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    David J. Olson Resume June 21, 2009

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    David J. Olson has over 30 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and non-profit work around the world. He currently works as the Director of Policy Communications at the Global Health Council in Washington, DC. Previously he held communications leadership roles at PSI, a global health non-profit, for nearly a decade. He has extensive experience managing communications strategies and teams across multiple countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

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    David J. Olson Resume June 21, 2009

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    David J. Olson has over 30 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and non-profit work around the world. He currently works as the Director of Policy Communications at the Global Health Council in Washington, DC. Previously he held communications leadership roles at PSI, a global health non-profit, for nearly a decade. He has extensive experience managing communications strategies and teams across multiple countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

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    David J. Olson has over 30 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and non-profit work around the world. He currently works as the Director of Policy Communications at the Global Health Council in Washington, DC. Previously he held communications leadership roles at PSI, a global health non-profit, for nearly a decade. He has extensive experience managing communications strategies and teams across multiple countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    293 views3 pages

    David J. Olson Resume June 21, 2009

    Uploaded by

    davidjolson
    David J. Olson has over 30 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and non-profit work around the world. He currently works as the Director of Policy Communications at the Global Health Council in Washington, DC. Previously he held communications leadership roles at PSI, a global health non-profit, for nearly a decade. He has extensive experience managing communications strategies and teams across multiple countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

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    of 3

    David J. Olson • 202-320-3114 • david@olsonglobalcom.

    com 2009

    David J. Olson
    202.320.3114 • [email protected] • www.olsonglobalcom.com

    COMMUNICATIONS, ADVOCACY AND NON-PROFIT PROFESSIONAL


    Extensive communications, non-profit management and advocacy/policy experience on four
    continents and in four languages, particularly in global health, with a record of measurable results.
    Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically. Proven creative thinker, team leader, strategic
    planner, writer/editor and trainer with exceptional interpersonal and networking skills. Extensive
    experience working with U.S. and European government donors. Expertise in following areas:

    Communications Project Implementation


    • Strategic communications • Project management
    • Strategic PR planning • Social marketing
    • Advocacy/policy • Organizational strategic planning
    • Media/PR training • Project evaluation
    • Writing/editing

    PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
    2009-present: Director of Policy Communications, Global Health Council, Washington, DC
    Responsible for formulating, managing and leading efforts to communicate the policy positions of
    the world's leading global health membership organization, to salient audiences, to raise awareness
    of global health issues among key constituencies and for facilitating dialogue on key issues with
    and among Council members.

    2001-2009: Director of Public Affairs, PSI, Washington, DC


    Led external relations of PSI, a large global health non-profit organization, through a politically
    volatile period, winning many new allies and bringing PSI into the global health community.
    • Transformed PSI Public Affairs Department into a strategic operation targeting key
    audiences such as donors, Congress, think tanks and academics by expanding electronic
    communication, social media and external engagement.
    • Pioneered PSI’s congressional outreach and advocacy, resulting in many new allies of both
    political parties, which helped maintain historic 20% annual increases in revenues.
    • Contributed to improved image among PSI stakeholders (a 2009 external survey showed
    that stakeholders' rating of PSI as a good partner more than doubled, from 1.8 in 2006 (on a
    five-point scale) to 3.8 in 2009, during the last three years of my tenure.
    • Stimulated coverage from major U.S. and international media outlets.
    • Played leading role in Harvard Business School publishing 3 PSI case studies in 2 years.
    • Led effort to win Social Capitalist Awards for two years running.
    • Presented and lectured on social marketing, global health and media at Harvard Business
    School, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, George Washington, Johns
    Hopkins, Georgetown, Syracuse, University of Maryland and the U.S. State Department.
    • Initiated collaboration with and support of donor communications staff (USAID, DFID,
    KfW and Global Fund) to document stories of PSI health impact.
    David J. Olson • 202-320-3114 • [email protected] 2009

    • Designed and led strategic planning at PSI affiliates in Botswana, Cambodia, Eritrea,
    Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

    1997-2001: Country Representative, PSI Paraguay S.A., Asunción, Paraguay


    Founded and developed Paraguay’s biggest health non-governmental organization and PSI’s most
    cost-efficient affiliate. Managed portfolio of social marketing projects in adolescent
    reproductive health and maternal health with annual funding of $1 million (2001).

