Page 6 - Ceufad Autumn 2022

MEET THE TEAM

Communications and Marketing

Bonnie Armstrong

Communications and Marketing Lead

We have a new team Communications and Marketing Team at Canoe Wales! They provide the vital link
between Canoe Wales and the paddlesport community, CW members, clubs and coaches (nothing too
important!).They only started in August but they hit the ground running and are already having a positive
impact. So, a very warm welcome to Bonnie, our new Communications and Marketing Lead.

“CW HAVE A GOOD What does your job involve? What do you do in your spare time?
I’m the Communications and Marketing Lead for I love kayaking on white water. Due to my
FOUNDATION DESPITE THE CW and the National White Water Centre. Tasks disabilities and physical limitations I’ve moved
within Marketing and Communications embodies from paddling hard-shell kayaks to white water
MANY CHALLENGES THEY the whole process: customer and client relations, packrafts. I always struggled with the weight of
PR and marketing strategies, to the creative side of a kayak, paddle, and equipment on the water.
HAVE FACED. I KNEW THAT promotional literature, advertising and artwork. I’ve Paddling a packraft with a super lightweight paddle
also been tasked with creating a synergy between means I can enjoy the sport more frequently.
THE TEAMS WERE PRETTY CW and NWWC as well as refreshing the websites I'm fortunate that my partner paddles too and is
and extending membership benefits at CW. very supportive. He drives and carries everything
WELCOMING AS I BUMPED everywhere whilst I do all the planning, and it
What prompted you to join the CW team? means we get to spend time on the water together.
INTO MANY OF THEM Their ethos. CW have a good foundation despite Photography/taking pictures at paddlesport
events is something I also enjoy.
the many challenges they have faced. I knew that
AROUND TOWN AND AT the teams were pretty welcoming as I bumped into I sat on the committee for the recent ICF Canoe
many of them around town and at events etc, I also
World Freestyle Championships at HPP. And I also
EVENTS ETC, I ALSO KNEW knew that with the right marketing tools they could sit on the committee for GB Freestyle where I’ve
been assisting local clubs in setting up regular
get a significant amount of growth and I wanted to
THAT WITH THE RIGHT help them achieve that. Obviously, as a paddler who Freestyle peer meetups all over Great Britain.
eats, breathes and sleeps social media algorithms
MARKETING TOOLS THEY this was also going to be a role that I could flourish What message would you like to get out to the
CW members, clubs and coaches?
in and thoroughly enjoy.
COULD GET A SIGNIFICANT I know it’s early days …but … what are you most There’s a really great song that comes to mind for
my reply ... Reach Out by the Four Tops!
AMOUNT OF GROWTH looking forward to about your new role?
Everything! I’m very passionate about marketing,
social media and comms so synergising work
AND I WANTED TO HELP between NWWC and CW, and expanding the CW

membership is very exciting. This is like asking me
THEM ACHIEVE THAT.” to pick my favourite child!

What do you think the most challenging part will be?
We have lots of projects we are working on and lots of
aspirations for both CW and NWWC for 2023, with not
enough days in the week. This is probably something
most companies can relate to, however, many hands
make light work and the teams are committed to
working together to make sure we get there.

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