Catherine Rosina
London,UK
Summary
Proactive and service-user-focused professional with extensive experience in project management, development, advocacy, executive assistance, data analysis, and administration across diverse sectors. Proven ability to lead strategic media and campaign initiatives, optimise operations, and enhance organisational efficiency. Skilled in managing complex projects, supporting senior leadership, contributing to initiatives through advanced writing and understanding, coordinating cross-functional teams, and building strong stakeholder relationships to meet service users' needs and achieve organisational objectives. Experienced in implementing innovative solutions by enhancing existing systems and developing new ones to drive organisational growth while delivering impactful outcomes for service users. I also have significant expertise in trauma-informed approaches and working in complex environments, which deeply inform and enhance my broader work, both in the working environment and in task-related approaches.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work history
Project Lead | Executive Assistant
The Institute of Now | INQUEST Charitable Trust
London, UK
2023.05 - 2026.04
- Currently managing two roles: leading projects on the reform of prison sentences in the UK through media, campaigns, and advocacy, while also providing executive assistance to the director at INQUEST, ensuring structured workload management, effective communication, and operational oversight across the organisation.
- Manage multiple inboxes and coordinate complex schedules, creating polling tools for meetings, arranging international travel, liaising with stakeholders, including media and parliamentarians on public case developments pertaining to high-profile inquests, and overseeing office operations such as website management, annual leave, expenses, and project budget tracking, while ensuring precise proofreading and drafting of critical documents.
- Oversee advocacy contributions for an award-winning podcast series highlighting miscarriages of justice in the UK, ensuring effective coordination with participants and producers, and managing media publications surrounding it.
- Cultivate relationships with international bodies such as the United Nations, prompting political intervention that urges the government to rectify inhumane prison practices in the UK, resulting in significant reports, legislative changes, and heightened media coverage.
Legal Assistant
Legal practice for Mental Health & Public law, National
, National
2022.05 - 2023.04
- Provided immediate assistance on zero-hours contract, effectively filling critical service gaps, including managing out-of-hours line coverage for continuous support. Assisted clients in achieving progressive pathways from hospital back into community, drafting successful legal representations and collaborating with leading medical professionals to adopt holistic approaches to care and support.
- Guided patients detained under various section orders in understanding rights and needs, ensuring they received appropriate legal and mental health support throughout cases.
- Collaborated on complex casework by assessing patients in secure hospitalisation and developing tailored progressive care plans in partnership with medical professionals.
- Prepared comprehensive representations for appeals against section orders and tribunal hearings, leveraging detailed analysis of medical evidence and patient histories to devise effective action plans that supported clients' cases.
- Supervised collection and filing of legal aid forms, emphasising compliance with regulations and timely processing of documentation to facilitate access to necessary legal resources.
- Assured prompt payment of invoices, contributing to financial efficiency of practice and maintaining positive relationships with service providers, which enhanced operational effectiveness.
- Managed an emergency phone line through encrypted apps, ensuring secure communication methods for service users.
Criminal Justice Project Manager
The National Literacy Trust, National
, National
2020.02 - 2022.03
- Led innovative literacy workshops in prisons, facilitating collaborative sessions between prisoners and renowned authors across the UK to foster engagement and skill development. Developed persuasive proposals for government education bodies, utilising data, and comprehensive reports to underscore critical issues in prisoner education and advocate for innovative literacy solutions. Collaborated with renowned authors to design and deliver workshops, overseeing operations from inception to completion and uniting various internal and external stakeholders for successful implementation. Managed datasets for policy development and funding, contributing to informed decision-making and strategic planning within literacy programme.
- Partnered with prominent authors and public figures to create dynamic workshop designs that promote creative educational tools beyond traditional curricula, enhancing learning experience for participants.
- Enhanced visibility for literacy programmes by collaborating with prison education departments, media channels, and stakeholders to advocate for more creative approach to prisoner education.
- Oversaw all organisational aspects of workshops, assuring smooth execution and alignment with educational objectives while managing budget of £1M to implement unique creative initiatives within prison estates.
- Planned and coordinated events to educate audiences about benefits of literacy programmes, successfully gathering support and raising awareness for initiatives.
