It’s often the case with consultants, especially in communications, that the roles are targeted to specific functions. However, for Maddie West, who operates within the joint office of two United Nations agencies, “versatility” has been the greatest asset throughout her career.
West has worked as a communications consultant with the World Meteorological Organization and World Health Organization Joint Office for Climate and Health for the past five years. This collaboration aims to advance integrated climate and health sciences and services to safeguard human health from climate change, extreme weather events, water and air quality issues, solar radiation, and other environmental threats.
She says her responsibilities encompass a diversity of tasks, including managing the joint office’s communications channels, writing reports, designing publications and graphics, publishing newsletters, and fostering engagement with stakeholders and partners. While there can be challenges to working between two organizations, “I’m always learning something new,” she said.
About the author
Katrina J. Lane
Katrina Lane is an Editorial Strategist and Reporter at Devex. She writes on ecologies and social inclusion, and also supports the creation of partnership content at Devex. She holds a degree in Psychology from Warwick University, offering a unique perspective on the cognitive frameworks and social factors that influence responses to global issues.
