Zoe Thornton

In this role, I developed and implemented strategies to enhance the visibility and accessibility of research projects, focusing on their impact within the community. I worked with key stakeholders across the university (Research, Public Relations, Teaching, Marketing, IT) to deliver high-impact events, foster industry relationships, and ensure that research was presented with integrity and reach.

• Designed and delivered a year-long event series, managing budgets of £2,000 to £10,000, including budget tracking, invoice processing, and financial reconciliation.
• Led the development of immersive campus activations visited by thousands daily, fostering public interest and strengthening research collaborations.
• Produced communications materials, including social media campaigns and web content, aligning with the university’s vision and targeting diverse audiences.
• Contributed to standardised frameworks for reporting on research impact, supporting the government’s Engagement and Impact Assessment.
• Established feedback mechanisms to assess audience engagement and adapted communication strategies to meet evolving stakeholder needs.

Managed the post-award lifecycle of research projects, ensuring financial compliance, milestone tracking, and timely delivery of key outcomes, while maintaining strong communication with funders and stakeholders.

• Coordinated post-award administration from award to completion, supporting an annual research income of over £100 million, ensuring timely milestone achievements and fulfilment of deliverables.
• Maintained accounts receivable processes, including invoicing, payment collection, and accurate record-keeping, contributing to consistent cash flow.
• Monitored and mitigated risks related to project delays, financial discrepancies, or milestone slippages, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Supported the transition to a new Customer Relationship Management system, providing training and guidance to research teams and administrative staff, ensuring successful system adoption.
• Collaborated with key university service providers, including Financial Services, Legal, Human Resources, and Faculty Leadership, to foster effective working relationships and ensure smooth post-award processes.

Supported the Director of Commercial Partnerships and Director of Research in executing commercial partnership strategies aimed at increasing privately funded research and strengthening on-campus collaborations with major partners, including Cisco, BHP, Chevron, NASA, and Singtel.

• Managed complex executive schedules and coordinated meetings and events for over 150 team members, ensuring seamless operational execution.
• Secured venues, managed catering, and produced promotional materials for key events and initiatives.
• Collaborated with industry partners to facilitate discussions, foster ongoing partnerships, and execute research agreements, contributing to the expansion of privately funded research.
• Streamlined contract execution processes by improving timelines and ensuring data accuracy for research agreements.
• Oversaw document storage, ensured confidentiality, and prepared detailed reports as required.
• Designed and distributed digital newsletters, crafted impactful internal communications, and maintained web content to ensure transparency and accessibility across departments.

Developed and executed marketing strategies, managed customer relationships, and analysed market trends to identify business opportunities. Coordinated tasks across international teams to ensure collaboration and adherence to timelines across multiple time zones.

• Led the development of digital marketing plans for the Australian retail market, aligning campaigns to enhance brand visibility, resulting in over $1 million in sales within the first 12 months.
• Conducted sales and data analysis to assess campaign performance and provided data-driven insights to inform senior management’s marketing strategies.
• Utilised professional photography equipment to create high-quality visuals for marketing collateral and catalogues, enhancing customer engagement.

Supported procurement operations by managing supplier relationships, ensuring timely delivery of goods, and maintaining accurate inventory records. Collaborated with stakeholders across the organisation’s procurement department to optimise purchasing processes.

• Applied market insights to inform product sourcing strategies in the Australian homewares sector, identifying and capitalising on emerging trends to enhance the product portfolio.
• Developed strong relationships with international suppliers, managing procurement logistics, negotiating invoices, and addressing inquiries to ensure efficient operations.
• Analysed sales data to identify underperforming products, devising strategies to boost market performance and contribute to overall sales growth.