Shelley Thakral
About Shelley Thakral
Shelley Thakral serves as the Head of Communications for the DRC World Food Programme, a position she has held since 2022. With a diverse background in media and communications, she has worked with various organizations, including UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the BBC.
Work at World Food Programme
Shelley Thakral currently serves as the Head of Communications for the DRC World Food Programme, a position she has held since 2022 in Kinshasa, Congo. Prior to this role, she worked as the Head of Communications at the World Food Programme from 2020 to 2022. During her tenure, she focused on managing media relations and implementing innovative communication strategies to support the organization's mission.
Previous Experience in Communications
Shelley Thakral has a diverse background in communications across various organizations. She worked at the BBC in multiple roles, including Senior TV and Radio Producer for Pakistan and Afghanistan, World Duty Editor, and Baghdad Producer. Her experience also includes serving as Communications Chief at UNICEF and as Senior Program Officer for Communications at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she led health advocacy programs in India.
Education and Expertise
Shelley Thakral holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Glasgow, where she studied from 1991 to 1995. Additionally, she earned a Graduate Certificate in Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) from New York University in 2009. Her educational background supports her extensive experience in managing communications strategies and media relations.
Achievements in Health Advocacy
During her time at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Shelley Thakral played a significant role in family health and immunization advocacy programs in India. She was responsible for developing communication strategies for polio eradication and maternal child health initiatives in collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan. Her efforts contributed to impactful health campaigns in the region.
Background in Journalism
Shelley Thakral began her career in journalism, working as a Broadcast Journalist at Signal Radio and later at the BBC. She covered complex news stories, including the Iraq war, and held various producer roles across BBC News, demonstrating her expertise in high-pressure news environments. Her journalism background has informed her approach to communications in humanitarian and health sectors.