LAUNCHING Oman’s FIRST GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE
As a specialist consultant working for the UK Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Office, Richard advised key strategic partners in the Middle East on communications.
Oman is one of the most important diplomatic, defence and intelligence allies of the UK in the Middle East and the two countries have enjoyed warm, collaborative relations for decades.
On behalf of HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the late leader of Oman, Richard advised on the development of the country's first government communications centre in the Council of Ministers.
The centre, which is now led and run by an all-Omani staff, coordinates clear messages across 20 ministries and communicates with millions of citizens on social media about economic and social reforms.
During the two-year project, Richard worked closely with ministers and senior figures from the Royal Office, the National Security Council, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry for Implementation and Forward Planning and the Committee of Economic Ministries.
He also briefed the foreign ministers of each country on the progress of the project as a member of the Foreign Office's UK-Oman Joint Working Group at meetings in London and Muscat.
“Richard worked really effectively with the British embassy and the Omani authorities to establish the country’s first communications unit on multiple channels. He used his considerable experience to develop their strategy and provide guidance as the unit launched. It was a great success.”
Launch day for Oman's communications centre in Muscat