Curriculum Vitae
STEPHEN ALAN TATHAM MPhil (Cantab) BSc
Email: steve_tatham@hotmail.com
A professional Corporate Communications Manager, Middle East specialist and author with extensive multi-disciplinary, cross-governmental experience gained in a series of highly responsible appointments. Hallmarks include confidence, diplomacy, innovation, compassion, strong interpersonal and proven leadership skills. Highly capable under extreme pressure and during periods of change. A demonstrable track record of transferring skills and experience between varied and challenging settings often in periods of crisis or conflict.
Education
2005 University of Southampton. Part time PhD research: Using soft power to defeat the radicalisation of young Muslims. 2004 University of Cambridge (Centre for International Studies): MPhil International Relations. Specialist study area: Contemporary Arab politics, International Security Studies, International Law and US Politics. Thesis: The battle for Arab hearts and minds during the third Gulf War. 1986 University of Portsmouth : BSc Computer Science. Thesis: ISDN. The future of the data highway.
Career Profile
2004-present. Maritime Warfare School, HMS Collingwood. Officer in Command (Engineering Training)
Managing and leading 65 military and civilian staff in the delivery of degree level engineering training to 2100 men and women each year, within predefined budgets and to nationally recognised standards. In parallel, to act as the UK Military point of contact to Al-Jazeera TV, providing specialist subject matter expertise to the Ministry of Defence and other cross government departments as required in support of military media operations in the Middle East. Instigator and project manager of first RN International Relation’s Symposium (5-6 Sept 2005), bringing over
250 international diplomats, academics and observers together, including a full Israeli / Palestinian delegation, for a 2 day conference on the Middle East peace process and emerging terrorist threats. July 2005. Manager of RN Media hub onboard HMS Ocean for the Trafalgar 200 Celebrations. This was the largest peace time media facility run by the Royal Navy with nearly 200 members of the press attending and involving live TV and radio broadcasts throughout the day.
2001-2003. Ministry of Defence, London. Communications Manager for Royal Navy Operations world-wide
Lead planner and subsequent UK public spokesman for Royal Navy media operations in Iraq in 2003. Responsible for the creation of a strategic corporate communications plan, the embedding of international journalists with military forces and crisis management during military operations. Military Press Secretary for UK Secretary of State, Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, whilst in the region. Formally, public spokesman for Royal Marine Operations in Afghanistan and post 911 anti-terrorism operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf. Manager of the UK Military Combat camera teams throughout Afghanistan and Iraq wars. RN spokesman for: grounding of HMS Nottingham (Australia 2002), military coverage of UK fire service strike (2002) and death of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (2002). Nominated for an MBE for services to military corporate communications.
1999-2001. Communications Manager Fleet Flagship HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
Lead Officer for all PR and corporate communications for the Royal Navy Fleet Flagship. Public spokesman for military operations in Sierra Leone (2000), UN embargo enforcement operations in Iraq (2000), flood relief operations Mozambique (2000) and the twinning of the City of Valletta, Malta, with the ship. Lead Royal Navy PR Officer for the ship's participation in HM Queen State visit to Norway.
1997-1999 Manager Royal Navy Media Interview Techniques Course & Head of Royal Navy Video Production
Appointed to lead the Royal Navy video production unit of professional cameramen and engineers. Trained as a broadcast cameraman (BetaSP and SX), AVID and Media 100 editor. Manager of the Royal Navy Media Interview Techniques Course, providing defensive PR training to all Ship's Commanding Officers and Senior Flag Officers.
1990-1997 Standard career appointments.
Standard Royal Navy Officers appointments including service at sea, both in the UK and abroad, foreign service in Hong Kong and service as the UK exchange representative to the Royal New Zealand Navy. Extensive sea-going deployments to the The Middle East. Selected ahead of my peers for early promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Supporting Information
Language Skills : Developing colloquial Arabic language skills.
Senior Consultant Middle East Consultancy International Ltd. Arab International Media Study www.meconsult.co.uk
Author of the following selected articles and publications:
Losing Arab Hearts and Minds - The Coalition and Al Jazeera A book accepted for publication by Hurst publishing as part of the Cambridge series in Winter 2005.
http://www.hurstpub.co.uk
The lost battle for Arab hearts and minds. American University in Cairo.
http://www.tbsjournal.com/tatham.html
Al-Jazeera International: Can it make it here ? British Journalism Review Spring 2005.
http://bjr.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/16/1/47
The Media Battle space Iraq 2003 Published in The Officer Magazine April 2004
The Media Battle in Iraq. Published in The Naval Review Winter 2003
The Al-Jazeera phenomena. Boston Globe and The Officer Magazine November 2004
Neo-conservatism and US unilateralism. A new empire ? The Officer Magazine Spring 2005.
Al-Jazeera and public Opinion. Proceedings Magazine. Journal of US Naval Institute August 2005
http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent1?file=NI_0805_Jazeera
Contributor to Live from Qatar. Time Magazine (US Edition) May 2005.http://www.time.com/time/globalbusiness/article/0,9171,1064484,00.html
A selection of Lectures and presentations:
"British military operations in Iraq and the battle for Arab opinion". University of Cambridge. Centre for Middle East Affairs / US State Department Sponsored conference. March 2003
Forming a relationship between the UK Military and pan-Arab media UK MoD representative, Al-Jazeera 1st world forum, Doha, Qatar July 2004.
The battle for Arab Hearts and minds. Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Military & Public Safety International Conference. Washington DC. 5 October 2004.
Standing lecturer UK MoD Media Operations Course.
Arab media as a basis for change in the Middle East. House of Lords. March 2005.
The Arab news agenda and emerging democracy in the Middle East. Personal guest of Qatar's
Ambassador to Court of St James to Qatar 5th Annual Democracy and Free Trade Conference, Doha, Qatar. March 2005.
Visiting lecturer University of Cambridge Centre for International Studies.
http://www.intstudies.cam.ac.uk/centre/news/seminars/lunch.html