Ms. Veena Gokhale

1658 rue Cartier, Montréal, QC, H2K 4E2, Canada
E-mail: veenago@gmail.com  skype: veenago Ph: 514-667-4940
 http://www.veenago.com

With a background in print journalism from India, a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University, Canada, communications and project management experience with international development and environment organizations, and a recently published short story collection, I am interested in projects that broadly encompass “communication for social change.” 
Skills Overview
Communications 
•	Provide communication support to management and staff
•	Develop, execute, evaluate comprehensive communication campaigns and targeted events 
•	Craft marketing tools: brochures, flyers, fact sheets, press releases, fundraising letters, etc, 
•	Edit and produce print media such as newsletters and annual reports; improve existing publications, work with suppliers including, photographers, graphic artists, designers, printers
•	Write, edit, publish articles; create and publish popular booklets, blogs, fiction and poetry
•	Write and maintain site content, compile and distribute electronic newsletters and communiqués 
•	Familiarity with word and power point, and using Facebook as a promotion tool
•	Conduct media outreach; serve as media spokesperson, public speaker and workshop facilitator
•	Engage and strengthen relations with partners, members, donors, government and other stakeholders
•	Communicate effectively in cross-cultural environments 
Project development and management 
•	Manage programs, administer funds, evaluate and report 
•	Conceptualize new projects, write proposals, grow projects and communicate results
•	Supervise consultants, work with volunteers, collaborate in team settings; work with overseas colleagues
•	Identify stakeholders and develop and maintain relationships
•	Conduct community outreach, organize meetings and events, follow-up
•	Execute multiple tasks, plan, prioritize and meet deadlines
Work Experience
Editor, writer, researcher, teacher, Montréal 2009 to present
Provided writing, editing, research services for diverse clients including CUSO International, Policy Research International, ETC Group, Systemway Consulting Inc., Transportation Research Institute, Dungdkar, Tibetan Arts Centre of Montreal, as well as individual professionals. 
Teaching: Traveling Faculty, Urban Politics and Development, Cities in the 21st Century, a comparative, undergraduate, international, Urban Studies Program, 4-month, full-time, 2010. http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/ssa_cta.cfm
Developed and delivered workshops entitled “Using Stories for Social Change” at Women’s World 2011 (Ottawa), and Connecting for Change, Marion Institute (USA), 2011. 

Fiction: Guernica Editions released my short story collection, Bombay Wali and other stories, in Spring 2013. Since then I have executed a comprehensive promotional campaign and done over a dozen public readings in diverse locales. The book is now in its second edition.

In 2011 I received a grant from Vivacité Montreal, Conseil des arts et des letters du Quebec to write a novel, which I am presently marketing. Set against the backdrop of international development and land issues, it is a literary work inspired by the idea of using stories for social change.  

Freelance journalism: Articles and blogging for Rover, a Montreal online arts magazine; articles and podcasts for Infochange, news and analysis on social justice and development issues in India; interviews for Montreal Serai, a webzine focused on arts, culture, and politics; and articles and creative non fiction for the Maple Tree Literary Supplement. 

