Chris Watt

Background

About Chris Watt

Currently leadong the communications and public affairs team and delivering impact for a healthcare charity and professional body, I am adept at establishing and maintaining partnerships with high profile organisations and key leaders. As a member of the CIPR, I serve on its Public Affairs Committee. With exceptional expertise from 20 years of working with Government and Parliament and significant achievement in stakeholder relations and both internal and external communications, I work with the right people in the right way to get results. During the early stages of COVID, I was seconded to co-ordinate communications around NHS workforce for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber. Previously hand picked to lead on communication for the CEO of a national NHS organisation, i led on all of his internal and stakeholder comms. I was choaen for this after leading a national team, as part of the Senior Directorate leadership, througb a time of charge, including restructuring and overseeing reviews of internal comms and corporate events. As Head of Communications for an NHS Trust, I successfully handled all aspects of internal comms, media relations, public engagement, event and project management and stakeholder relations. My internal comms work played a significant part in moving the Trust into the top 25% nationally for staff engaglement. I wrote, compiled and designed a regular staff magazine, created briefings on behalf of the Board of Directors, managed the staff intranet and organised and ran events. I led a major project to create a unique I-phone app on organ donation, bringing together a number of teams and line managing several staff, which led to me attending a Downing St reception celebrating good practice in health. I co-ordinated all Trust comms, both staff and public, around the Tour de France, which involved significant partnership working. Our small team won Team of the Year at the Trust's staff I managed media relations and secured significant and continuing positive coverage, including national press and regional TV, as well as training and briefing colleagues up to Director level on handling the media. i also ran the open day, the largest healthcare event in the area, pulling together over 50 teams and attracting around members of the public. Mobile: 07940 579043 Email: chris.j.watt@gmail.com