An interview with our new Head of Communications, Rosalia Munro
Q: What is your professional background?
A: I started off working in MPs’ offices in the House of Commons. This was a great experience for me, and helped me really get under the skin of policy-making. Whilst I was there, I was able to do some amazing things, such as helping to write legislation and leading a parliamentary pressure group. I hope that this experience and technical knowledge will help me to effectively push ICB’s agenda with parliamentarians.
My experience in the Commons lead me to take on a role in ICAEW’s policy team, where I worked on small business and corporate governance issues. That role was a real proving ground for me, and really developed my passion for business, which I went on to use when I set up a regional political engagement unit. In this role, I worked to involve ICAEW’s members in the development of local economic plans called local industrial strategies and got a number of them onto the boards of local business bodies called Local Enterprise Partnerships. I was also involved in government discussions around COVID support, and I intend to use the contacts that I made in this role to get ICB members heard at the very highest levels.
My last role was in the NHS’ property arm, where I managed the company’s media and political output. It was quite a task joining two weeks after the start of the first COVID lockdown.
Q: What are you here to do?
A: As Head of External Communications, I will be responsible for generating press and political engagement opportunities. More than that, though, it’s about enhancing our members’ reputation and showcasing their importance to local and national economies.
"I am clear that our members are our biggest asset, and my communications strategy will be utterly focused on content generated by them, whether that’s by making sure that members can contribute to government consultations on relevant issues or celebrating their individual successes in the local press."
I want our communications to not only work for ICB and its agenda, but for its members too. That’s all about demonstrating the value-add that bookkeepers represent to businesses and encouraging more businesses to take up a bookkeeper’s services. I also want to understand how ICB can support its members in the policy arena, and how legislative changes will impact their businesses.
Q: What are your plans?
Whilst over the next few months, I will be getting out to meet with as many ICB members as possible, I have one simple request going forward: don’t be a stranger. I want to hear about your wins, your pain points and what you’re seeing in the businesses that you work with, so that I can communicate them and highlight the crucial role that bookkeeping professionals play in the UK’s business landscape. You can get in touch with me at Rosalia.munro@bookkeepers.org.uk. I’d love to hear from you!
Q: OK, but what about outside of work?
A: I live in the beautiful Northumberland countryside with my lovely and highly tolerant husband Greg. I spend my spare time on fitness, baking and my five (yes five) Persian cats.
Q: Give us a fun fact about you
A: My party piece used to be naming the MP for each of England’s constituencies, but I’ve become a bit rusty over the last few years!
You can also meet Ross in-person at the Inspire Tour, she will be at every event except Exeter. Book your tickets now.
