HARLEEN SACHDEVA

+91 99999 12015

harsach@hotmail.com

Educational Qualifications:

• M.A. (Mass Communications)

• Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism
• B.Com (Honours in Business Management)
• Pursuing Post Graduate Diploma in International Business

Work Experience: 7 years of overall experience; 5 years in communications, branding,

marketing, public relations and journalism.

Jan 2007 – ongoing

Engaged as Press and Communications Adviser to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), India
based at the British High Commission in New Delhi. UKTI is the UK Government's
international business development organisation, supporting businesses seeking to establish
in the UK and helping UK companies grow internationally. More information at:
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk

Roles and Responsibilities:

•To develop and lead the Media and Communications Strategy for UKTI in India.
• To report to Director, press & communications, India, UK government and UKTI’s chief
press officer in London.
•To create and manage India-UK Key Messages, Bilateral Trade & Investment Statistics and
Core Script, Good News Stories, Sector Briefing Sheets, and messaging.
•To contribute proactively to the Marketing Strategy for India teams, including support for
teams on events and marketing collateral.
•To initiate and manage print articles & TV interviews about UK innovation and expertise
across UKTI's priority sectors.
• To react to press inquiries, arrange interviews, article placement where required.
•Develop close networks and have regular interaction with Indian business media.
•Developing and managing PR/Media Strategy of visiting Ministers and other VIPs, VVIPSs.
•To lead on PR and media handling of high profile UKTI events and to contribute to the
branding and event management of those events.
•To be the central point of contact for information on UK-India business and UK Economy
for Business Media - Indian and British, UKTI’s Press Office and the Department for
Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform’s (DBERR) Press Office in London.
• To evaluate publicity achieved - Qualitative - positive/negative, key Messages used,
quotes used, with or without pictures.

Additional Responsibilities:
Jan’ 07 till Jun’ 08
Budget Manager, Press and Communications Dept, British High Commission

Budget Management: Responsible for strategically planning, projecting, analysing and

monitoring departmental budget and various other project budgets. Managed department’s
annual budget of £ 181,693 (2007-08) and other project budgets worth £ 230,000 (approx.). I
also line managed a team of two office administration staff.

Internal Communications: Responsible for running the internal communications initiatives

required for IiP accreditation and in the longer run lead for “Insight” newsletter. Was the
editor of the internal newsletter “Insight”

Lead Press Officer: Lead press officer for education sector. Worked closely with the British
Council, UK Education, UK visas on various public diplomacy events, visits and press
liaison. Organising events for Chevening with British Council.

Office Management: Liaison with various suppliers (printers, press services, media
evaluation agencies, producers and designers of promotional gifts etc.)

Crisis Management: Department’s lead on crisis management. Preparing emergency trees,

equipment management, etc.

July 2002 to April 2004

HINDUSTAN TIMES, Mohali (Punjab) as Editorial Co-ordinator (Supplements)

Job Profile:

Newspaper Making: Reporting and writing for HT Chandigarh Live and HT City and leading
on the editorial team for a four paged weekly supplement on Education for which I undertook
the following responsibilities:

• Generating story ideas, research and writing.

• Responsible for all special issues.
• Briefing other team members and designers.
• Research, reporting and writing.
• Page layout, proofing.
• Co-ordinating with schools for coverage.
• Co-ordinating with feature-services, agencies etc.
• Interviewing heads of Educational Institutions.

ADDITONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Worked for the Visa and Consular section of the British High Commission for 2 years (2004-
06) where I dealt with the complicated visa, passport and nationality cases.

• Responsible for investigating and preparing reports to help entry clearance staff take
decisions on visa applications. I also investigated and interviewed first passport
applications and undertook field trips for investigating complicated cases for visas
and passports.
 • Responsible for compiling and maintaining consular section statistics including
preparing annual statistical returns and fee returns.
• I was the internal communications champion for the department.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

• Anchored all HT annual mega events in Chandigarh, viz. Debates, Talks, Quiz and
Seminars.
• Worked as a RJ with ‘Radio Kaanlagake’, a private radio company, which does,
sponsored shows for AIR, Chandigarh.
• Represented Panjab University, Chandigarh at the Inter varsity National Seminar held by
the Association of Commonwealth Nations at Mysore University.
• Declared the ‘Best Orator’ at Degree College for three years consecutively.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Date of Birth : 29th June, 1980

Sex : Female
Marital Status : Married
Contact address : AM 604, Amrapali Village, Gyan Khand – 2, Indirapuram, near
NOIDA, Postal Code: 201010, U.P., INDIA.
Languages known : English, Hindi and Punjabi.
Proficiency in : English
General interests : Interacting with people, travelling, surfing net, blogging and
listening music.

REFERENCES: Available on request.

(Harleen Sachdeva)