Heidi Mirza
Cairo
Summary
Dynamic and passionate professional dedicated to making a meaningful impact in communities through effective project management and collaboration. Experience gained during the Sudanese revolution, including real-time reporting with AFP, has fostered resilience and a deep commitment to social change. Eager to embrace challenges and continuously learn, possessing a strong foundation in risk assessment and resource allocation that drives successful project outcomes. Prepared to leverage skills and ambition in a role prioritizing sustainability and community development for future generations.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Communication & Information Project Officer
UNESCO
Cairo, Egypt
06.2022 - Current
- Led UNESCO’s Media Law Reform project for Sudan, working with lawmakers, government ministries, and media stakeholders to develop new legal frameworks that uphold freedom of expression and protect journalists’ rights.
- Sole consultant and project implementer under the Communication and Information (CI) Sector in both Sudan and Egypt.
- Designed and delivered projects focused on disinformation, hate speech, and the safety of Sudanese journalists, reaching professionals across conflict zones and exile.
- Collaborated with the Regional Office in Cairo to implement a cross-sectoral initiative on eLearning and digital communication, improving education access for Sudanese youth in crisis.
- Oversaw and implemented projects on: Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for youth and women, Digitization and preservation of audiovisual/documentary heritage (UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme), Open Educational Resources (OER) and digital equity, Countering hate speech and disinformation.
- Developed concept notes, project agendas, and detailed reports for all CI programs, ensuring alignment with UNESCO standards and donor requirements.
- Spearheaded a crisis response project to evacuate at-risk Sudanese journalists and media workers, coordinating relocation logistics and financial support to host countries.
- Maintained budgetary discipline and efficient resource allocation to meet project goals and donor expectations.
- Produced high-quality communication materials, reports, and updates to support visibility, donor engagement, and internal coordination.
- Supported the Communication Officer in content creation and dissemination across digital platforms.
- Built and maintained an extensive media network, including journalists, bloggers, broadcasters, and online creators from across Sudan and the region.
- Organized media forums, workshops, and public events to mobilize stakeholders and amplify CI sector initiatives.
- Successfully drafted and presented project proposals to secure funding and strategic buy-in from internal leadership and international donors.
Vice President of Operations
TGE Commodities
Khartoum, Sudan
02.2021 - 08.2022
- Overlooking an Agri-based team of operations-based employees with a close eye on all the production facilities, production quantities and shipments to ensure a smooth process. Direct Communication with clients abroad, trade desks, dealing with shipping lines and their procedures, documentation for the various countries being aware of each’s process and serving as a communication point between external clients, the internal employees and the management.
- Setting up communication accounts on the different social media platforms for the company to increase its exposure to the media and facilitate media-based campaigns across the country.
- Incorporated SDGs in the company’s corporate social responsibility memorandum.
- Technical difficulties are addressed by quickly identifying and troubleshooting customer issues to achieve timely first-time resolution.
- Delivered monthly, quarterly and annual forecasting reports, identifying areas for growth and celebrating revenue successes.
- Managed high-value projects within cost, quality and timeframe targets through professional team coordination.
- Monitored compliance with agreed management systems, enabling prompt identification and remedy of risk factors.
Translator / Ground Reporter
AFP
Khartoum, Sudan
03.2019 - 06.2020
- Worked as an AFP Correspondent with the role of ground reporting during the revolution, documenting live marches and events, and speaking to civilians to understand needs and objectives as well as interviewing martyrs’ families for breaking stories and how their lives were affected.
- Worked closely to assist Non-Arabic AFP reporters in translation of interviews and reports on sites as well as when writing their articles.
- Covering events at large for feature stories reflecting the Sudanese country to international audiences.
- Edited interview audio files precisely, selecting relevant clips for broadcast and distributing accordingly.
- Verified and collated evidence and information to support stories using relevant information sources, including internet, archives and databases.
- Followed leads from police, public and press conferences to generate ideas for stories and features.
- Identified potential interviewees, prepared questions and conducted both live and recorded interviews.
- Monitored content trends and demands, aiding future content generation to meet reader appetite with special focus on the international communities.
Education
Bachelor’s degree - Mass Communication
University Of Medical Sciences and Technology
01.2021
Skills
- Detail Oriented
- Administrative support
- Hardworking
- Highly motivated
- Ability to Multitask
- Effective Time Management
- Microsoft Office
- Ability to Work in a Team
- Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Communication Skills
- Customer Service
- Fast Learner
- Project management
- Stakeholder relations
Certification
- Training course in a Sudanese National Radio Station (99.3 FM) in the preparation and presentation of various news items through solid theoretical classes and practical implementations.
- An Online course in The Strategies for Personal Growth and Development at Young African Leaders Institution.
- An Online course in the Management Strategies for People and Resources at Young African Leaders Institution.
- Filmmaking Diploma in Arab Film School in Cairo, Egypt.
- I am currently taking a PMP Course.
LANGUAGES
Arabic: First Language
English: C2 Proficient
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Reporting
- An active Instagram account that served as a source of reliable information since the beginning of the Sudanese revolution up until the present date covering a variety of news concerning Sudan and its development.
- To access account: https://www.instagram.com/heidi_mirza/profilecard/?igshid=dzE1MWw2Nnd2Y3o5
References
Abdelmoniem, Abu-Idrees, abuedries@yahoo.com, AFP
Timeline
Communication & Information Project Officer
UNESCO
06.2022 - Current
Vice President of Operations
TGE Commodities
02.2021 - 08.2022
Translator / Ground Reporter
AFP
03.2019 - 06.2020
Bachelor’s degree - Mass Communication
University Of Medical Sciences and Technology