Highlighting Our Members: Jane Shepherd MBE

Each month, we showcase some of our valued members in the Company of Communicators. This month, we’re speaking with Jane Shepherd, who divides her time between the Staffordshire Peak District and Innsbruck, Austria.

Jane previously worked as a regional newspaper reporter, before founding her own agency, Shepherd PR, in 1999, and served as a Media Operations Officer in the RAF Reserves up to 2005, before re-joining the service five years ago. She is also the owner of Derbyshire House, a collection of four holiday apartments in the heart of Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

In 2017, Jane was appointed as an Export Champion by the Department for International Trade, and a year later, she joined the Trade and Investment Group of the Midlands Engine. She is a former Visiting Fellow of Aston University and currently serves as a Member of the QEGSMAT Multi-Academy Trust, where she supports education and enterprise initiatives. In 2019, Jane was awarded an MBE for services to international trade and the Staffordshire community.

How long have you been in Communications?

"My entire career."

How did you come to Communications?

"I started as a journalist but felt there were more rewarding opportunities in communications. The chance to travel more widely and be actively involved with organisations—rather than just reporting on them—really appealed to me, so I made the switch!"

What has been a highlight of working in Communications?

"The variety! It’s a cliché, but no two days are the same. I’ve had the privilege of working at a strategic level with different businesses, from blue-chip organisations to SMEs."

Quick-Fire Questions

Who would you love to do Comms for, and why? "Battersea Dogs Home—though I’d definitely end up taking work home and building an ever-growing pack of four-legged friends!"

If you had to make a sideways move, what sector would you go into, and why? "I’m fortunate that my role allows me to work across various sectors, from professional bodies and trade associations to travel communications and more. I also enjoy broadening my scope as an RAF Reserves Media Operations Specialist Officer. However, if I had to choose another sector, I’d be drawn to international conservation, focusing on nature and wildlife."

What is your preferred social media platform, and why? "LinkedIn. I really enjoy engaging with my network and the broader communications community there."

Jane sits on the Communications & Events and Membership Committees. To connect, here is her LinkedIn: Jane Shepherd MBE.

If you’d like to learn more about joining the Company of Communicators, please don’t hesitate to contact our clerk, Ian Wingfield, at clerk@companyofcommunicators.org.