TANIKA MARAIS

Washington DC

Available to relocate within the USA

+1-352-***-**** • adefwb@r.postjobfree.com

Online Portfolio: https://maraistanika.wixsite.com/website PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

International Economic Development specialist with experience in communication strategies and leading teams throughout the African continent. I thrive working in collaborative teams constantly thinking of sustainable development opportunities whilst building long-term relationships. I have worked in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Angola, Egypt, Senegal, Sweden, France, Belgium & UAE. Areas of expertise include:

• Project management

• Communication and Marketing

• Sustainability

• Business Development

• International Affairs

• International Policy

• Defense Procurement & Regulations

• Social Economic Development

• Corporate Social Responsibility

• Budget and cost Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 7+ YEARS

Saab Defence & Security AB- Communications Manager Middle East & Africa [2016-2019] Saab AB is a multinational Swedish global aerospace & defense company with its headquarters based in Stockholm. Saab AB has over 17000 employees to date.

• COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT

o Executed and integrated communications strategies and respective plans within the African market for both internal and external stakeholders.

o Managed a full Public Relations team consisting of 8 members to execute strategies throughout Africa

o Created executive communication plans which included marketing, crisis communication, social media and brand development strategies

o Created Thought Leadership articles in coordination with operational managers and Executives o Collaborated with local media and key stakeholders to secure over 30 TV interviews and over 100 print and digital media articles across Africa

• PROJECT MANAGEMENT-

o Managed over 100 large international projects throughout the African continent, ranging from campaigns to business development and events

o Actively manage projects from initial customer contact through operational fielding and sustainment o Managed incoming funding request proposals for social-economic development projects throughout Africa

o Coordinated policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies. o Marketing- executed marketing strategies to best fit the market, products, and culture in the region.

• BUDGET & PLANNING

o Implemented and managed an R8 million budget for the African continent where I was fully responsible for budget reporting, reviews, requests, approvals and adjustments. o Managed Social Economic Development budget and spending- member on Saab’s Social Economic Development Committee

• RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

o Business Development- Identified new opportunities in the market, worked on creative ways to execute a business development strategy for the region and worked closely with the marketing team. o International Affairs- Worked with international political figures from around the world to identify different countries threats and development needs

• CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY & SUSTAINABILITY- o Established a Corporate Social responsibility footprint in Africa, executing over 50 projects o Member on the Saab Social Economic Development Committee o Bush Board Fellow for United Way of the Brazos Valley o A list of projects is provided at the end of this resume Saab Defence & Security AB- International Leadership Program [2015-2016] International

• INVESTOR RELATIONS- Business Rotation at Saab Investor Relations in Stockholm

• MARKET NETWORK MANAGEMENT- Business Rotation at Saab Market Network Management in Stockholm

• EUROPEN UNION & NATO- Business Rotation at Saab EU & NATO division in Brussels Belgium

• MARKET AREA FRANCE- Business Rotation for three months at Saab Market Area France- in Paris.

Saab Defence & Security- Communications Coordinator- Europe Middle East & Africa [2013-2015]

• PROJECT COORDINATION- Coordinate all activities within Europe, the Middle East, and African Market

• DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT- Designed and developed promotional, advertising and marketing materials as required to support communications strategy.

• SPONSORSHIP MANAGEMENT Sought and secured sponsorships supporting the market strategy. EDUCATION

The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, College Station TX Master of International Policy, current student August 2020 The University of South Africa, [Johannesburg] [South Africa] Bachelor of Arts Honors in International Politics 2015 DELF A1 French; Alliance Francais 2014

The University of Stellenbosch, [Stellenbosch, Cape Town] [South Africa] Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies 2012 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROJECTS

- Children on the Move- located in the township of Attridgeville, Pretoria West- is a drop-in center for orphans and vulnerable children that provides meals and a place to get social support for over 200 children. I have been supporting this charity for the past 5 years.

- South B United Sports Academy- established in 2010 in the Mukuru Slum, Kenya. We supported this initiative by sponsoring a full soccer kit to the Girls under 11 team. This academy has since grown from 25 students to over 90 in just under 2 years. H.E Ambassador Mr. Johan Borgstam supported this sponsorship and together we worked on encouraging these girls to reach their dreams.

- Mukuru Art Club- Saab Kenya Ltd held a first reveal exhibition for the kids of Mukuru Art Club in Nairobi before their big art exhibition inside the United Nations, where we helped raise over KES 115000. Today these children of Mukuru Art Club received an extraordinary opportunity to exhibit their artwork inside the United Nations Recreation Centre for the month of April in 2016.

- Nelson Mandela Day- Successfully implemented a project to get the entire Saab in South Africa involved. Teams were created and divided into the various colors of the South African Flag. The team who made the most hot dogs in 67 minutes received the Nelson Mandela 67minutes trophy. Over 1000 hot dogs were made and delivered to the surrounding orphanages in Johannesburg & Pretoria.

- Take a Girl to Work day- this day offers girls an interactive experience where they are treated to career advice and insights into a specific company to gain valuable insight into their anticipated career path.

- Ribane Laka Technical School- an initiative that encourages the learning of Math & Science

- Esibonisweni Primary School Durban- a project where we donated over 600 school shoes, socks, and sanitary pads.

- Hermanus High School Soup Kitchen- a project that was started by me and today feeds over 100 school children every day during the winter. This project has now become one of the Rotary pillars of service acts. CURRENT MEMBER ON BOARDS:

UNITED WAY OF THE BRAZOS VALLEY- Serving as a Bush Board Fellow- January 2020-August 2020 SKILLS

Communication skills

Policy writing

Analytical writing

Social media platforms

Foreign policy Multitasker

Videography

Adherent to deadlines

experienced multiculturalist

International Affairs

SOFTWARE SKILLS

Adobe Premiere Pro, Microsoft Word, Office, Excel, PowerPoint, & Publisher, Social Media platforms, Frame IO, Project Management tools.

REFERENCES:

Geoff van Hees- Vice President- Country Unit Sub

Saharan Africa

adefwb@r.postjobfree.com +27-716**-****

Killian Swift- Executive Vice President- Market Area Middle East & Africa

adefwb@r.postjobfree.com +971-*****-****

Hein Iglesias – Senior Marketing Executive- Middle East

& Africa

adefwb@r.postjobfree.com +971*********

Anne Lewis-Olsson- Vice President Business

Development Director

adefwb@r.postjobfree.com +447*********

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