My Job
I act as a sparring party on the unique and complex issues that Brussels and the international policy environment throw up. These tend to be – at least on the surface – eye-wateringly technical. But when one digs a bit deeper one finds emotional and societal impacts, that one needs address in a relevant way. What I love is the range of tasks I get involved in from analysis, defining a strategy, target audiences and messaging, to getting out there and supporting the client in getting the message across. With all that is going on in politics today there is never a dull moment!
My Experience
I have over 35 years of agency experience with Hill & Knowlton (H&K) and now with Acumen. I grew H&K’s Brussels office from 1994-2010 to the largest in the PA/PR arena, and in addition had the role of global public affairs director. Assignments have ranged across various sectors with a focus on public affairs and communications, healthcare, food, consumer, trade, ICT, environmental issues and energy.
My background is public affairs (having worked for the UK Foreign Office). I have worked with a range of blue chip companies as well as trade associations, ad hoc coalitions, governments, NGOs and international institutions. Over the years, I have run Brussels, EU- wide and international campaigns for a range of clients.
Past and current clients include: AstraZeneca, ABPI, Apple Health, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Boots, Bristol Myers Squibb, Coca-Cola, Daikin, Debswana/DeBeers, European Breakfast Cereal Association (CEEREAL), European Liver Patients Association (ELPA) European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA), European Natural Soya Association (ENSA), European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), The Global Fund, Government of Turkey, GSM Association, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), Illumina, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg’s, Lundbeck, LEO Pharma, Merck, Mitsubishi, NICE, Nominet, Novartis, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Roche, Rosneft, Sharpe & Dohme (MSD), Stop TB, Syngenta and Wrigley’s.
My Specialisms
My Proudest Achievements
Building Brussels’ leading public affairs teams; twice!
Effecting change to legislation.
Building relationships with valued clients and stakeholders over the years.
My Education
University of Glasgow (1975-1981) French and German language and literature
My Languages
English, French, German
My Interests outside work
Golf, my dog
My Favourite Brussels anecdote
There’s no such thing as a file that is closed. Dig out those old files and keep them safe.
Also in these turbulent times, more than ever being aware of interrelationships between issues or “joining the dots” is even more important. Who would have thought that an environment issue would be the number one lobbying issue for the pharma issue (although that could now be superseded by trade!)