My Job
As Head of the Digital Practice, I provide strategic, political and governmental advice as it relates to business. Because of my extensive in-house digital and OEM experience, I often advise on establishing / resetting an in-house GA operation in a corporate environment. I also advise on functional reorganisations – in the EU and, Asia and globally.
My Experience
Prior to joining FIPRA in September 2022, I was Head of Central Government Affairs Europe and APAC for DiDi; Director International Government Relations with Pearson; Vice President, Public Affairs AMEA for BT; Director Global Government Affairs for Jaguar Land Rover; Global Head of Policy and Government Relations at Nokia Siemens Networks; and BT’s Director of European Affairs, in Brussels
I have also been a Ministerial adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, specializing in hazardous waste and water pricing. I worked in the UK parliament front and backbench, Commons and Lords.
My Specialisms
My Proudest Achievements
Leading the GA Team that gained BT an IP-VPN licence to operate in China – 2019. BT remains the only non-Chinese telco with such a licence.
E Communications Framework Review 2009 – Brussels. A very long campaign that was both technical and political. Ensured regulatory outcome commercially favourable to my company against opposition that was numerically stronger with much greater financial resource
Writing the animal welfare policies that the Labour Party fought the 1997 General Election with. So they become law.
I have helped edit and magazine two books on Crystal Palace Football Club. You’ve all probably read them.
My Education
- BA (Hons), University of Ulster, Magee College
- MSc, University College London
My Languages
English
My Interests outside work
Football (well, Crystal Palace), cycling, Chinese and Asian politics, UK Parliament buildings (I was a tour guide for many years)
My Favourite Brussels anecdote
Working for a Minister we would attend Environment Council meetings. I’d normally sit in the salle d’ecoute to watch. At one, one of the civil servants and I went out for a coffee and came back in to the room. It took us both ten minutes to realise that we were in the wrong room listening to a discussion on drugs. The Language of Brussels meetings is often similar no matter what the subject.