Oxford

NATIONAL POLICY + GOVERNMENT
NATIONAL POLICY + GOVERNMENT
HOPE HADFIELD
Press Officer to the Chief
Secretary – HM Treasury
Hope studied History at
Regent’s Park College, 2010.
WHAT: As a press officer, my role
varies completely: one day, I might be
writing analysis on complex economic
data, and the next exploring Crossrail
tunnels with journalists. My role is to
tell the public about what the Treasury
is doing, working closely with the
Chief Secretary. I accompany him to
ALUMNI PROFILES
events, set up media rounds (where you
rush from one studio to another, generally
running late and panickedly re-arranging
live interviews with stressed producers) and
have to make sure every detail is correct,
from the precise figures of the policy he’s
announcing, to how straight his tie is.
EARLY CAREER: After graduating, I was lucky
enough to undertake a couple of Oxford
University International Internships in the
USA and India. I then joined a PR agency
in London: I managed to find the least
glamorous job in PR, promoting biscuits,
but I loved it. About 18 months later, I
applied for a press officer role, joining the
Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, covering everything from
farming to fishing to flooding and travelling
around the country, getting a lot of use
out of my wellies. I recently moved to the
Treasury to start my current role, and have
since been involved in major news events
including the Budget.
ALUMNI PROFILES
ADVICE: There’s much more to the
civil service than the fast stream, so I
recommend you look at the variety of
civil service roles available and think
about what suits your skills. The civil
service is a hugely varied employer,
so I can’t say what makes a good
civil servant other than the basics of
integrity and values, but good press
officers are chatty (even when in a
freezing studio at 6am), analytical
writers and have a keen eye for a
great (or terrible) story – and a wonky
tie.
JOANNE NEENAN
Lawyer – Foreign and
Commonwealth Office
WHAT: I advise FCO Ministers and
officials on a variety of legal issues
arising in UK foreign policy. My advice
informs and shapes policy options
and can range from the legality of
using force against another country or
terrorist group, to which items can be
placed in a diplomatic bag.
I joined the FCO as a specialist lawyer
through an open competition, but you
can also enter from the Government
Legal Service or via the Civil Service
Fast Stream exam, as a mainstream
diplomat. I’ve done legal and policy
roles, including a posting to the UK
Mission to the United Nations in New
York as First Secretary (Peacekeeping
and Conflict Prevention) and UN policy
lead for the UK Ebola Taskforce.
WHY: The FCO is a dynamic,
intellectually stimulating and fast
paced environment. My job matches
my passions - world affairs and the
intersection between international law
and international relations. Often, it
provides me with a sense of having made a
meaningful contribution.
As a civil servant, you will earn significantly
less than private sector friends, whilst
sometimes having to work long hours. But
life can be enriched by the work, living
abroad and working with people from
different cultures.
EARLY CAREER: My route towards the FCO
has been a winding one! Before joining the
FCO, I was a media barrister, a BBC lawyer
and academic research assistant. I also
undertook a Masters in Public International
Law, worked at the European Commission
and as a Teaching Fellow in Public
International Law at SOAS. Looking back,
I didn’t take any “wrong” turns, all were
interesting experiences, and I’ve gained
something valuable from them all.
TOP TIP: Do as many internships as
possible. The more you do, the better idea
you’ll have of what may appeal to you and
where you will fit it.
Joanne studied Law with
French Law at Keble College,
2002.
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