Biography - Jinny McDonald-Matthews
With a law degree and post-graduate Diploma in
journalism, Jinny McDonald-Matthews started her career as an
awarding winning reporter on weekly and daily newspapers.
She then moved into manufacturing as an
Advertising and Marketing Communications Manager in aerospace,
supporting international events such as the Paris, Singapore and
Farnborough air shows.
To broaden her experience, she then joined a
consultancy specialising in business to business communications
where she led public relations for companies such as Dell, Philips
Electronics, Canon and Women into Technology.
Jinny next joined Toyota Motor Manufacturing
UK to launch their public relations, internal communications and
corporate social responsibility activities at start up in 1992. The
role included car launches, Royal visits, Prime Ministers visits,
VIP and community visits. Jinny was involved in helping the
company achieve two Queens Awards and the BITC Big Tick Award for
Corporate Social Responsibility.
As part of her development, she became
Training Manager and ran one of the UK’s largest apprenticeship
schemes. She then went on to establish Toyota UK’s corporate
planning function, initiating and implementing company-wide
strategic business performance activity.
With her passion for skills development, Jinny
joined Semta in 2007 as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive and
Chairman with responsibility for corporate and communications
strategy and launching the Diploma Employer Champions Network.
Having implemented the new brand and website,
improved media coverage by 170% and helped increase employer
awareness from 9% to 15% in 9 months, Jinny took responsibility for
the group marketing function in 2010.