UGA School of Public and International Affairs

Georgia State University

The Australian National University

The University of Western Australia

McGill University

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation at GSMA

Doctoral-level research assistant to Associate Professor Tim Barouch. Supporting research projects in communication and rhetorical studies, dedicating 180 annual hours to cutting-edge academic initiatives. Adapting to evolving research needs while developing crucial skills in data analysis, literature review, and academic writing. This role complements my PhD studies, positioning me at the forefront of emerging communication theories and practices.

Georgia State University College of Arts & Sciences

Graduate Research Assistant

Standalone instructor teaching a section of the Human Communication undergraduate course, introducing students to fundamental concepts in language development, verbal and non-verbal communication, interpersonal dynamics, and intercultural interactions. This hands-on instructional role involves delivering lectures, facilitating discussions, grading assignments, and providing student support. While focusing on my assigned section, I'm gaining valuable teaching experience in higher education, complementing my PhD studies and contributing to the development of future communicators.

Course Instructor

As a Strategic Communications Consultant for BFA Global, I develop and implement communication strategies to showcase our work as an impact innovation firm. I craft compelling narratives that highlight how we combine research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people and the planet. My role involves messaging and content creation for diverse stakeholders, including our public, private, and philanthropic partners. I advise leadership on strategic messaging and crisis communication, ensuring our voice remains strong and consistent. Additionally, I coach and mentor the communications team I helped build, fostering their professional growth and enhancing our collective impact. Through these efforts, I help amplify BFA Global's mission to catalyze innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets, leveraging technology and partnerships to drive positive results for people and the planet.

BFA Global

Strategic Communications Consultant

Proudly supporting InnovateHer's mission is to get girls ready for the tech industry, and the industry ready for girls.

InnovateHer

Advisory Board Member

Catalyst Fund is a pre-seed VC fund and accelerator backing high-impact tech startups that seek to improve the resilience of underserved, climate-vulnerable communities. We partner with mission-driven founders that share our vision of a world where every individual has the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. 

BFA Global is the general partner and venture building provider of Catalyst Fund.

Catalyst Fund

Head of Marketing & Communications

In my role, I led the comms and influence team across the organization at large, including advisory, strategy, vision, messaging content development, marketing, digital, press and media outreach.

Head of Communications & Influence

2021-22 GWPI Fellow, reproductive justice cohort.

YWCA of Greater Atlanta works to improve the lives of women and families in Georgia through issue education, statewide public policy advocacy, and by empowering women to get involved in all aspects of the policy change process. 

Now in its tenth year, GWPI is a leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement training for women from diverse backgrounds. Over the course of one year, GWPI Fellows meet over the course for education, team building, and hands-on learning, as they work collaboratively on a real world policy project to improve the lives of women and girls in Georgia.

YWCA of Greater Atlanta

Georgia Women’s Policy Institute Fellow

Responsible for leading global marketing and communications for the program, including across research and insights, strategic partnerships, our Innovation Fund, and advocacy portfolios. Activities span 111 countries.

M4H's mission is to accelerate the delivery and impact of digital humanitarian assistance. We aim to reach 7 million people with improved access to and use of life-enhancing mobile-enabled services during humanitarian and disaster preparedness, response and recovery by 2021.

GSMA

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation

The GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation (M4H) program works to accelerate the delivery and impact of digital humanitarian assistance. This will be achieved by building a learning and research agenda to inform the future of digital humanitarian response, catalysing partnerships and innovation for new digital humanitarian services, advocating for enabling policy environments, monitoring and evaluating performance, disseminating insights and profiling achievements. M4H marks an evolution and expansion of the GSMA’s disaster response work. The program is supported by the UK Department for International Development.

Marketing Manager, Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation

Marketing Manager for the Disaster Response, Digital Identity, and Ecosystem Accelerator programs within GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D), which brings together the mobile industry and the development community to deliver mobile services to underserved people in emerging markets.

