Professional Resumé

Professional in the Government Relations, Public Affairs, Policy Analysis, and Communications sectors. Expert researcher in International Relations, with a focus on Latin America and over 30 academic publications only in the last 6 years. Trained in qualitative methodology —particularly online social distanced methods—, and policy analysis. Experience in the public, private, not-for-profit, and education sectors. Fluent in English and Spanish, proficient in Portuguese. Chilean citizen and permanent resident of Canada.

Program Chair and Researcher in International Relations
2022 – Present
Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO), Santiago, Chile.
Remote. Part-Time.

Reported to the General Director for Chile of the international organization, and led a multidisciplinary team of 5-7 people including non-academics and interns. Initiated and directed the academic programme on International Relations, which includes three executive diploma programmes on Third and Fourth Generation Human Rights, European-Latin American Relations; and Latin American Foreign Policy, with a student base of over 100 people in more than a dozen countries.

• Developed and led a year-long academic research programme on gender (masculinities) and the foreign service, which involved interviewing +100 Latin American diplomatic families from 14 countries in the region and qualitative analysis of the data (Atlas.ti). Results presented at five international conferences and awarded a USD 1,000 grant from the Latin American Studies Association. Also presented in a seminar chaired by the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of Chile, which led to the formal launch of Chile’s Feminist Foreign Policy and contributed with evidence-based data in support of the appointment of the second female Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. Final version is to be published in 2024.
• Produced and hosted more than 10 academic seminars, both in-person and online, on current affairs in Latin America, reaching an international audience of over 3,000 people.
• Established key partnerships with other governmental and academic institutions to develop specific research agendas or launch tailor-made academic courses and programmes. Partners have included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, the Diplomatic Academies of Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru, the Embassy of the United States in Chile, the Pontifical Catholic University of Salamanca in Spain, and the Institute of European Studies at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
• Produced and hosted two seasons of the podcast “Mirada Latinoamericana,” focusing on Latin American affairs. Interviewed 20 experts in different fields for the first season and another 7 experts for the second, with more than 1,000 reproductions in less than one year.
• Conducted press interviews for media (TV, radio, press, and online) in Chile and other Latin American countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil) to analyze international current affairs in the region. Published op-eds in printed and digital news outlets in Chile.

Adjunct Lecturer
2016 – 2022
Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
On-Site, Remote, Hybrid. Part-Time.
Department of Corporate International Relations.

Reported to the Deputy Director of Extradisciplinary Training and the Academic Subdirector for Global Affairs. Designed and taught undergraduate courses on ‘Digital Diplomacy & Nation Branding’, ‘Place Branding’, ‘Terrorism & Counterterrorism’, ‘Human Migration in Latin America’ and ‘Diplomacy in the 21st Century’, which were offered both in English and Spanish for a total of over 100 students per semester.

• Re-designed every course to be taught online during the pandemic, which allowed people from countries in Asia and Europe to participate through exchange programmes.
• Led a team of 3 teaching assistants every semester.

University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
On-Site, Remote. Contract.
Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of the University of Chile.
Department of Outreach.

Reported to the Deputy Director of School Outreach and Early Training. Designed and taught online short courses (2-4 weeks) on Diplomacy and International Relations for groups of 40-50 high-school students aged 12-18.

• The courses included in-person visits (when permitted) to Diplomatic Missions, Departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, and master classes with ambassadors or diplomats posted abroad, as well as diplomats stationed in Chile.

Policy Officer
2019
Global Affairs Canada, Santiago, Chile.
On-Site. Temporary Full-Time.
Embassy of Canada in Chile Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Services (FPDS) Section.

Reported to the Ambassador, Communications Attachée, Senior Trade Commissioner, and Political Counsellor. Originally tasked with creating and launching the digital communications strategy to promote Canada’s participation in the 29th annual Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and at the 25th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP25) to be hosted in Chile, which was to include the visit of the Prime Minister of Canada and other high-level authorities. Both conferences were cancelled due to social and political unrest in the country.

• Built new networks between the Embassy of Canada in Chile and academics and policymakers, and strengthened existing relations, particularly between the Political Counsellor and Members of Congress, political analysts, and presidents and deans of local universities.
• Wrote a daily briefing offering analysis on Chile’s social unrest which was distributed to the Latin America Desk at headquarters in Ottawa.
• Drafted policy analyses and suggested Canada’s positions on, contributions to and partnerships with Chile in areas such as gender equality, 2SLGBTQI+ and indigenous rights, environmental protection, economic and trade development, and scientific and academic relations.
• Developed the digital advocacy strategy to encourage Chile’s approval of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
• Collaborated in the media outreach for Canada Day 2018 covered by TV, print, and online media, and involved a special 8-page insert in Chile’s main national newspaper. The event was attended by more than 500 people, including heads of diplomatic missions, Chilean politicians, business representatives, academics, scientists, and opinion leaders.
• Speechwriter for the ambassador.

Communications Officer
2015 – 2017
Columbia Global Centers Chile, Santiago, Chile.
On-Site. Full-Time.

