– Branded! How to nail that corporate narrative –

The role of comms and engagement in developing a positive, nurturing organisational culture

Nicola’s workshop will explore the role of comms and engagement in developing a positive, nurturing organisational culture. She’ll outline how comms professionals should be front and centre in developing the corporate narrative and how they can ensure staff and stakeholder voice is at the heart of that.

You’ll be working through some interactive activities that will give you ideas and tools for influencing brand and narrative development back at your organisation.

Nicola started her career as a comms officer for the then Dorset County Council peripatetic music service, moving on to comms roles in the government’s highways and health departments. She then began her love affair with the NHS, with roles in local, regional and national organisations.

As NHS England’s Head of Brand she helped protect one of the best-known corporate identities in the world. She also developed the narrative for the then NHSE Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson as his speech writer. Her journey with Dorset HealthCare began with the Trust in breach of its licence and in need of significant improvement. As director of organisational development, she led a major cultural transformation programme which played a part in the community and mental health trust achieving a rating of ‘outstanding’ from the CQC in 2019.

Her current role combines leadership of communications and engagement and the people professions, as well as leading on developing the trust’s corporate strategy, and she’s recently taken the helm of Dorset County Hospital’s people services alongside her role at Dorset HealthCare. She’s a champion of mindfulness and coaching, and passionate about working in partnership with staff and patients to achieve the best outcomes.

Outside of work it’s two dogs, two kids and getting into the great outdoors, including regular camping trips at our very own Burnbake campsite.