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Location

Medical Sciences Divisional Office
University of Oxford
Level 3, John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford OX3 9DU

Alison Brindle

MSc Sci Comm, MCIPR, CIPR Accredited PR Practitioner


Head of Communications

I am responsible for strategic oversight at divisional level for all matters relating to communications, reputation and stakeholder management. I report to the Divisional Registrar and work closely with the Head of Division, senior divisional office staff and departmental administrative and communications staff, and take a leadership role in defining, developing and implementing communication processes and strategy that strengthens information sharing across the Division and raises awareness of the goals and achievements of the Division. I represent the Division and its interest in University-level groups and with external partners/collaborators and provide oversight and mentoring support to communications officers (or related staff) within the Division. I also act as communications lead in crisis management situations.

I am responsible for developing and implementing new internal communication channels and streamlining existing communications activity across the Medical Sciences Division. I produce the internal monthly staff e-newsletter, OxfordMedSci News, and manage such external communication channels as the Division’s website and Twitter account, @OxfordMedSci.

On behalf of divisional and departmental communication and public engagement staff, I oversee the MSD Communications and Public Engagement Network, its associated mailing list and SharePoint site. The network provides members the opportunity to share information and address issues specific to Medical Sciences.

I represent the Division on the Joint Communications Committee (between the University and Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), and the Senior Managers Internal Communications Group, and am a member of the Committee on Library Provision and Strategy (CLiPS), and the Haiku Oversight Committee.

Before coming to Oxford in January 2013, I was UCL Neuroscience Domain’s Communications and Events Officer, responsible for driving and enhancing the domain's overall internal and external communication and engagement strategy and project managing all major UCL Neuroscience events. I also worked with the visitor services and events teams at the Wellcome Collection for a year after completing an MSc in Science Communication at Imperial College in 2007.  Before that, I spent ten years working primarily in the education and research sectors in the United States and Japan, most recently working as the Project Manager for a National Institute of Health funded neurocognitive study at Southern Illinois University. 

I can help you with

  • Promoting your research, news, seminars and events
  • Writing communications plans and strategy (including crisis communication plans)
  • Liaising with central, departmental and Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust communication teams
  • Advising, planning and training on internal and external communication projects and issues
  • Providing training and advice for communicating with the media and engaging with the public
  • Recruitment and selection of staff engaged in communications and outreach
  • Inductions for new communication staff