Paul Mylrea

Current

• Director of Communications at International Development (DFID)
• Executive Board Member at CIPR
• Associate Lecturer at Open University Business School

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Past

• Director of Group Media Relations at Transport for London (TfL)
• Head of Media at Oxfam GB
• Various editorial ending as Editor, Alertnet at Reuters Ltd.

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Education

• Open University
• The University of Birmingham

Recommended

10 people have recommended Paul

Connections

113 connections

Industry

Government Administration

Websites

• My Company

Paul Mylrea’s Summary

A professional communicator with experience of journalism and PR at the highest level in the private, voluntary and public sector.

Paul Mylrea’s Specialties:

- public relations, crisis management
- leadership, management
- strategic planning
- knowledge management
- international expertise

Paul Mylrea’s Experience

• Director of Communications

  International Development (DFID)

  (Government Administration industry)

  May 2007 — Present (2 years 7 months)

  In charge of internal and external communication for the Department, including ministerial communication, strategic communications planning, media, marketing, public information, internal communications, Web and e-comms. Also responsible for grants to civil society organisations as part of our efforts to build support for development.
  
  I manage a team of 60 people. I was brought in to build up and professionalise the communications function to boost the Department's profile and support for government international development efforts.
  
  I am a mentor on the Crossing Thresholds scheme designed to help increase the number of women in senior civil service roles.

• Executive Board Member

  CIPR

  (Educational Institution; Public Relations and Communications industry)

  2006 — Present (3 years )

• Associate Lecturer

  Open University Business School

  (Educational Institution; 5001-10,000 employees; Higher Education industry)

  2005 — Present (4 years )

• Director of Group Media Relations

  Transport for London (TfL)

  (Government Administration industry)

  September 2004 — May 2007 (2 years 9 months)

  In charge of external communications and corporate internal communications for London's integrated transport authority, an organisation with an annual revenue budget of around £6 billion, plus a £10 billion, five-year investment programme.
  
  I led a team of 50 press officers, internal communications specialists and editors. I was responsible for promoting public transport, making the case for investment and ensuring a strategic approach to communications across Transport for London.
  
  I led on the communications response to the 7th July bombings, the 21st July attacks and their aftermath. The team was awarded the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Crisis Communications award for its response to the July attacks.
  Other achievements included turning round negative perception of transport in the original Olympic assessment of the 2012 bid.
  I was a founder member of TfL's mentoring scheme and created an internship programme to encourage minority ethnic candidates to work in PR.

• Head of Media

  Oxfam GB

  (Civic & Social Organization industry)

  May 2002 — September 2004 (2 years 5 months)

  Responsible for day-to-day PR and management of the UK-based media team and strategic development of Oxfam GB's worldwide external communications.
  
  I ran a 14-strong team based in Oxford, as well as having responsibility for the media work of eight campaign co-ordinators in regional centres around the world. I was also a lead member of the communications steering group for Oxfam International - the confederation of 12 different Oxfam organisations around the world.
  
  The main objective of the role was developing Oxfam's profile, not only as a development and relief agency, but as a campaigning organisation. Achievements included gaining sustained coverage for the Education Now!, Make Trade Fair and the Control Arms campaigns in the media in this country and abroad.
  
  I was also a member of the Advisory Board of the Disasters Emergency Committee and a board member if the International Broadcasting Trust, which lobbies for better coverage from broadcasters of developing world issues.

• Various editorial ending as Editor, Alertnet

  Reuters Ltd.

  (Government Administration industry)

  1982 — 2002 (20 years )

Paul Mylrea’s Education

• Open University

  MBA , Management , 2001 — 2003

  Student of the Year, 2003

• The University of Birmingham

  BA (Hons) , French , 1974 — 1978

Additional Information

Paul Mylrea’s Websites:

• My Company

Paul Mylrea’s Groups:

•    Open University Business School Alumni Network
•    Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
•    AMBA - Association of MBAs - Members Only
•    CIPR - Chartered Institute of Public Relations
•    Global Alliance for PR & Communication Management
•    The Baron

Paul Mylrea’s Honors:

Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Crisis Communications Award, 2006

OU MBA Alumnus of the Year, 2007. Open University MBA Student of the Year and runner-up in the international Association of MBA’s Student of the Year award, 2004.

Association of Business Schools and the Guardian Business Ethics Award, 2001

Paul Mylrea’s Contact Settings

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