The ICE exists to provide insights on infrastructure for social benefit, using the knowledge of over 90,000 members around the world. Reporting to the Director General, I was brought in to develop and deliver a strategy for the policy and public affairs function, a team of 7, to make the organisation more relevant and credible to decision makers.

Reporting to the Chief Economist, I led policy development on the business environment challenges that impact on manufacturing growth and productivity, alongside thought leadership on how to improve the adoption of 4th industrial revolution technologies within manufacturing. The role encompassed the full range of policy and public affairs including policy development, stakeholder engagement, writing policy and thought leadership reports, advocacy with Ministers and senior officials, issues framing and narrative development. It was a rewarding role and my achievements included:● Developing EEF as the go to organisation on the digitisation of manufacturing by providing timely briefings to Parliamentarians (national and EU), Ministers and the UK’s Representation to the EU, representing EEF on Parliamentary panel debates, providing in depth media interviews and developing a suite of reports and articles based on extensive member research including focus groups, surveys and interviews.● Being invited to speak and share insights at an international symposium in Japan on the future world of work in the 4th industrial revolution, to share the results of my research on the business, employee and political implications of the adoption of automation and emerging technologies in manufacturing.● Establishing, as part of the wider debate on airport expansion, the importance of a new runway at Heathrow for securing trade links for manufactured exports. This was achieved through media interviews, civil servant briefings, developing a solid evidence base and influencing opinion formers via social media.● Securing a government review of the provision of broadband for businesses through framing the issue as one of barriers to future growth, undertaking broadcast interviews and amplifying our message through stakeholder networks. This review ultimately led to the creation of an industry-government forum for tackling barriers to digital infrastructure rollout.

The IET is the largest professional body for chartered engineers. The policy team taps that pool of knowledge to ensure engineering plays a role in wider public policy debates. My role was to translate the technical knowledge of engineers into language and policy positions that politicians could understand and act upon. The role included periods of line management responsibility for a Policy Advisor and a Policy Intern. My successes included:● Unsticking the debate on electric vehicle adoption, by bringing together a cross section of academics, engineers and media stakeholders to foster shared recognition of the public concerns around electric vehicles.● Enabling the IET to become a partner to improve the design of a new high speed railway (HS2), by pointing out through media interviews and political engagement how the technical assumptions put forward undermined the economic case for the scheme.

A part-time secondment as part of the policy team at the Royal Academy of Engineering, Britain's national academy for engineering. The role covered leading on the development of Academy policy positions on industrial strategy and manufacturing, alongside working with colleagues to further the Academy's policy development in other engineering fields. Including:● Being commissioned by the DfT to produce briefings to help set the direction of travel for subsequent civil service research. These included briefings on how technology can be used to improve transport and the core aspects needed to deliver a workable industrial strategy.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is the trade body that supports and represents the UK recruitment industry.At the REC I worked in the industry sectors team taking responsibility for lobbying, policy development, stakeholder engagement, PR, event management, brand development and member communication for several groups including:REC Technology, REC Accounting and Financial Services, REC Construction, REC Engineering & Technical, Association of Executive Recruiters, Interim Management Association and REC EducationI was given a broad remit to develop and deliver new ways to communicate to members about their sector specific policy and legal issues, and to develop and advocate policy responses to overcome the potential impact on their business. My main accomplishments were both business and policy focussed:● I positioned REC as an organisation that could advise civil servants on policy development for very technical regulatory issues ranging from the threat of government licensing in the construction sector, public sector security vetting in the technology sector and contractor tax status in the engineering sector.● Defending the positions of the UK recruitment industry through deputising for the Director of Policy at pan-European industry (Eurociett) meetings and EU industry-trade union Social Dialogue forums.

Political Researcher for Lord Roberts of Llandudno Liberal Democrat spokesperson in the House of Lords for International Development and Wales.

Stategic Communications Executive responsible for developing communication plans for several local government delivery improvement projects.