Reported directly to the Country Director, and occasionally to the New York City team, working collaboratively in a cluster of 4 people, and sporadically with the teams in Brazil, China, France, India, Jordan, Kenya, and Tunis. Counselled in the design and later managed the communications and public relations of Columbia University’s Chile office, which resulted in a return over the impact (ROI) of +$1 million USD each year through more than 200 media appearances of Columbia’s academics, research and collaborations in Chilean TV, radio, print, and online media outlets.

• Compiled, built, managed, and updated a database of more than 2,000 key stakeholders systematized in more than 20 sectors to better target the promotion of Columbia Global Centers’ activities.
• Produced, organized, and oversaw the logistics of the visit of high-level authorities such as former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet to the New York City campus and one of Columbia’s research vessels on the coast of Chile, as well as several master classes of Ministers of Finance and Economy, Education, Environment, and Science at Columbia University in New York City.
• Arranged 1-2 academic panels per month which involved visits and exchanges between Columbia University’s professors and researchers and their Chilean counterparts. Each event and visit included media outreach and meetings with government policymakers.
• Prepared bi-annual pre-departure events for Columbia University’s new Chilean students, hosting 15-20 people in small receptions.
• Planned yearly alumni reunions, bringing together alumni who graduated between 1969 and 2017, aimed at academic and business network-building and the establishment of four projects financed by the Columbia University President’s Global Innovation Fund.

2014
Municipal Board of Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile.
On-Site. Full-Time.

Reported to the Director of Communications under the Municipality’s Manager. Peñalolén is one of the 52 municipalities of Chile’s Santiago Metropolitan Region, serving 270.000 inhabitants, managing 15 public education centres and 14 community health centres.

• Reported on the field, and wrote pieces of news on the Municipality’s activities that were included in press releases distributed among media outlets.
• Designed, curated, and launched a bi-weekly internal newsletter for the Departments of Education and Public Health.
• Planned and executed corporate events serving residents of Peñalolén.

Digital Client Executive / Corporate Client Executive / Public Affairs Executive
2012 – 2013
Burson-Marsteller, Santiago, Chile.
On-Site. Full-Time.

Reported to the Director of Digital Affairs, Public Relations Affairs, and Public Affairs. Worked in a team of 8 professionals from multiple disciplines.

• Wrote content and managed the digital communities on Facebook and Twitter for multinational companies in the food & beverage, technologies, telecommunications, and utility services industries.
• Managed a team of two online community managers, approving weekly plans for digital communications and community engagement at a time when Facebook and Twitter began their popularity in Chile. Consolidated the presence of the company’s brands and products, making them pioneers in establishing communities of followers on social media.
• Established and grew the community of social media influencers who became brand ambassadors, a concept that did not exist as such at the time.
• Drafted and informed weekly and monthly quantitative and qualitative reports of metrics and key performance indicators for the social media channels of our clients.
• Wrote pieces of news and press releases for multinational companies in the health, finances, and chemical and consumer goods industries.
• Managed the record of clippings for the clients under my responsibility.
• Positioned and then accompanied Corporate Executives to interviews with the local media.
• Developed and launched the media positioning strategy for the Director of Investment Strategy for Latin America and Iberia of a multinational investment management company, who then became one of the most influential figures in the Chilean financial market and a member of the advisory council of the Minister of Finance.
• Changed the company’s corporate policy and for the first time they offered pro-bono advice to clients in the third sector (NGOs). Recruited Fundación Iguales (LGBT rights) as a pro-bono client, and designed traditional media training and social media training for its directors. Specifically trained 1-on-1 the spokesperson. Established work sessions and lobby meetings with Chilean politicians, and advised on the talking points for the advocacy campaign of the Anti-Discrimination, Civil Union, and Gender Identity Acts, and the Marriage Equality Bill being discussed in Chile’s Parliament, all of which were passed between 2013 and 2021.

Ph.D. in Communication Sciences
2018 – 2021
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Master in Communication Sciences
2018 – 2019
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
(Intermediate degree awarded together with research proficiency and doctoral candidacy).

Master in International Studies.
2015 – 2017
University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Pot-Graduate Diploma in Communications and Public Policy.
2014
University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Bachelor in Social Communication
2008 – 2012
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
(Title of journalist, Mayor in Social Communications, Minor in International Relations)

Student Exchange Program
2009 – 2010
New York University, New York City, USA.

Bachelor in Journalism
2006 – 2007
Diego Portales University, Santiago, Chile.
(Transferred to the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile).

All U.S. and Canadian equivalencies were granted through WES (World Education Services) Verified International Academic Qualifications.

Full list of publications can be found in Google Scholar.

Erlandsen, M., Hernández-Garza, M.-F., & Schulz, C.-A. (2021). Madame President, Madame Ambassador? Women Presidents and Gender Parity in Latin America’s Diplomatic Services. Political Research Quarterly, 74(2), DOI: 10.1177/1065912921997922

Dammert, L. & Erlandsen, M. (2020). Migración, medios y miedos en la elección presidencial en Chile (2017). Revista CS, 31, DOI: 10.18046/recs.i31.3730

Erlandsen, M. (2021). La diplomacia pública digital como nueva herramienta de la política exterior. In C. Bywaters, D. Valenzuela, & A. Villar.  (Eds.), Nuevas Voces de Política Exterior: Chile y el mundo de la era post-consensual. (pp. 190-201). Santiago, Chile: Fondo de Cultura Económica.

