Curriculum Vitae
Melanie Graham Lieutenant (Navy)
graham@mywrdwrx.com
www.mywrdwrx.com
SCOPE OF EXPERIENCE:
. Naval Officer in the Canadian Forces - Qualified as a Public Affairs Officer
. Organizer, Coordinator and Facilitator
. Communicator with a background in writing, media, administration, sales, marketing and management
small business to corporate,
. Situation analyst, creative problem solver
Experiences and Accomplishments: (besides seeing my three kids become happy, healthy, successful adults . . .)
2010 – Public Affairs Officer 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group – made up of 7 distinct military units based in Edmonton Alberta, and Brandon Manitoba. Responsible for internal and external messaging and media relations for the activities of over 4000 soldiers.
2009 - Public Affairs Officer Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) and Task Force Vancouver – part of the Canadian Forces security team for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics
2008 - United Way Loaned Representative for Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt
2004 - Shore Liaison Officer for the Victoria B.C. visit of the US Aircraft Carrier USS Stennis
2004 - Assistant volunteer kayak guide for Paddle to a Cure, a national breast cancer survivor kayak trip in the Gulf Islands.
2003 - 2005 - Base Public Affairs Dockyard Tour Program Officer, with a staff of two, and as a periodic writer/researcher (including speech writing for senior officers) for the Base Public Affairs Office and the base newspaper, the LOOKOUT.
2003 - Presented a defence paper on the relevance, impact and implications of CAN/US Naval Interoperability and Integration on national and global security at an International Seapower Conference at Dalhousie University.
2002 - Victoria Corporate Games - participated as a member of the CFB Esquimalt volunteer Obstacle Course Team.
2002 - served and trained aboard the Canadian Navy sail trainer HMCS Oriole, a 102' Marconi rigged ketch, during multiple community day sails, MARS training sessions and the 2002 Swiftsure Race.
2002 - Naval Officer with the Regular Canadian Forces
2002 - Volunteer kayak instructor with the Pacific Fleet Kayak Club.
2000 - 2002 - Officer with HMCS MALAHAT, Victoria Unit of the Canadian Naval Reserve
2000 - 2001 - Coordinator Ladysmith Volunteer Program - Ladysmith Resources Centre, 721 First Avenue, Ladysmith, BC.
2000 - Coordinator for the environmental non-profit Georgia Strait Alliance (Nanaimo, BC) 10th Anniversary event.
2000 - Co-ordinator for the Vancouver Island Paddlefest 2000 in Ladysmith BC. This involved event planning and co-ordination, marketing, media, graphics, data entry, revenue tracking and correspondence.
1999 - 2002 Founder of the Ladysmith Paddlers Club and volunteer kayak day guide.
1998 - 2000 - UCS and Hay Plan writing for the Federal government through a variety of Ottawa and BC based consulting firms, in particular Coopers in Ottawa, and Barbara Sundquist Consulting In Nanoose BC.
1997 - Worked with the Prospectus Group in Ottawa to develop Business North America, an online Government Contract Procurement resource that included bid-
matching, EDI software, partner search and consulting. Choreographed the information flow and continuity of design in the corporate web site.
1995 - Created and founded the Feannex Foundation Society, a Canadian Non-Profit society established to create an on-line internet resource directory and virtual marketplace for women. This project involved the coordination of researchers, web planning and scripting, frequent presentations and a great deal of market strategizing. It also marked an introduction to fund raising and lobbying.
1991 - Published, by Whitecap Books of Vancouver, as the author, illustrator of a sewing book called "Short Kutz". The book taught an innovative approach to sewing that utilized old clothes instead of new material to create original and fashionable children's clothing. It sold over 7000 copies in Canada and was picked up in the United States by Chilton House Publications. This project included a book tour and numerous public presentations, demonstrations and classes.
1985 - Created and launched "The Gentle Promise" a peace initiative that was eventually included in the Vancouver Centennial Celebration of 1986. This project entailed a great deal of public speaking and participation as a delegate to an international peace conference at the University of British Columbia.
1980 - Helped to found and operate Coast Mountain Sports, a retail, distribution and manufacturing company, with Randy Hooper (my husband at that time) and Colin Seddon. The business was sold in 1988 but continues today as a successful Canadian mountaineering/backpacking store. Responsibilities included the preparation of text and illustration for a catalogue and newsletter, and the design of mountaineering clothing.
Education:
January - July 2009 - Defence Public Affairs Course
September 2006 – May 2010 - MA student, combined on-site and distance learning at University of Northern BC - International Studies, specializing in Comparative Strategic Culture Analysis. Thesis completed May 2010. Defence expected sometime in the summer of 2010.
2006 Technical Services Library - Base Logistics - Catalogue and Technical Records search support
May 2004 Defence Public Affairs Course - Cornwall, Ontario
1996 B A - International Relations, University of British Columbia
1976 Fine Arts at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, before transferring to Political Science
1971 and 1972 Commercial Art at the Ontario College of Art, Toronto
1970 Fine Arts at Mount Alyson University in Sackville New Brunswick
Activities:
Volunteered on the Canadian Ski Patrol for 6 years, as a first aider and as a first aid instructor. 1970's
Sang for several years in a cathedral choir at St. Andrew Wesley United, Vancouver, under the direction of Don Forbes, then head of the BC Boys Choir and the BC Girls Choir. 1978 - 1982
Volunteered within the UBC Family Housing facility to run the annual family carolling. 1994 - 95.
President of the Board of Directors of the Feannex Foundation Society, a Canadian non profit organisation dedicated to creating an online informational resource for home based and self employed entrepreneurs while enhancing public access to internet technology. 1995 - 1999
Defence Advisory Group for Persons With Disabilities - 2004 - 2008 - Member, Chair Communications Committee
Pacific Fleet Kayak Club - 2002 2008 - member/volunteer instructor
Professional writing - creative, academic, journalistic and business writing.
Specific Skills:
Defence Basic Public Affairs Officer Course July 2009
Defence Public Affairs Course - May 2004
Functional in French. BBB Profile Nov 2008
Security Clearance Level 3 (Top Secret)
Working knowledge of PC systems, including the Microsoft Office 2007 and aspects of the Adobe suite of tools.
Certified as a writer and trained as a facilitator and evaluator in the Canadian Treasury Board's Universal Classification System, for the preparation of work descriptions. This included experience in UCS editing, facilitation and training. Some experience in Hay Plan writing.
Hobbies:
Kayaking, canoeing, biking, swimming, racquet sports, weight training, camping, bread baking, sewing, poetry, drawing, folk singing and guitar, skiing (all kinds), indoor gardening.