Internal Communications
The Internal Communications team delivers key information to colleagues across our campuses, to keep everyone aware, engaged, and up-to-date with all the latest news and information. Our communication channels include the Weekly Bulletin, talks from our senior team and Rumourbuster. We also maintain a network of key contacts in every division and faculty to ensure consistency and uniformity of message.
Work with us
We also act in an advisory role for colleagues across our University, helping managers to develop their own communication strategies for projects. If you would like us to advise and work with you on a communications strategy, please contact the team [email protected]
We have also developed toolkits to help with communications planning - these include a comms plan template, a summarised version for smaller projects, comms planning guidance and a 'Know your audience' document with key contacts and channels across the University. These are available on the right of this page. We also have useful tips on how to Write for Weekly Bulletin.
Our channels
- The Weekly Bulletin is an e-newsletter issued to all colleagues every Monday with up-to-date on news, training and events as well as team and project successes.
- Talks from the senior team, including our Vice-Chancellor take place throughout the academic year and are open to all colleagues. Recordings of past talks are available here
- Rumourbuster is an online, anonymous Q&A platform. It provides an opportunity to address any rumours that you have heard at the University and find out the facts.
Who we are
We are a team of comms specialists that work on projects across our University as well as looking after areas including alumni relations, strategic development and capital strategy projects. The team is led by the Head of Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Lindsay Aitken.
Head of Internal Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Before joining the University of Exeter in September 2014, I held a number of senior communications roles at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, most latterly as their Head of Communications. During my time at Musgrove, which spanned 10 years, I was responsible for internal communications, stakeholder relations, media relations, corporate publications, digital communications and crisis communications.
Before starting a career in communications, I worked as an event manager delivering a range of high profile events for third sector clients, and, prior to all of this, spent three enjoyable years at the University of Sheffield where I studied Politics.
I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and in 2012 completed the CIPR diploma with distinction. My passion lies in internal communication and engagement and my final research project explored the quality of the relationship organisations have with their employees.
Outside of work, I love nothing more than spending time with my husband and our two children.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01392 72 5746
Communications Manager
My role within the Internal Communications team is varied and I work across all types of digital and traditional communication channels covering all our campuses. My projects range from long term strategic campaigns including the Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture Committee and Our Culture Conversations, to key University events such as the Professional Services Recognition Awards and our Community Day. I have previously led communications for COVID-19 and infectious disease messaging, and I lead on crisis communications and training within the team. I am also currently have oversight of faculty communications and work with the Faculty Communications Manager to support the delivery and continuous review of these.
I graduated with a BA Hons from the University of Exeter in Sociology and Media, and went on to work in a variety of roles within Devon and Cornwall Police over a period of ten years. This included PR and events management, operational communications, emergency planning, risk management, the co-ordination of multi-agency stakeholder groups, planning, and strategic business change.
Outside of work I enjoy running, spending time with my daughter and sampling the delights of Exeter day and nightlife with friends and family.
Email: [email protected]
Communications Manager (part time Mon – Weds)
My role includes corporate communications and project communications such as our structures, governance, and pensions and other HR issues. I also contribute to our internal channels such as Weekly Bulletin and write for the web. I have worked at the University since 2005, joining as the inaugural Press Officer for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences before moving into an internally focused role.
Prior to coming to Exeter I was a Press Officer at the University of Birmingham; I graduated from there with a BSocSci Political Science and Sociology. I have worked in communications roles at the Arts Council, and in tourism and events. I gained a distinction in the CIPR certificate in Internal Communications and helped launch our use of the internal communications platform, Poppulo.
I work part-time, generally from Monday to Wednesday each week, and outside of work I enjoy exploring the South West and Spain in our camper van.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01392 72 5770
Communications Manager
My role within the Internal Communications team is extremely diverse and involves strategic planning, through to the delivery of a wide range of communications across a variety of channels.
Most recently I have focussed on the development of our new student residences at East Park - a five year project which included liaising with the local community and internal stakeholders, as well as complaint management and sharing progress on the build. In October 2021 I helped to launch Strategy 2030, working with colleagues across the University to showcase our plans for the next ten years via a variety of channels both internal and external, traditional and digital.
I graduated from the University of Swansea with a BA Hons in Media Studies, after moving back to the South West I joined the University of Exeter’s Graduate Trainee Manager scheme in 2007. Following this I joined the conference and events team within the University as a Marketing Co-coordinator, before progressing to managing a small team. Our work involved presenting the University at national exhibitions, and creating a diverse range of marketing campaigns to attract external visitors to the University in order to generate revenue. In 2010 I became the Communication Manager for Corporate Services supporting a number of departments across the University from Sport to Finance in their communication and web-based activities before becoming the Communication Manager for Campus Services, and joining the central communications and marketing team in 2015.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01392 72 6374
Faculty Communications Manager
My role within the Internal Communications team is to provide support, training and guidance to both faculties and departments with their staff comms. I help to increase staff engagement, provide assistance in creating effective communications plans and to ensure that corporate messages are being delivered in the right way and to stop unneccessary repetition.