Full time French language study - 2008-2009, continuing part-time in 2010.
Ontario Coordinator, Waste Reduction Week (WRW), Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO), 
Toronto, 6-month, full-time contract, 2007 http://www.rco.on.ca http://www.wrwcanada.com
•	Developed, implemented, evaluated and reported on a comprehensive outreach and communications plan for Waste Reduction Week Ontario, 2007. 
•	Wrote promotional materials, including website content; organized events, outreached media and appeared on a TV panel 
•	Increased participation by 165 per cent and expanded media coverage. 
Manager & Technical Advisor, Information Access, HakiElimu, Dar-es-Salaam, 2005-2007 http://www.hakielimu.org
As Manager, supervised staff to fulfill the print production and national distribution mandate of the Information Access Unit, which also maintained the organizational website and a resource centre. Contributed to management and strategic vision as a member of the management team. As Technical Advisor:
•	Edited and coordinated the production of popular publications and an annual report; organized book launches; worked with designers and printers
•	Developed tools to enhance publication quality like a photo bank, a style guide and evaluation questionnaires 
•	Analyzed problems with the printing and distribution process and made recommendations 
•	Wrote scripts and coordinated production of illustrated storybooks with progressive messages
•	Wrote op-eds for ‘Hard Questions,’ a column in a local newspaper 
•	Wrote a media guide for Friends of Education – a citizen network nurtured by HakiElimu 
•	Maintained website content, critiqued existing site and wrote a concept paper for a new one 
Program Manager, India and Regional Programs, South Asia Partnership (SAP) Canada, Ottawa, 2001-2004 http://www.sapcanada.org
Canadian Manager for the South Asia Regional People and Policy Program (SARPPP), funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); implemented in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, at the regional South Asian level and in Canada. Key goals were enhanced participation of women in local government; research, education, advocacy and regional cooperation on small arms proliferation, influencing the South Asian Agency for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and organizational development.
•	Developed a $ 2,000,000, three-year Program Implementation Plan working with program partners, within a rigorous Results Based Management framework, as used by CIDA 
•	Implemented and reported on the program, working with program staff in six offices
•	Liaised with CIDA and CIDA Monitors, adapted the program plan to changing needs
Developed and implemented the South Asia-Canada Linkage Program - a component of SARPPP. The primary goal was promoting linkages between Canadian and Indian civil society organizations to enhance knowledge and capacity on women's participation in local government.
•	Researched and outreached appropriate Indian and Canadian institutions, secured an Indian CSO partner, organized meetings and events in India and Canada
•	Wrote promotional material including website content, reports and media releases
•	Organized exposure visits for Indian and Canadian activists, academics and municipal councilors 
•	Developed and delivered ‘Women reviving democracy’ - a seven-city, Canadian public engagement tour to share lessons learnt from the linkages program
•	Fundraised for and organized a conference on women’s empowerment within the context of local government in India. Funder: International Development Research Centre, CN$ 30 000  
Program Officer, Public Affairs, Canadian Council for International Cooperation, Ottawa, 2000. http://www.ccic.ca
•	Coordinated media and membership liaison; media monitoring and response
•	Edited newsletter ‘Au Courant’ and e-mail news bulletin, ‘Flash’
•	Wrote content for the ‘in common’ website (a campaign to eliminate global poverty)
•	Worked on campaigns promoting fair trade coffee and corporate social responsibility
Coordinator, Outreach and Communications, FarmFolk/CityFolk, Vancouver, 1998-1999. http://www.ffcf.ca
•	Provided communications support to management and staff 
•	Coordinated campaigns and promoted events 
•	Developed communications tools like a brochure and fundraising letters
•	Managing Editor and occasional writer for the quarterly newsletter 
•	Wrote successful funding proposals for two innovative, food security projects for immigrant communities and implemented them. Grew the projects and procured funding from new sources for extensions. Total money raised $60,000 
•	Wrote a successful proposal to hire a diversity consultant ($5000)
Project Manager, International Development Education Resource Association (IDERA) Vancouver, (part-time contract) 1999.
Developed a project to raise socio-cultural awareness through the use of IDERA’s film library
Curriculum Researcher, Community Bicycle Network, Toronto, 4-month full-time, 1995-1996.
•	Wrote a proposal and secured funding for this project from Human Resources Canada
•	Co-researched and wrote a report on how sustainable transportation as a theme was taught in Toronto schools; compiled teaching resources and made recommendations for improvement
•	Conducted school workshops on sustainable transportation for Earth Day. 
Researcher-Writer, Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Nehru Foundation for Development, Ahemdabad, 3 month, full-time contract, 1991-1992.
Researcher-coordinator, ABC Television (USA) Prime Time, Bombay, 2-month contract, 1991. 
Conducted research and interviews for a program on the kidney-sale racket in India
Feature Writer, The Independent, a national daily, Bombay, 1990-1991.
Feature Writer, Arts Page Editor, Mid-day, a daily tabloid, Bombay, 1988 - 1990. 
Writer/Sub-Editor, The Indian Post, a national daily, Bombay, 1987 - 1988. Coordinated print production by working with illustrators, photographers, freelance writers, designers and printers.
Assistant Editor, Adworld, Bombay, 1985 - 1986. Coordinated print production by working with suppliers, illustrators, photographers, freelance writers, designers and printers.
Published articles on a range of issues in leading Indian publications.
Related Experience
Writer for Ontario Women's Health Network Newsletter 2000-2002.
Researcher for a special supplement on `Women and economic development,' which appeared in Macleans and was produced by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada. December 1999. 
Feature-Writer, Women's Feature Service, 1997-1998 and 2006 http://www.wfsnews.org/
Editor, Cross Cultural Communication Centre Newsletter, Toronto, 1993-1996.
Select Publications 
o	The Indian Media's Response to Global Warming’, News Media in a Shrinking World, Encounter 1990, University of Western Ontario, Graduate School of Journalism, Canada.
o	India's Narmada Valley Hydro Project’, Ecodecision, 1991, Canada.
o	Eating on the run, an informal sector research study’, IDRC Reports (International Development Research Centre), July 1992, Canada.
Languages
Excellent English, functional French, spoken Urdu, fluency in Hindi and Marathi. Test de français international score - 655, Basic Working Proficiency in French. Rating: “Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements.” (I can provide more details.)
Education & Awards
E-marketing Certificate Course, Canadian Marketing Association, Fall 2010. Passed with Distinction.
Français langue seconde, one-year, full-time program offered by Commission scolaire de Montréal, 2008. Français Écrit, level 1 and 2, CSDM, 2009.
Ph.D. course work, School of Communication, Simon Fraser University, Canada, 1997-1999
Masters in Environmental Studies, York University, Canada, 1995 
Diploma, Social Communications Media, Sophia Polytechnic, Bombay, India, 1983. First Class.
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Bombay, 1982. Graduated with a First Class. 
Graduate Fellowship, Simon Fraser University, 1999
Writers Reserve Program, Ontario Arts Council Grant, 1996
International Development Scholarship, the Aga Khan Foundation, Canada, 1992-95.
Distinguished Visiting Journalist, Graduate School of Journalism, University of Western Ontario, Canada, 1990.
Received three academic scholarships during the Bachelors.
References available on request. Please visit www.veenago.com for more details.