Media and Public Affairs

Manoah Esipisu, Deputy Director/Deputy Spokesperson

Manoah Esipisu, a diplomat from Kenya, is Commonwealth Secretariat Deputy Spokesperson and Deputy Director of its Communications and Public Affairs Division.

Manoah works with the Director to promote greater global awareness of the Commonwealth’s twin core work areas of democracy and development through management of press and media relations, film and audio productions showcasing its programmes, publicity and public affairs, management of a vibrant and informative website, publications from the Secretariat’s divisions, and the library and archives sections.

Before joining the Commonwealth in September 2006 Mr. Esipisu worked for the global news and information group Reuters, where he was one of its experts on African politics, the African Union, New Partnership for Africa’s Development, regional economic groupings, globalization and trade. Manoah also taught financial journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Journalism & Media Studies Programme.

Tel: +(0)20 7747 6379
Mobile: +44 (0)789 446 2021
Email: m.esipisu@commonwealth.int

G Goh

Geraldine Goh is the Communications Adviser. She is a specialist in strategic communications and public affairs. Her area of interest is the Asia-Pacific region.

She also handles issues involving governance, human rights and information and communication technology, and is the contact person for the Commonwealth Connects programme to bridge the digital divide.

Geraldine has extensive experience in multimedia and was formerly a senior news correspondent with several major TV, radio, print and online media in Asia and the US, covering breaking news, politics, economics and social issues. She was also an executive producer for news and documentaries.

Geraldine, who is multilingual and conversant in several Asian languages, was previously with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6535
Mobile: +44(0) 7894 593518
Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: g.goh@commonwealth.int

J Mucunguzi

Julius Mucunguzi is the Assistant Spokesperson for Africa. He is also media contact person for Commonwealth Secretariat work in the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and Special Advisory Services Division (SASD)

He particularly handles media issues on International Trade, International Finance and Capital Markets, Small States, and Environment, as well as Investment, Export Promotion, Debt Management and Enterprise and Agriculture.

He liaises with the media, sets up, manages and coordinates press briefings, produces and distributes press releases. He also advises on media and public affairs strategy to EAD and SASD.

Before joining the Secretariat in June 2006, Julius was a Senior Communications Officer with World Vision Uganda, an international development, humanitarian and advocacy organization operating in 100 countries. He has worked as a journalist with Uganda’s main newspapers and taught the subject at Makerere University in Uganda. He has published literature on media, conflict and peace building

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7747 6382
Mobile: + 44 (0) 79 222 99 809
Email: j.mucunguzi@commonwealth.int

V Holdsworth

Victoria Holdsworth is a Communications Officer (Media & Broadcasting) in the Communications and Public Affairs Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat. Within the press office, her work involves liaising largely with the European and Canadian media on Commonwealth matters and supporting the work of other Secretariat Divisions in terms of media and publicity. She is the point of contact for media in the United Kingdom, Malta, Cyprus and Canada, as well as for youth affairs and trade issues.

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7747 6383
Mobile: + 44 (0) 789 459 3520
Email: v.holdsworth@commonwealth.int

Y Chin

Yvonne Chin is a Communications Officer (Media & Broadcasting) in the CPAD. She is responsible for producing video and audio content for the Secretariat’s website and for developing programmes on the organization’s work for broadcast in the Commonwealth.

Yvonne also briefs journalists about the Commonwealth’s activities and makes media arrangements for its public events. She joined the Secretariat from Jamaica where she has worked as a producer/news anchor in radio and television and as a university lecturer teaching broadcast television.

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7747 6514
Mobile: + 44 (0) 791 246 3750
Email: y.chin@commonwealth.int