Meet Suzanne Whitby
Hi, I’m Suzanne, the founder. I'm the founder of Zirafah, and its principal trainer, facilitator, and experience designer.
I create workshops, training, and coaching programmes to help science-driven organisations close the gap between what researchers know and what your business needs to act on.
At its simplest, my role is to help scientists and researchers in business move away from the academic and technical communication styles they’ve been taught, and put the audience and their needs at the heart of their conversations, presentations, and interactions.
This work emerged from my 15+ years of working with scientists in academia and research organisations, and allow me to combine my deep understanding of "how researchers think" with my hands-on experience of working in business.
Zirafah is built around the principle that good communication puts the audience’s needs first. It's simple in principle and surprisingly difficult in practice.
Scroll down to learn more about my background, or get in touch if you think a conversation might be useful →
Suzanne Whitby is Zirafah's founder, and the principal trainer, facilitator, and experience designer.
So what do I bring to this work?
When it comes to communication, I know how scientists and researchers think because I’ve been working with them since 2010. That prompted me to start a training company focusing purely on science communication and communication in research over at SciComm Success. Having worked with thousands of researchers across disciplines in Europe and beyond, building skills in a range of communication formats, I understand how scientific training shapes communication habits, and why those habits can work against researchers in business contexts.
I also know how business works. In my career, I’ve worked as a programme manager and communication consultant with research, technology and engineering teams, which is where I first saw how expert knowledge falls flat when the audience isn't the starting point. I’ve also held senior roles as Head of Communication for organisations where communicating technical expertise sits alongside communicating features and benefits.
What I don’t know is precisely how your business works. That’s okay, because I don’t work “inside” your business: if I said that I did know how your business works, I’d be fibbing”
That’s why my approach to designing programmes and workshops starts with a “Discover” phase to help me understand the needs and challenges of both your stakeholders and researchers, and build that into the communication programmes I deliver.
My experience
My experience spans communication training, communication strategy, science communication, strategic planning and foresight, project management, and workshop facilitation. As part of this work, I am often asked to provide support as an advisor, mentor, and coach, too.
Over the years, I have worked with leading science-driven and research-led organisations across Europe and beyond, including Genentech, Prysmian, CERN, the UNU, and the IMF, as well as well-known research institutes, universities, and nationally-funded and EU-funded research projects. I have trained, coached, and supported research groups as well as individual scientists and researchers across these organisations to think more strategically about their audiences and impact so that they can communicate clearly and confidently.
In parallel to this work, I am a science communicator and a researcher affiliated with the Vrije University in Amsterdam, where my current doctoral research focuses on novel approaches to citizen engagement and science communication. This matters because it means that I don’t just help others build audience-centred communication skills: I am constantly refining my own skills “in the field” and contributing to what we know about communication, too.
If you’re interested in my constellation of projects, you can learn more about my work at suzannewhitby.com
Think I might be a good fit for your organisation? Get in touch →
You might also be interested in:
Network & associates
I have a talented network of subject-matter experts with whom I work for large-scale workshops. and programmes that need specific expertise.
What's in a name?
My decision to call my practice "Zirafah" was intentional. Learn more about what the name means, and its relationship to communication.
Contribute to knowledge
I'm conducting research to identify where research expertise gets lost between researchers and decision-makers. Participate to add your thoughts, and receive results.
What clients say
“Suzanne helped us define clear messages and a communication strategy for audiences outside R&D. We left with a practical plan, content that we created ourselves, and much greater confidence in creating content for different stakeholder groups.”
Victoria Carrillo (MPA), Sr. Program Administrator, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prepys