I’m a very open person and I really want people to be open and honest with me, so if you have ideas or see things that could be improved then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
I have been at the University since 2013 and my role prior to this was working as a Web Officer in the Digital Team which enabled me to support departmental websites with their online presence, including student recruitment, research, press and public relations, alumni relations and outreach activities.
Outside of work I enjoy performing, swimming, walking the South West Coast Path and venturing to the cinema/theatre.
Email: [email protected]
Communications Manager (Capital Strategy)
In my role I lead on communications to support major capital projects at the University of Exeter, such as new student residences, new research buildings and commercial developments. I am responsible for creating and managing detailed communications plans for the projects to ensure key stakeholders are informed about the new facilities being created and any potential disruption that may occur during the construction period. I work closely with the Capital Project Managers and the Mitigation Manager to minimise disruption where we can, manage concerns and complaints and protect the reputation of the University.
I also work closely with the Campus Infrastructure and Operational Support Service (CIOSS) Executive Team to plan and manage internal communications and engagement with this large and diverse service area.
I graduated with a BA Hons in Geography from the University of Exeter and I have since gained a CIPR Diploma in Marketing from Yeovil College. Prior to joining the University in 2019 I worked in communications roles at Somerset County Council for ten years. During my time at Somerset County Council I led on campaigns, including a Fostering and Adoption recruitment campaign and a major change programme for Adult Social Care Services. As well as being responsible for managing PR, social media, web developments, events, branding, internal engagement activity, supporting multi-agency partnership projects and crisis communications.
I currently work part time (Tuesday to Thursday). Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my husband and two young sons, exploring Devon on foot and by bike and catching up with friends in my local town of Crediton.
Email: [email protected]
Communications Manager
I joined the University in Autumn 2019 and work as Communications Manager part-time supporting major projects.
Prior to that I’ve worked in various communications, employee engagement and change roles in large organisations, including Royal Mail, Department for Work and Pensions, Sodexo, University of Warwick and Sainsbury’s. I’m accredited by the CIPR and have also worked as a freelance.
I live on a hill on the East Devon/Dorset border and enjoy walking the South West Coast path, playing tennis, photography, rugby, and travelling when I get the opportunity!
Email: [email protected]
Communications Officer
My main role within the Internal Communications team involves being an editor for the Weekly Bulletin, our colleague newsletter. This involves writing, editing and proofing the weekly newsletter and working closely with colleagues on our different campuses. I also work on ad hoc communication projects within Professional Services whilst also being the lead Communications Officer for COVID-19 and public health messaging for colleagues, students and the wider University community. This can be a fast-paced and ever-evolving area of work and I produce a wide range of media and communications to keep our colleagues and students up to date on the latest Government guidance and University policy changes. This includes managing our dedicated website, creating and implementing eye catching visuals for display across our campuses, video development, social medial outputs and various ad hoc requests. I am also the lead contact for our Rumourbuster channel, which allows colleagues to email any rumours they may have whilst remaining anonymous.
I have a BA (hons) in Humanities, majoring in Media and Creative Writing and have worked at the University for over 13 years.
Email: [email protected]
Communications Officer
I am a Communications Officer within the Internal Communications team. I support on communications to support Capital Projects at the University, particularly new student residences. I work alongside the Communications Manager to implement the communications plans and to keep key stakeholders informed. This is done through a variety of ways including weekly bulletin, email, face-to-face and department specific communication channels.
I graduated with a BA Hons in Media Communications and have since undertaken further online courses to enhance my skills and to ensure my knowledge stays up to date. I have worked at the University for 4+ years and in my previous role I was a Design and Marketing Co-ordinator within the Commercial Marketing team.
I have 3 children and outside of work I enjoy taking part in various activities with my family.
Email: [email protected]
Communications Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Communications Manager
Lucy joins the team from Millfield School in Somerset where she was the Communications and Events Manager for the alumni community. She has a background in working within the education sector having also previously worked at Blundells School and Sidmouth International School in Devon doing similar roles. Her experience includes marketing, communications, social media, events management, and relationship building with a wide range of audiences. Lucy graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2018 with a BSc degree in Events Management.
Email: [email protected]
Communications Officer
Megan works on alumni communications alongside the Communications Manager. Her portfolio includes various communications aspects such as news stories, the annual magazine, website and she manages our alumni social media channels.
Prior to this role Megan as a Communications Assistant split between internal communications and alumni communications, and before that worked in the College of Humanities as an Employability and Alumni Assistant, planning and delivering a range of events as part of the Employability programme, and communicating with students.
Communications Assistant
Laura is an Alumni Communications Assistant and works closely with the Alumni Communications Manager and the Alumni Communications Officer to contact all our alumnae.
As a graduate of the University of Exeter herself (quite a while ago now!), Laura has been part of the alumni community for a number of years. She comes to the role from a freelance copywriting background where she focused on content for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) purposes, as well as organic social media copy.
As a new member of the team in January 2023, Laura is excited to be able to deliver communications to our alumni, alongside the staff team.
Email: [email protected]