Marketing Manager, Disaster Response, Digital Identity & Ecosystem Accelerator

6 month contract. Highlights:
- Developing global digital communications strategies
- Managing all social media accounts
- Overseeing web development, content, editing and managing CMS
- Producing high-quality written, photographic and video content for digital dissemination
- Providing creative and strategic support with the production of multimedia content for digital platforms
- Working with diverse stakeholders across corporate, faith, education, sports and other campaign areas
- Supporting the development of a live global broadcast with high-profile celebrity interviews and performances
- Supervising and managing interns

Peace One Day

Digital Communications Manager

Consultancy project. I developed the communications strategy for #RefugeeEconomics, a reporting project headed by Flavie Halais and funded by the European Journalism Centre and the Innovation in Development Reporting grant programme. 

#RefugeeEconomics looks into what happens to the economies of countries and cities hosting large groups of people who have fled conflicts and disasters – and what can be done to turn forced migration into opportunities for all.

Highlights:
- Conducting extensive stakeholder research with refugee and humanitarian groups
- Successfully developing unique hashtags with wide global uptake and usage
- Designing compelling infographics for online distribution
- Hosting a week long twitter event with leading practitioners and academics

The #RefugeeEconomics Project

Communications Strategist

During my postgraduate study (Masters degree) I interned with the Evaluation and Oversight Unit within the Strategic Planning, Evaluation and Guidance Section of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (SPEGS UN OCHA).

Highlights:
- Designed a communications strategy to be implemented for all Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluations (IAHEs) for the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
- Trialled new approaches to effectively engage affected populations, NGOs/government, donors and other stakeholders
- Provided operational assistance at the Global Humanitarian Policy Forum 2015 including participating in high-level discussions and minuting closed sessions

United Nations OCHA

Public Information Intern for Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights:
- Designed a collective impact program to enhance the work of participants in a global platform bringing together NGOs, Community Based Organisations, faith based groups, practitioners, academics and research centres committed to improving the lives of urban refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in developing countries
- Advocated for the inclusion of urban refugees and IDPs into policy making processes. Encouraging collaboration between key stakeholders, especially between humanitarian and development actors
- Represented the organisation at the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network's 5th conference in Bangkok, Thailand

URBAN REFUGEES

Communications Manager

Highlights:
- Led the executive team 
- Developed and executed all public relations, marketing and media strategy
- Secured high-profile coverage by local, national and international media on television, in print media (newspapers and magazines) and on radio
- Represented the organisation in interviews and at events
- Secured TEDx speaking event and delivered a talk further promoting the supportive community ethos of the organisation
- Managed handover of project to the World Economic Forum's Perth Global Shapers Hub

Perth SOUP

Co-Founder & Vice-Chairperson

Qualified to practice Australian Migration Law as a Registered Migration Agent in 2014. Provided low cost and pro bono support to refugees, humanitarian arrivals and other vulnerable or low income migrants in Australia. Though Registered Migration Agent status lapsed in 2015 (due to overseas move) as of 2018 several refugee protection, humanitarian and family cases are ongoing in a pro bono capacity.

Registered Migration Agent

(Formerly known as CASE for Refugees)

Highlights:
- Coordinated fundraising and communications efforts, including content creation, print publications and social media account management
- Managed media relations
- Worked with the Board media and advocacy subcommittee to write an advocacy charter in line with the Strategic Plan 2014 - 2016
- Performed administrative duties in a fast-paced, high-pressure office environment.
- Assisted asylum seekers and refugees with client registration and referrals 
- Answered public queries
- Assisted Registered Migration Agents and solicitors
- Compiled case studies on torture and trauma for submission to the United Nations Office of Human Rights, for the UNVFVT

The Humanitarian Group

Executive Assistant To Chief Executive Officer

Freelance

Freelance Copywriter and Editor

Domasi Mission Secondary School

Math and Physical Science Teacher

Highlights:
- Provided pro-bono support to refugee community groups in Western Australia, in order to utilise digital communications to mobilise and organise advocacy efforts
- Registered and managed web hosting and domains
- Installed and managed databases
- Installed and managed Content Management Systems such as Wordpress, Drupal and Joomla 
- Edited and created graphics using Adobe Creative Suite
- Coded using xHTML, HTML and CSS, some Java
- Integrated websites with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
- Implemented email marketing programs

Keeya-Lee Ayre