Ali is our Marketing and Communications Manager, her role is to spread the word about Urban Green Newcastle, and all of the work that we do, in lots of different ways.
How long have you worked for UGN?
I joined Urban Green in July 2020 as a part-time Marketing Officer. As a young charity Urban Green is always growing and so has my role, so I now manage all of our marketing, communications and brand efforts.
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
I look after every aspect of marketing and communications and, while it can be hectic, I enjoy that there’s a wide variety of things to get involved in and no two days are ever the same.
Why did you want to work for UGN?
I wanted to work for an organisation that did something positive for the region that I grew up in and I have so many great memories of the city’s green spaces. It’s also really exciting to be part of an organisation that is redefining the way we care for urban parks.
Do you have a favourite green space in the city?
When I’m working in Jesmond Dene I have quite a few walk and talk meetings, so I’ve come to love the short walk from our offices to the waterfall and back. It’s always a good way to destress and think creatively.
Do you have a favourite animal?
My favourite animal is a sea turtle, ever since I interacted with one while I was snorkelling on holiday – I even went out to Costa Rica at the end of 2019 to volunteer with turtle rescue!
What would your ideal weekend be like?
I like spending quality time with my friends and family and fitting in some me-time, so my ideal weekend would be to spend a day cooking a feast for a night in with my friends, and then visiting my family and going on a walk in the countryside on Sunday before curling up in front of a fire with a good book.
What do you do outside of work?
One day a week I finish a little early and go to help teach kickboxing to kids. I’ve been training for a few years now and I really love helping our students to develop their passion for martial arts.