As a vice president in Widmeyer’s public affairs practice, I get to help clients shape and deliver their message to the people who create and enforce policy decisions. Much of my career has been focused on health and risk management issues related to plastics and chemicals, which has given me an particular interest in communicating scientific information to nontechnical audiences. In my spare time I tinker at my many hobbies, which include calligraphy, book arts, piano and flying.

Connect with me:

• http://www.linkedin.com/pub/elizabeth-curwen/2/615/175
• http://twitter.com/ELCinDc

Biography:

Elizabeth Curwen is a Vice President in Widmeyer’s Public Affairs team, serving as interim head of the practice. Curwen helps clients communicate complicated issues to critical audiences, including policymakers, policy influencers and traditional and new media. At Widmeyer, Curwen brings to clients such as the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) and Shell Chemicals a wide range of experience including complex issues management, ally development, third-party activation and rapid response crisis communications.

Prior to joining Widmeyer, Curwen was a senior associate in APCO Worldwide’s Issues Management and Grassroots Practice where she worked with a global team of professionals and specialized in chemical and pharmaceutical issues management. While there, she led projects on issues including animal welfare, legal reform and environmental health, helping clients find the right message and the right messenger to succeed.

Curwen previously was Director of Public Affairs for the American Chemistry Council, where she planned and executed the public relations and employee communication components of the Council’s $20 million essential₂® public education campaign. Launched in September 2005, this 360 degree communication initiative seeks to improve target audience perceptions of the chemical industry. Prior to her work on the campaign, she helped shape the chemical industry’s communication strategy and third-party outreach on public health and science policy issues.

Curwen came to the Council as an extension of her work at John Adams Associates where she represented clients in industry, academia and the media. She started her communications career at Nichols·Dezenhall Communications Management Group, where she managed negative media coverage, activist pressure and other marketplace threats for chemical, plastics, food and pharmaceutical industry clients.

Curwen graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies.

Contact information:

• 1129 20th St NW, Suite 200,
  Washington, DC 20036
  Phone 202.667.0901
  Fax 202.667.0902