“I’m genuinely passionate about my work and I hope that shows in everything I do.”

Alice Clements, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Pacific

Tell us a bit about your background.

I was born in Cambridge, New Zealand, which had a population of only 12,000 people. As a child I spent a lot of time planning how to escape to a bigger city – but I have to say as I get older I appreciate quiet towns more and more! I completed a Bachelor of Communication Studies at Waikato University in New Zealand, worked as a Public Relations Consultant for a few years then moved to Melbourne, Australia, to complete a Masters in Communication at RMIT University and follow my passion for development communication. 

Somewhere along the way I became a university lecturer for a few years before moving into development communication. I’ve now managed regional communications for four organisations, Marie Stopes International, Care International, Plan International and UNICEF. I also spent two years based in Pakistan with UNICEF coordinating all Communication for Development (C4D) efforts across the country office. In my last few roles there has been a mix of Communications and C4D which keeps me on my toes!

What do you do? 

I manage the communications for UNICEF’s Pacific sub-region, which covers 14 countries. My role includes C4D, external communications, advocacy and innovation. Our work aims to shape government policy, build capacities and address community knowledge, social norms and practices, with a particular emphasis on emergency-affected, highly marginalized and vulnerable population groups. 

In all of my work I aim to model and lead evidence-based but accessible communication that facilitates change, strengthens communities, privileges equity and is sensitive to the needs of context. I’m genuinely passionate about my work and I hope that shows in everything I do.    

What’s your working day like? 

It’s never boring! It can include advising the Representative (UNICEF’s regional chief) on sensitive advocacy matters, training journalists on ethical reporting about children, helping children to share their stories through videos that they produce, responding to an emergency or developing a campaign that will support children to wash their hands. One of the fun things about communication is that we support everybody – so all of UNICEF’s work is supported or enabled through effective communications. It means we have to be mini-experts on all aspects of UNICEF’s work; occasionally stressful but never boring!

How would you describe your job to a 5-year-old?

I often get asked this by the children I meet in communities around the world and I’m always proud to tell them that my job is to help children to share their stories with the world - because their stories and opinions are just as important as anyone else’s.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

Much like any kid I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was very young – and I’m still an animal lover with a habit of collecting stray animals! As I got into my teens, I saw that my brother was working for the UN as a simultaneous interpreter and thought it might be possible for me to get there too and combine my love of communication with the issues that UNICEF works to overcome.

How/when did you join UNICEF? 

I was deployed to Pakistan through RedR as a surge deployee in October 2010, responding to the massive floods there that affected more than 20 million people. In time I switched to a temporary UNICEF contract and spent two years there in total. After a few years with Plan International in Bangkok managing 40 staff in 14 countries across Asia I rejoined UNICEF in my current role based in Fiji. It’s great to be back working in the region where I’m from after 13 years spent being a long way from home – now it’s only 3 hours flight to visit my family.  

What are the most satisfying parts of your job? 

For me, the best moments are always connected to child-led change. Supporting children affected by disasters or social exclusion to share their stories, expertise and priorities, supporting children to lead change on issues that affect them. Nothing feels better than when you’re able to help children to take the lead in their own development.

In emergencies, I’ve also seen communication play a powerful role in drawing attention to an unfolding disaster, in advocating for priority actions and in helping to mobilize resources. We saw this clearly during the recent response to Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, a major emergency in a small and isolated Pacific country. Communication was able to play a big role in drawing the world’s attention to that disaster and the challenges it created for children and families. 

What’s the most challenging aspect of your job? 

In Communications it seems we’re constantly juggling competing (equally important!) priorities. I tend to ask myself ‘what impact will this task have for children?’ as a guide when prioritizing – but sometimes it feels like we’re always running to catch up!

What’s your best UNICEF experience/memory? 

During the 2011 floods in Pakistan I travelled to Karachi to meet with members of a UNICEF-supported Children’s Council who were about to travel from Karachi City to support other children in flood-affected rural areas of Sindh Province. I asked the group why they were motivated to help other children and most answered with standard responses about improving their CVs or wanting to be leaders.

A boy with one arm who was living and working on the streets was also a member of the Children’s Council. When I asked him why he was motivated to help other children he simply replied “because they have even less than I do.” I had been working 18-20 hour days, 7 days a week at that point, and was feeling a long way from friends and family – but this amazing young man reminded me in the most powerful way that every difficulty is relative. I often think about him when faced with difficult times.  

What’s one of the biggest risks you’ve ever taken in your life?  

When I travelled to Pakistan I left a well-paid permanent job to take up a 4-month deployment in a country I had only heard negative and scary things about in the news. I ended up spending two incredible years there, including meeting my wife!

What are your passions? 

How do you spend your free time? I am happiest when in a kayak or in a hammock with a book (haven’t figured out how to combine the two yet!) – I’m from New Zealand, a small island nation surrounded by the sea so spending time out on the water is important to me when possible. If it’s not possible that’s where the hammock comes in.   

My family is also spread across the world; my brother lives in Rome, my sister lives in Saudi Arabia and my parents are in New Zealand, so we often just pick an ‘in between’ country when we meet up! We bicker and annoy each other like any family but that rare time together once every year or two is incredibly special.

What advice would you give others who are seeking a similar job as yours? 

Do whatever it takes to build your technical skills; listen, learn, question and explore (and try not to take professional criticism personally – it’s not easy but it will help you in the long run!). Don’t be afraid to start working in the commercial sector and then transition over to development communication, it’s a good place to build skills that will be useful later. Jump into volunteering opportunities where you can, do that Masters degree and seek out local opportunities that will lead to the right direction. Above all, remember why you’re doing it – if you lose your passion for the work you’re no use to anyone.

Who do you look towards for inspiration?  

As a child I always looked to family members for inspiration; about what was possible, about how to care for others and about staying true to yourself. As an adult my family are still an inspiration but I am also inspired by the children and communities I am lucky enough to meet as part of my work.

My colleagues don’t know that…

I have a few more tattoos than I let on!