Victoria Harrison Neves

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT VICTORIA HARRISON NEVES

Kew’s Director of Government Affairs and Policy leading our relationships across UK government, international partner governments and the UN, as well as our presence at COPs and our policy influence. Responsible for a range of high-priority areas of work including strategic engagement, policy influence, and thought leadership events. Brokered the agreement for Kew to be the UN’s official partner at COP26 in Glasgow. Set up the GA function at Kew in 2022. Positioned Kew for government funding opportunities and influence on strategic policy influence and international engagement. In previous roles covering strategic communications, external relations and campaigns, I have carried out departmental reviews, set up new functions, developed and delivered high-profile comms strategies and advocacy campaigns in non-governmental organisations, international governmental organisations and governmental bodies, advised boards and CEOs, led and trained staff, and wrote or oversaw the production of annual reports. Campaigns for policy influence and behaviour change included prevalence of domestic abuse, tackling causes of gender-based violence, the Domestic Abuse Bill, Universal Credit and GBV, worked on campaigns to shape SDGs, to influence Nagoya Protocol, to end death penalty and to close Guantanamo, amongst others. Wrote the training manual, programme and draft policy for the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs, funded by US State dept, to protect those working and living in women’s shelters, and to use the media for awareness of GBV and culture change. Worked with ministers, UN officials and ambassadors, and high-profile celebrities / thought leaders across many organisations - such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Patrick Stewart, Irene Khan. Excellent written skills, experience in policy campaigns and thought leadership work, speech writing, ghost writing books and opeds including for celebrities and international figures, organisational / issue positioning, and stakeholder management. Through working at the BBC, British Council, Kew Gardens and other international organisations, I have a strong interest in the dynamics of soft power. A decade of news and current affairs experience as a BBC World Service journalist and editor in international broadcasting in London and overseas, in particular as the WS Americas editor. MSc in Environmental Issues A specialist in Latin America, international relations, soft power, environment, and gender-based violence. Languages - English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.