Manuela Stefanides

Brand Officer , Intergovernmental agency

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Brand and experience leader with 20 years of practice across visual identity, brand systems, spatial and environmental design, campaigns, publication design and large-scale international event production. Experienced in directing unified creative output across print, digital and physical environments for complex international organisations. EU and UK national available for roles across Europe.

Contact Manuela Stefanides
Area of Expertise:
  • Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
Professional Experience:

With over 20 years of professional practice, I build and run the full creative and communications function for complex international organisations - from brand strategy and visual identity through to spatial design, campaigns and large-scale event experience. I lead at strategic level and deliver hands-on, working across print, digital and physical environments simultaneously.
Since 2014 I have been based at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a 172-member-state intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Joining as the organisation's first dedicated designer, I built its visual identity from scratch and have since grown into the Brand Manager role, with full strategic direction, team leadership and budget ownership across all creative output.
In this capacity I have standardised visual identity across 25+ programmes and 350+ publications, producing eight brand guideline systems adopted organisation-wide. I design and oversee 150+ communication outputs annually, spanning reports, infographics, presentations, digital assets and campaign materials. I have directed video production, photography, motion graphics and podcasts, and contributed to growing IRENA's social media following threefold over my tenure through consistent brand application and content strategy.
Spatial and environmental design is a core part of my practice. I have conceptualised and delivered branded spaces, stages and immersive environments for major international events over a decade, including the IRENA Assembly (2,000+ participants), COP, World EXPO and the World Future Energy Summit, which draws up to 40,000 attendees. I introduced upcycling and material repurposing across event builds, reducing production costs by an estimated 20%. I review technical drawings for spaces, furniture, staging and signage, and coordinate booth builders, fabricators, AV teams, photographers and installation contractors across multiple concurrent projects.
I also designed and delivered IRENA's first virtual Assembly for 1,500+ participants from 160 countries, an approach subsequently adopted organisation-wide.
Data visualisation and executive communications form another significant strand of my work. I transform complex research and policy data into clear visual narratives, and produce high-level presentations and reports for the Director-General to support senior leadership decision-making.
I manage a team of four in-house designers and direct up to ten external agencies concurrently, with budgets ranging from USD 20,000 to USD 500,000 across multiple regions. I also hold an MBA in Leadership from Central Saint Martins and Birkbeck, University of London, completed in 2025 alongside full-time employment, with a dissertation focused on sustainable event planning.
Before IRENA, I ran an independent design practice in Greece for eight years, delivering branding, visual identity and communications for 20+ clients across culture, hospitality, retail and NGO sectors, including the Greek Ministry of Culture. My early career included editorial design at Liberis Publications, advertising at Karamella Advertising, and spatial and technical drawing support in an architectural practice - the foundation for the spatial design capability I bring today.
I am an EU and UK national with no visa complications for roles across Europe, and I am actively available for senior in-house, consultancy and contract opportunities in mission-driven organisations working on sustainability, climate and social impact.

Education:

MBA in Leadership
Central Saint Martins & Birkbeck, University of London (Graduated 2025)
Dissertation: ‘Sustainable Event Planning: How We Gather Matters’.

Bachelor of Arts (HONS) in Design
University of Derby, UK

Diploma in Graphic Design
Vakalo Art & Design College, GR

COURSES
Data Visualisation & Information Design, London College of Communication
Brand Strategy & Digital Marketing, London College of Communication
Insights for Innovation, IDEO

Affiliations and Achievements:

Carbon Literacy Certificate, Central Saint Martins

Available for:

  • Job opportunities

Years of Experience:

15-20 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English, Greek

Nationality:

Greece

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