- Conducted in-depth reviews revealing that 70% of prison population had literacy levels equivalent to age 11 or lower, highlighting urgent need for creative educational strategies to support this demographic and reduce reoffending rates.
Executive Assistant | Caseworker
Prisoners Advice | Legal practice for Prison & Civil Law, London
London, UK
2019.01 - 2020.01
- Investigated case complaints of prisoners and provided legal support, successfully drafting representations for parole boards and progressive sentence plans. Contributed to strategic litigation efforts by analysing national case law summaries, thereby enhancing organisation’s capacity to pursue effective claims. Facilitated impactful legal outreach clinics within prisons, delivering immediate assistance to enquiries and promoting the organisation’s services to individuals. Managed director’s schedule and correspondence, ensuring efficient time management and coordination of travel arrangements for wider team.
- Coordinated the director's diary to align with case hearings and legal deadlines, while managing her mailbox and telephone line to streamline daily operations.
- Streamlined administrative operations after being promoted from casework volunteer to executive assistant, significantly enhancing overall efficiency and support for director.
- Improved community engagement by producing newsletters that highlighted organisational achievements and updates.
- Analysed feedback from outreach clinics to assess intervention effectiveness and inform optimisations in service delivery.
- Developed and managed key datasets that identified common themes and issues, informing government thematic reviews on prison conditions and crises.
- Prepared comprehensive reports for donors and stakeholders based on data analysis, supporting informed casework, and advancing organisation’s strategic goals.
Project and Welfare Development Lead | Senior Data Analyst | National Assistant
PACT, National
, National
2016.09 - 2019.01
- Oversaw £500K budget dedicated to assisting prisoners and families in navigating economic challenges. Fostered collaboration among prisoners, stakeholders, and agencies to facilitate the effective development and implementation of supportive services tailored to individual needs. Analysed data from helpline calls to shape policy briefings and advocacy strategies, ensuring support for affected families. Presented data-driven findings in policy reports and utilised insights for funding applications and updates to senior government officials. Provided quarterly updates to board and Parliament on programme outcomes and strategic developments for transparency and accountability. Maintained collaborative operations within team, including overseeing recruitment, absences, and scheduling to maintain a well-functioning unit.
- Established welfare grant department from ground up, enhancing support services for families of prisoners across UK.
- Improved operational systems by functioning as national administration assistant initially, supervising 60 family support services, and facilitating internal training and new initiative procurement.
- Launched organisation’s website and co-created helpline for families of prisoners, expanding access to support resources.
- Reduced administrative workload by 40% per week through online reporting system, enhancing staff efficiency.
- Transitioned to lead teams and service projects, identifying service gaps and driving improvements in programme delivery.
- Developed data sets and management tools to optimise workflow, oversee budget allocation, and monitor KPIs.
- Secured funding through drafted bids and collaborated with universities to assess and refine service models for evaluation.
- Contributed to evidence-based strategies aimed at enhancing prison safety and reducing reoffending rates through comprehensive project design and execution.
- Established advisory boards and partnered with government departments to conduct training events, raising awareness about prison conditions and factors influencing criminality.
- Highlighted significant data gap regarding care leavers among prisoners, leading to development of targeted projects aimed at supporting at-risk youth and preventing imprisonment.
- Collaborated with US company to implement innovative data and reporting systems, streamlining administrative processes.
Executive Assistant and Data Co-Ordinator
Unite, National
, National
2009.01 - 2016.08
- Provided comprehensive support to the Department of Legal and the Assistant General Secretary for the largest trade union, managing daily operations, coordinating schedules, and facilitating effective communication among stakeholders. Oversaw complex data systems and memberships, ensuring a well-organised and efficient environment tailored to members' unique needs.
- Elevated philanthropic impact by identifying and evaluating campaigns, ensuring alignment with the organisation's goals, and monitoring project and negotiation outcomes for the Executive Council and member purposes.
- Optimised business operations by supporting day-to-day management tasks, contributing to a streamlined and efficient workplace.
- Assisted the legal team with ballot coordination and the drafting of industrial action letters.