    1996-1997: Country Representative, PSI, Dhaka, Bangladesh


    Served as resident advisor to Social Marketing Company − the largest private social marketing
    organization in the world with 500 employees and annual budget of $4 million (1997) – and
    managed its successful certification for direct U.S. government funding.

    1992-1996: Country Representative, PSI, Lusaka, Zambia


    Launched and managed PSI’s first successful program in Eastern and Southern Africa and
    expanded it from HIV to family planning, a program that is now one of PSI’s most diverse and
    successful. Used Zambia platform to expand PSI programs into Malawi, Mozambique and
    Zimbabwe. In 2009, these four countries account for over 20% of PSI health impact.

    1986-1991: Country Representative, Lutheran World Relief, Mali


    Launched movement of sustainable development through local groups to carry out integrated
    projects in gardening, well construction, soil conservation, agro-forestry, animal husbandry,
    appropriate technologies, health, literacy and management, which is still delivering impact.

    1983-1985: Agricultural Teacher and Extension Volunteer, U.S. Peace Corps, Baguida, Togo
    Pioneered a Togolese school’s first agriculture program, combining classroom theory with practical
    fieldwork. Trained students in operation of school garden and raised funds for a gardening
    cooperative, pig farm and school library. Served as teacher trainer in Peace Corps training
    programs and editor of Peace Corps Togo newsletter.

    1978-1983, Three daily newspapers in Anderson, S.C., Williston, N.D. and Fargo, N.D.
    Worked in a variety of reporting, editing and management positions involving just about every
    aspects of editorial work ranging from writing obituaries, editorials, columns and news and
    feature stories to serving as managing editor (one of these was a part-time college job).

    EDUCATION
    Currently pursuing an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), Universal Accreditation Board,
    Public Relations Society of America.

    B.S. Degree in Mass Communications, News-Editorial emphasis with exposure to Broadcast


    Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations, Minnesota State University, Moorhead, Minnesota

    LANGUAGES
    1. English, native 3. Spanish, fluent
    2. French, fluent 4. Portuguese, working knowledge

    ADDENDUM TO RESUME OF DAVID J. OLSON


    David J. Olson • 202-320-3114 • [email protected] 2009

    CONSULTANCIES

    • April 2009: External relations training and facilitation, PSI Russia, Moscow, Russia
    • March-April 2009: Policy Communications, Global Health Council, Washington, DC
    • 2008: Media Trainer, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, U.K.
    • 1991-1992: Team Leader, Oxfam U.K., Evaluation of Arid Lands Information Network,
    Oxford, U.K. and Dakar, Sénégal
    • 1985: Training Director, U.S. Peace Corps, Bénin

    WRITINGS AND PHOTOS

    A selection of my writings and photos published in the Christian Science Monitor, Washington
    Post, New York Times and other publications can be found at:
    http://www.olsonglobalcom.com/p8.html

    COUNTRIES OF WORK EXPERIENCE

    Bangladesh, Bénin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France,
    Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique,
    Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Russia, Sénégal, South Africa,
    Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, U.K., U.S., Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

    PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

    • National Press Club (and its International and Marketing & Communication committees)
    • Public Relations Society of America (and its International Committee)

    VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

    • Volunteer, Shepherd’s Table soup kitchen, Silver Spring, MD, 2002-present


    • Deacon, Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, Takoma Park, MD, 2005-present
    • Volunteer, Victory Towers senior citizen residence, Takoma Park, MD, 2006-present

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