I am continuously passionate about what strategic, evidence-based communications and advocacy can achieve. I am a scientist with a career that has included global communications leadership in global public health, vaccines & medicines, corporate and international development. I have led communications for WHO, Nestlé, GSK and Gavi, shaping policy, crisis response, and donor communications across multiple continents.…

Sarah Sheppard

I am continuously passionate about what strategic, evidence-based communications and advocacy can achieve. I am a scientist with a career that has included global communications leadership in global public health, vaccines & medicines, corporate and international development. I have led communications for WHO, Nestlé, GSK and Gavi, shaping policy, crisis response, and donor communications across multiple continents.…

Available to hire

I am continuously passionate about what strategic, evidence-based communications and advocacy can achieve. I am a scientist with a career that has included global communications leadership in global public health, vaccines & medicines, corporate and international development.

I have led communications for WHO, Nestlé, GSK and Gavi, shaping policy, crisis response, and donor communications across multiple continents.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

English
Fluent
French
Advanced

Work Experience

Senior Communications Consultant at World Health Organization
September 1, 2017 - Present
World Health Organization Communications Lead for Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights; Access to Medicines, Medicines & Health Product regulation, safety and supply; Reproductive Health & Rights, Maternal & Child Health; Mental Health; crisis/issue management and donor communications; led ACT-Accelerator communications, including resource mobilization and stakeholder engagement; built networks across partner agencies and governments; developed branding and narrative strategies.
Head of Global Communications, AVP Global Research & Development at Nestlé
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2017
Led Nestlé Research branding and communications; built a global R&D communications strategy; developed partnerships (e.g., Solar Impulse); managed internal/external communications across nutrition, sustainability and packaging; established Nestlé Research branding and an internal communications framework.
Head of Communications, Global Vaccines (Product, Corporate & Internal leadership) at GSK Vaccines
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2013
Led global vaccine product and corporate communications; internal leadership communications; crisis and issues management; developed campaigns around vaccines portfolio and R&D priorities; managed cross-functional teams and stakeholder relationships.
Associate Director, International Business, Communications at Axon Communications
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2007
Health communications and patient advocacy; led strategic communications programs, media relations and campaign development for health clients.
Diabetes Global Communications Director, Paris at Sanofi - Aventis Group
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2006
Global product and patient advocacy communications for diabetes; corporate communications; program leadership across diabetes portfolio.
Commercial Planning Manager/Consumer Relations Manager at Wyeth
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2003
Commercial planning and consumer health communications.
Corporate Affairs Manager, Australia & New Zealand; Clinical Research Manager at Pfizer
January 1, 1992 - December 31, 2002
Corporate affairs; pharmaceutical communications and clinical research communications.

Education

Master’s Degree in Communication at University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
January 11, 2030 - January 22, 2026
BSc (Hons) Pharmacology at Sunderland University, U.K.
January 11, 2030 - January 22, 2026

Qualifications

Data Visualization Masterclass
January 1, 2020 - January 22, 2026
Nestlé Leadership Training: David Marquet
January 1, 2016 - January 22, 2026
GSK Internal Coach & Mentor Training
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2013
Executive Coach for Leadership Development
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2013
Leadership Training 'Leading Delivery'
January 1, 2012 - January 22, 2026

Industry Experience

Healthcare, Life Sciences, Professional Services, Government, Media & Entertainment
    paper Examples of work experience

    COVID-19 website content- multiple documents and media content.

    Built a communications strategy around technology transfer for the Health Technology Access Pool
    (previously COVID19 Technology Access Pool).

    Led WHO’s Access to Morphine global campaign highlighting the this issue through the eyes of
    multiple stakeholders in low-middle-income countries.

    Gavi CEO presentation example: https://www.twine.net/signin

    Gavi annual report: https://www.twine.net/signin

    Led WHO proactive communications and was spokesperson for a major children’s medicine
    contamination issue involving regulatory agencies and Governments globally. Top-tier media
    interviews over a 15-month period culminated in a policy shift in the country of dominant
    manufacture.

    Launched multiple WHO guidelines and reports including unintended pregnancy and abortion
    comms.

    Lobbied for the publication of the first WHO Menopause assets and proactive WHO digital campaign
    for greater awareness.

    Launched WHO’s public policy on Work and Mental Health (media) plus the World Mental Health
    Report and World Mental Health Day through strong communications and stakeholder activation.

    Led campaigns for World Blood Donor Day and a pivotal awareness campaign for Antimicrobial
    Resistance drawing on the experience of AMR survivors.

    Consistent, strong & empathic leadership of international issues/crises. Examples - Rotarix vaccine
    contamination and pneumococcal vaccine ethics in clinical trial issues.

    Leadership of Nestlé communications for multiple R&D priorities and public health initiatives plus
    their nutrition partnership with Solar Impulse.