Charles Milward
Sydney,NSW
Summary
Highly motivated media specialist, with over seven years of experience in the communications field. Advanced skillset in digital, print and broadcast media, with key skills in building relationships and maintaining productive rapport. Seeking role as Model Manager, advancing my skills in communications and building relationships.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Customer Service Representative
Woolworths
11.2024 - Current
- Speaking with members of the public on a daily basis, interacting with over 40 customers a day. Commended on my ability to build exceptional rapport with customers from a whole array of diverse backgrounds.
- Problem solving to understand customers' queries, to find the source of the problem and to enforce a resolution to provide them with the highest quality of customer service, always ensuring that a situation that is escalating is defused.
- Working effectively with colleagues across the business, including stores and drivers, to enact resolutions for customers.
- Using a multitude of different digital systems to make record of calls/emails/interactive chats with customers.
- Hitting Key Performance Index targets above expectations. Following results of my targets, senior leadership have made changes to their training framework and have enforced changes across the entire organization.
Communications and Media Officer/Advisor
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner's Office
06.2023 - 08.2024
- Advised PCC on how to approach media interviews.
- My skillset in this area ensured I was sought after by the PCC to assist him with all media interviews due to my levels of preparation and constructive feedback I would provide.
- Prepared media releases/statements/newsletters.
- Wrote speeches for internal/external events.
- Prepared briefings for media interviews and other briefing material at the PCC's request.
- Managed media relations. My relationship management was highly commended, ensuring that all parties sought the information they needed to maintain positive relations.
- Also maintained and built relationships with partners/stakeholders to work corroboratively on campaigns.
- Produced daily media monitoring reports for senior leadership.
- Produced video content and other engaging content through use of graphics for social media.
- Increased organization's social media engagement by over 50% on all platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
- Organized a series of community orientated events to ensure that the PCC could speak directly with members of the public.
- Spoke with the public directly at pop-up events to understand their views on local policing to ensure change was made.
- Led on internal communications, managing several high-profile campaigns and working effectively with stakeholders to ensure communication strategies was executed to the highest quality.
- Commended on ability to manage two-extensive portfolios (internal and external) to aid the communications directive, with an expert level of professionalism within a fast-paced environment.
- Assisted with other duties in the office to support resilience. This included answering phone calls, managing diaries, scheduling appointments and general office admin.
- Trusted with responsibility to manage communications campaigns, without supervision or direction.
Online Showbiz Reporter/SEO Reporter
Express.co.uk (Daily Express)
07.2018 - 08.2022
- Consistently website's top-ranking reporter.
- Most read story acquired over 2 million views in 24 hours.
- Commended on my ability to build exceptional rapport with celebrities/influencers. My respectful approach to interviews meant that the interviewee felt comfortable and opened up on matters they would not discuss with other journalists.
- PR managers would contact me directly to work with their clients due to my exceptional skills in building relationships.
- Led team of over 10 reporters in absence of senior leadership, pulling in figures not achieved by senior members of staff.
- Effective in pitching stories.
- Commended on the strength of my creative vision and ideas to publish exclusives that would be read by thousands of readers.
- Tasked with building a new sub-department with Showbiz team, with a daily newsletter generated for this section. Read by 10k subscribers each day.
- Fast-paced environment, reacting to breaking news stories with articles published within minutes.
Freelance Soaps Writer
Digital Spy
04.2018 - 08.2018
- Wrote multiple commissioned-based articles, with high-level research conducted to ensure a detailed and authentic article.
- Commended on my ability to pitch own ideas and my expert knowledge of subject area.
Education
BACHELOR'S DEGREE - MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM
Bournemouth University
United Kingdom01.2017
NATIONAL JOURNALISM ACCREDITATION - Gold Standard Diploma
NCTJ
United Kingdom08.2016
Skills
- Relationship management
- Networking
- Stakeholder management
- Time management
- Flexibility
- Adaptability
- Sub-editing
- Digital skillset - Canva, Adobe Suite, Microsoft, MailChimp, Social media, Content creation, Video production, SEO, Digital marketing
- Crisis management
- Event planning
- Audience engagement
- Strategic thinking
Additional Information
- Most viewed journalist on national newspaper's website for 2 consecutive years.
- Produced a newsletter for TV department of Express.co.uk that was read by 10,000 people a day.
- Over 4 years' experience in retail and hospitality in customer facing roles.
Career breaks:
- 09/01/22 - 06/30/23. Travelled across Australia and South East Asia, immersing myself within the culture of countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia.
- 09/01/24 - 11/30/24. Moved to Sydney from the UK to begin a new life and to explore how I could continue with my communications career in one of the most influential and progressive societies in the world.
Timeline
Customer Service Representative
Woolworths
11.2024 - Current
Communications and Media Officer/Advisor
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner's Office
06.2023 - 08.2024
Online Showbiz Reporter/SEO Reporter
Express.co.uk (Daily Express)
07.2018 - 08.2022
Freelance Soaps Writer
Digital Spy
04.2018 - 08.2018
BACHELOR'S DEGREE - MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM
Bournemouth University
NATIONAL JOURNALISM ACCREDITATION - Gold Standard Diploma
NCTJ
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