lanka that reached out to all local and international stakeholders
including international media and development agencies.
· Communications
architect for Sri Lanka’s budget 2017 communications campaign.
· Account Director
and part of global team at Lowe & Partners for the HSBC Global Symbols
campaign.
Example:
ADB Solar Power Generation Project
Techniques
Communication Tools
Devices
Traditional channels such as print, radio, PR and event marketing were
used at launch phase.
Augmented by digital marketing & social media marketing on devices
(desktop, laptop, tablet and especially smartphones with internet access).
Advertising, Brand Activation and Direct Mail through a brochure,
Use of typical Internet tools; website, app, email-marketing, bannering
and mobile marketing.
Techniques specific and unique to the Internet, such as search engine
marketing (traceability), behavioral targeting (communications offering based
on the behavior of the user), and affiliate marketing ("sellers" are
rewarded based on units sold).
Within the Tactics phase, devices and tools and techniques were weighed
to determine which could be used to achieve the target within the strategy.
Strong PR experience and
demonstrable knowledge of international media, including business, investor,
trade and environment media:
· Collaborated
with the international news agencies, AFP, BBC, Reuters, Bloomberg and Forbes.
·
Conduct research via the latest business news from
content aggregators such as Flipboard, Reddit and City Falcon.
· Experience in
conducting weekly media briefing sessions for local and international media for
the Minister of Finance.
· Part of
communications team as a consultant for the Future of Bio Gas Europe 2018
Conference held by the Whitmore Group in London.
Experience in the fields of
financial markets and/or investor relations:
· Communications
Analyst as part of a team that developed Sri Lanka’s 2017 budget.
· Coordinated and
disseminated information to officials from the IMF, ADB, World Bank and the
UNDP on Sri Lanka’s economic and social reforms.
· The activity
included:
ü Sri Lanka and
our ambitious vision of a future of shared and sustainable prosperity, as set
out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
ü Created
dialogues of effervescent dynamism of an interface between the government and
the resident missions strengthening project process and portfolio management.
ü Identified
outstanding contributions with reference to country partnership strategies and
country operations business plans with International Development Agencies.
ü National Chamber
of Exporters Sri Lanka -Budget 2017 -Forum to disseminate information &
clarify impact on exports.
ü CIMA Forum on
Budget Highlights - An Impact Analysis.
Excellent interpersonal
skills and the ability to develop and nurture relationships both internally and
externally, including complex multi-stakeholder relationships:
· Active
Listening: Communications is everything about people insights. I have Quantitative and Qualitative research
listening experience with the research agencies Millward Brown and AcNielsen.
As a communications specialist my skills depend on active listening to People,
Analog and Digital mediums.
· Dependability:
Punctuality, meeting deadlines, and knowledge have formed the backbone to my
career progression.
· Empathy: Access
and experience to both the developing world and the developed world has given
me a truly global understanding of people and emotions. I also meditate and
practice mindfulness.
· Leadership:
Believe it’s a combination of all of the above. Fifteen years in advertising
brand management involved providing leadership to account management, creative,
media and production. Gaining clients and peers confidence reflects my career
progression.
· Teamwork: My
biggest challenge was taking on the role of Media Consultant at the Ministry of
Finance. This involved working with diverse groups from local to international.
I believe you are as good as those who work for you. Providing the inspiration
and guidance to teams is a forte.
Strong analytical mind with
the ability to turn complex information into compelling stories and content:
· Brand strategy,
insight and creative strategy development for international development,
public, private and government sectors as well as change communications.
· Insights and
extensive experience in the Global Marketing & Communications Landscape.
· Knowledge of
global new media tech and its applications. ROI tools for social media and
Google SEO.
· Developing
content for the latest digital tools, apps, websites and e-commerce.
· New media global
transformation and constant study of its effectiveness in developing print,
audio and video content.
Example:
An exploratory
project was carried out with a number of socio economic groups to investigate
their use of social media amongst the Sri Lankan diaspora in UK, US and
Australia with my leadership.
Previous
experience highlighted the need for more investigations into the mindset of
these groups in using social media and in finding out how social media impacts
on their decision making.
The objectives of
the research were:
To review the
existing Internet data to develop a framework for understanding strategic
approaches to social media from their perspective.
To gain further
insights through interviews.
To examine the
extent to which these groups using social media are being influenced by what
they read.
To investigate the
evolution of their attitudes to social media.
100 qualitative
interviews were carried out.
