‘East Belfast is in my DNA’: How a Northern Ireland woman took a leap of faith from accountancy to a globally connected communications business

I’m a communications professional with almost 30 years’ experience across marketing, public relations and event management, but my career didn’t begin where you might expect.

I started out as a trainee accountant and helped establish Philip Johnston and Company Estate Agency. While the financial grounding was invaluable, I quickly realised my strengths lay elsewhere – in strategy, storytelling and building relationships.

That instinct led me into marketing and public relations at AV Browne, then Northern Ireland’s oldest established advertising agency. From there, I went on to hold senior roles both agency-side and in-house, including an in-house press officer position at broadcaster UTV. Each role added another layer to my understanding of how organisations communicate, protect and grow their reputation.

One of the most formative chapters of my career was at Life Communications, where I was junior partner and responsible for the communications associated with introducing Walkers Crisps into Ireland. It was a complex, fast-paced challenge that demanded clarity of message, stakeholder engagement and measurable outcomes – principles that continue to shape my work today.

In 2009, I felt it was time to take a leap of faith. I founded NB Chartered Communications to offer something different: a personal, strategic approach to integrated marketing communications for small, medium and large organisations, without agency overheads. I wanted to champion best-practice ethics, evidence-based decision-making and communications that deliver impact at board level. Alongside consultancy, I also mentor business owners and marketing teams through periods of transformation and growth.

What makes NB Chartered Communications different is depth of experience, Chartered status and personal availability. I’m proud to be the only Independent Chartered Marketer and Chartered Public Relations Practitioner in Northern Ireland who is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

For my clients, that means joined-up thinking grounded in professional standards, SMART objectives and outcomes that align directly with business goals. And yes – I’m personally available 24/7, because reputation doesn’t work office hours.

My days are varied, which is exactly how I like it. Whilst I’m far more comfortable making the headlines for my clients rather than being the headline myself, my business is all about developing relationships and creating proactive opportunities. A typical day might begin with a meeting with the Ireland Correspondent of BBC News to explore collaborative programme or feature ideas. By mid-morning, I could be managing a client crisis. By mid-afternoon, I might be planning strategy sessions, shaping messages for a media release to be published exclusively in the News Letter, or preparing for an evening launch event.

In between, there could be mentoring sessions with senior leaders, reviewing performance data, contributing to professional bodies as a member of the CIPR Independent Practitioner Network, and – like every business owner – managing finance, partnerships and continuous professional development.

The biggest highs in my journey have always been about my clients. Seeing them achieve clarity and confidence in their communications, knowing that strategies we’ve developed together have directly influenced growth, reputation or resilience, and witnessing them receive well-deserved recognition for their contribution to the economy and their industry. Being recognised personally through Chartered and Fellowship status has also been a significant professional milestone.

The lows? Never fully switching off. Client obligations, social intelligence monitoring and keeping track of global market trends are constant companions. But that’s also the joy – and privilege – of being self-employed.

What I’m most proud of is building a business grounded in integrity, professionalism and results, and representing the highest standards of marketing and public relations in Northern Ireland while supporting the next generation through mentoring. If I could do it all again, I’d trust my experience sooner, say no more often and stay relentlessly focused on the right clients, the right work and the right outcomes.

As 2025 came to a close, I was proud to see my client Lough Neagh Partnership receive a well-deserved award from CIPR Northern Ireland. Looking ahead, East Belfast – where I live and love – remains central to my work. I proudly sit on the board of East Belfast Enterprise and I have supported the Eastside Awards since their inception. This year marked their 10th anniversary, hosted in Titanic Belfast last week. It’s a heart-warming celebration of everything good about the east of the city.

With an office in Las Vegas, I’m also excited to develop the business further on the west coast of the USA this year. The journey continues – locally rooted and globally connected.