This month’s Portland Profile features Millie Jenkins, Account Manager in Portland’s Health team:
- What is your favourite part about your role?
One of my favourite parts of working at Portland has to be working with such intelligent, kind and inspiring people. Across the business, everyone has such interesting backgrounds and so much knowledge to share. I learn so much from my colleagues daily.
Specifically, to my role in health I would have to say my favourite thing is working with clients on the most pressing health issues. The issues we work on I see mentioned within the Houses of Parliament and across the media daily. I find it so fascinating that I am involved in some of these massive developments!
- What has been your favourite experience at Portland so far?
That is a tough question as each day is so different at Portland and I am lucky enough to work across such a variation of accounts and health issues.
One event that stands out was a roundtable event in the House of Lords that I helped with the planning and delivery of. It was great to see such a wide variety of stakeholders attend this event and was great to be involved in the process from start to finish! However, due to its success we have not reached the end of the road yet, with plans for another meeting soon.
From a communications perspective, I would have to say playing a part in securing high profile media coverage about NHS England’s reimbursement of a novel gene-editing treatment. Seeing the wave of print, online and broadcast news this announcement generated was amazing, and the fact family and friends had seen the coverage just showed how impactful this work can be.
- What is your area of expertise?
Prior to joining Portland, I worked at the Motor Neurone Disease Association on policy and public affairs in the Senedd then Westminster. As a result, I have a passion for public affairs, rare disease, neurology and working with patient advisory groups. Since joining Portland I have been able to further stretch my areas of expertise due to the broad client base we have, and I have also been able to build my knowledge of how to communicate with impact on issues that matter to people’s health.
- What do you do to switch off from work?
In the week, I try and get a spin class or two in before work, and I have recently got onto the running hype! On the weekends, I love exploring London with my boyfriend and trying out as many bakeries as possible. I also love a gig! I recently saw Sam Fender and Ben Howard, and I have just booked tickets to go and see Mumford and Sons. I am super gutted I missed their secret set at Flat Iron Square a couple of weeks back!
- What is something that not many people know about you?
For the football fans out there, when I was around 4 years old, I was a mascot for Huddersfield Town FC with my dad who was captain at the time – My claim to fame! We recently found the tiny shirt and football boots I wore; I cannot believe I ever fitted into them.