• Asociación de Ciencia Política de Chile – ACCP.
• Asociación Chilena de Especialistas Internacionales – ACHEI.
• Canadian International Council, Toronto Branch – CIC.
• Canadian Political Science Association – CPSA/ACSP.
• European Communication Research and Education Association – ECREA.
• Gender in Diplomacy, University of Gothenburg – GenDip.
• International Association for Media and Communication Research – IAMCR.
• International Communication Association – ICA.
• International Studies Association – ISA.
• Latin American Studies Association – LASA.
• Research Associate at EU Diplomacy Future 4 Digital Age at the Institute of European Studies of the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
• Young International Affairs Professionals – YIAP.
• World International Studies Committee – WISC.

Member of the Board of Directors
2024
United Nations Association in Canada, Toronto Region Branch.

The United Nations Association in Canada Toronto Region Branch (UNACTO) is a volunteer-based division of the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) which is a historic, national charitable organization, established in 1946. UNA-Canada is a founding member of the World Federation of United Nations Association (WFUNA) and today holds its elected Vice-Chair representing global civil society. UNACTO is dedicated to elevating the principles of the UN Charter and to accomplishing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals through innovative programming.

• Participated in the discussion to establish mission, values, strategic priorities and performance assessment standards.
• Oversaw selection and evaluation of the branch President.
• Maintained oversight over policies and systems.
• Ensured the organization secured sufficient funds to achieve objectives.
• Led and support community relations.

Director of Communications
2015 – 2016
Fundación Hay Mujeres.

Reported to the President of the foundation. Fundación Hay Mujeres is a non-for-profit organization in Chile that advocates for the media visibility of women experts in different fields mostly occupied by men.

• In charge of the communications and public relations for the organization; designed and launched their first official website, and designed the social media communication strategy.
• Kept the directory and database of +400 expert women in >50 different fields.
• Organized a media training in partnership with National Television of Chile (TVN in Spanish) for back then little-known expert women who later became important public figures, such as the Minister of Environment (Maisa Rojas), the National Prosecutor (Ximena Chong), and the President of the Constitutional Convention of 2022 (Elisa Loncón).
• Designed and launched the campaign of Male Ambassadors of Hay Mujeres, which gathered local renown male politicians, academics, artists, scientists, and decision-makers supporting the cause and committing to provide spaces within their fields so other women could have a share, representation, and voice. The campaign has been replicated every year after.
• Designed the social media campaign “Panel de Hombres” (“All Male Panel”), raising awareness of public events where no women were invited as experts in the topic. The campaign was also replicated in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico by other similar organizations.
• Led team of 2 other people.

Tutor of Spanish for Refugees to Chile
2012 – 2013
Jesuit Refugee Service.

• Designed, tested, and implemented pedagogic materials for teaching Spanish to people of several different countries, social contexts, and cultures, including persons from Afghanistan, China, Haiti, Kosovo, and Palestine.
• Each semester taught weekly lectures for four groups of 5-7 students with no knowledge of the Spanish language (or even the Latin alphabet) who were able to achieve a basic command of Spanish, that in turn allowed most of them to find employment.

Director of Internal Communications
2006 – 2008; 2010
Un Techo Para Mi País (now TECHO, Latin American Not-For-Profit Organization based in Chile).

Reported to the Director of Communications for Latin America. Tasked with multiple challenges in the areas of communications, fundraising, social research, and volunteer engagement.

• Designed, developed, tested, and launched a Spanish, English, and Portuguese internal communications bulletin to inform and engage +2,000 volunteers and employees in 12 countries.
• Built around 120 units of emergency housing in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay.
• Researched and presented the feasibility analysis for the opening of the local office in Panama, which involved 6 months of analysis of the social, political and economic situation, development of focus groups both in Chile and in Panama with college students, non-profit directors, policymakers, editors of media outlets, potential donors, and emergency-house suppliers in Panama, as well as one visit to explore some of Panama’s most vulnerable communities. The office in Panama was opened in 2010, gathering more than 5,000 volunteers, that have assisted over 1,500 families in overcoming extreme poverty and housing problems in 15 zones of the country.
• Participated in the management of travel and hosting logistics for the participants at the First Latin American Summit of Volunteers in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2006, which was attended by 30-35 people from 12 different countries. Collaborated in the media outreach of the event.
• After experiencing on the field a major earthquake (8 points on the Richter scale) in Peru, collaborated in the design of a communications strategy and fundraising campaign that resulted in more than USD 400K, over 500 emergency houses built, and more than 1,000 volunteers mobilized.
• Acted as liaison between the organization and key stakeholders in New York City to raise funds and boost the communication campaign after the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti in early 2010.