Use of Social
Media
Impacts of
Social Media on their lives
Champions of
Social Media
Strong copywriting and
editing skills:
· Speak, read and
write English to native level.
· Avid reader.
From the Bhagvad Gita to Steinbeck.
· Maintain a
blog.
· 15 years in
advertising at JWT, Ogilvy and Lowe & Partners. Worked on international campaigns
with global brands such as HSBC, British Airways, UNICEF, Save the Children,
Guinness etc., which developed in me a keen eye for detail including typos,
suitability, tone and manner.
· Authored
non-technical content for the ADB solar energy website.
https://www.rooftopsolar.lk/.
Example:
Minsters preamble at ADB meeting (Authored by myself)
“Our policy is focused towards developing the country containing broad
policies of national importance that will assist the achievement of the far
reaching reforms. For instance, my theme for the National Budget 2017 was
‘Accelerated growth with social inclusion’, which placed great emphasis on the
alleviation of poverty in all manifestations beginning 2017. Social inclusion
is a matter of prime concern and the participation of the entire population in
the journey for development is a noble objective being 'a society for all'.
Such efforts will lay tremendous emphasis on social inclusion and
sustainability in economic development, a commitment to achieve the United
Nations proclaimed UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 ensuring shelter,
safe drinking water and improved living standards for all.“
Extensive experience in
promoting content on a wide range of digital and traditional platforms:
Practice the following media planning tools:
· McCann World
Group Brand Optimisation Map
· Unilever
Communication Channel Planning
· Lowe &
Partners Media Mapping
An understanding of or
interest in financial markets and the ability to process complex information:
Regular information gathering through readership of business content
aggregators.
Stay up to date reading the WSJ, Time, Newsweek, NY Times, Economic
times, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, Forbes and CNN Money.
Excellent team skills and the flexibility to work across the business
and with global offices:
· Ministry of
Foreign Affairs – Worked with over 100 missions worldwide for information
dissemination and was the main point of contact for content approval.
· Global brand
management:
ü Unilever brand
network
ü HSBC brand
communications
ü JWT, Ogilvy,
Lowe & Partners and McCann Global workshops and intranet reporting
Excellent time management
skills and an ability to meet deadlines under pressure and manage multiple
project and stakeholder demands simultaneously:
A communications background, especially advertising, develops in you the
ability to work with multiple clients and their different types of business.
Was part of team of 12 members who developed and authored Sri Lanka’s
budget 2017. A usual day would begin at 7am and end at 9pm. My role included
preparing a daily media report and highlighting people insights.
Fluency in written and
spoken English:
· Studied in
English for my Advanced Levels in Sri Lanka. Sat and passed the subjects: Greek
and Roman Civilization, Economics, Logic and Geography.
· Studied for a
Business Management degree at Truman University, Missouri, USA.
· Native level
written and spoken English.
Relevant experience in communications,
PR and journalism.
· Award-winning Marketing
Communications professional with 20 years experience leading marketing and
communications strategy for multimillion-dollar companies across diverse
industries.
· Was part of the National
Union of Students Management Team to first launch the NUS Students Card through
e-commerce marketing in the United Kingdom.
·
Worked in different projects as communications specialist developing
and outsourcing communications strategy & planning, video shoots,
photography shoots and web design services for global companies from Sri Lanka.
Was instrumental for coordinating a Global Communications Strategy for Sri
Lanka Tourism.
·
Unilever Advanced Brand Communication and
Communications Channel Planning Specialist.
·
18 month service with the former Minister of
Finance and Foreign Affairs as media consultant. Set up social media and new
websites for both ministries.
·
Designed, sourced and
collaborated the first Hologram Project to launch in Sri Lanka with Interesting
Audio Visual in Milton Keynes UK for former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s
election campaign.
· Respected leader of
creative, multimedia
and corporate communication teams. Served in brand management from 1991 to 2004 at
JWT, Bates, O&M, Lowe and finally McCann as Client Services Director in Sri
Lanka until 2005 before migrating to UK.
· Conceptualise and
orchestrate marketing campaigns that effectively reinforce and build brand
loyalty.
· Expert in the technical,
conceptual and content development of sales-driving collateral. Proven ability
to drive record-high marketing campaign response rates and execute successful
product launches.
I
practice democratic values, equal opportunity and women’s rights in the work
place. I am a British citizen from 2009 and speak English to native
proficiency.
I believe in teamwork and team building. You are as strong as your
team. I am available for relocation.
Dhammika Dharmawardhane
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