- Streamlined document access by managing filing systems, enabling quick retrieval of crucial information.
- Facilitated international engagement by managing calendars and scheduling meetings and appointments.
- Coordinated large-scale events and conferences, overseeing logistics and ensuring flawless execution and impactful experiences.
- Maintained membership data systems and databases, ensuring smooth operational processes for ballots.
- Implemented innovative workflow systems to improve operational efficiency, resulting in increased productivity across tasks.
- Managed and updated the website and newsletters, ensuring content accurately reflected achievements and supported membership growth.
- Boosted public profile by launching media initiatives that increased visibility and engagement in charitable and political activities.
- Handled GDPR compliance and subject access requests.
- Supported lawyers with tribunal processes, liaising with chambers and high courts.
- Managed the union’s complaints helpline, monitoring issues and allocating cases regionally and nationally.
Education
Business and Administration Diploma -
Bexley College
Personal and Social Skills Development AQA - undefined
Greenwich College
Prison Law Diploma - undefined
Institute of Prison Law, Bar Council
Fashion Styling and Design Diploma - undefined
Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design and London College of Style
Mental health and safeguarding vulnerable adults AQA - undefined
Centre for Mental Health
Skills
- Contributed to legal proceedings and litigation in relation to the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention, addressing ongoing practices concerning inhumane sentencing policies within the UK prison system
- Supported successful thematic reviews and media initiatives through policy-driven advocacy, which contributed to an award-winning podcast series addressing miscarriages of justice
- Established a grassroots advocacy service for people in prison and their families, achieving a social media outreach of 10,000 Led training and provided oversight for advocacy initiatives supporting prisoners' rights
- Engaged extensively with trauma-informed practices, developed through collaboration with Indigenous cultures and traumatologists, including principles of nervous system regulation, ancestral trauma awareness and somatic experiencing, all of which I integrate into my professional practice
- Managed and designed a £1 million grant for creative literacy workshops in UK prisons, collaborating with distinguished authors to foster creative skill development and provide imprisoned individuals with the resources necessary to pursue careers in creative industries
- Developed and operationalised a welfare department from the ground up, managing a £500K budget across various funding streams to support children and families struggling to access essential resources and educational opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic Effectively built collaborative partnerships to enhance community wellbeing
- Successfully created editorial pieces for Vogue advertisement campaigns, applying principles of psychology and design to optimise outreach and engagement
- Played a critical role in a national animal welfare television programme, ensuring legislation and regulatory standards were cross-referenced and aligned through careful administrative coordination
- Provided high-level executive assistance and support to various organisational directors, managing their schedules, liaising with stakeholders, organising documentation, and ensuring efficient workflow across multiple projects My executive assistance experience spans over a decade, working with high-demand professionals in fast-paced environments
- Achieved multiple diplomas in business & admin, prison law, mental health, finance, interpersonal skills, and creative visualisation
Additional Experience
- Advocacy, Reform & Rebuild (Prisoner support service)
- Finance & Credit Control, Home Insurance, Bromley, Kent
- Media, Campaign and Training, Battersea Cat’s and Dogs Home, London
- Editorial and Styling, Vogue, London
Timeline
Project Lead | Executive Assistant
The Institute of Now | INQUEST Charitable Trust
2023.05 - 2026.04
Legal Assistant
Legal practice for Mental Health & Public law, National
2022.05 - 2023.04
Criminal Justice Project Manager
The National Literacy Trust, National
2020.02 - 2022.03
Executive Assistant | Caseworker
Prisoners Advice | Legal practice for Prison & Civil Law, London
2019.01 - 2020.01
Project and Welfare Development Lead | Senior Data Analyst | National Assistant
PACT, National
2016.09 - 2019.01
Executive Assistant and Data Co-Ordinator
Unite, National
2009.01 - 2016.08
Personal and Social Skills Development AQA - undefined
Greenwich College
Prison Law Diploma - undefined
Institute of Prison Law, Bar Council
Fashion Styling and Design Diploma - undefined
Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design and London College of Style
Mental health and safeguarding vulnerable adults AQA - undefined
Centre for Mental Health
Business and Administration Diploma -
Bexley College