Judges

Andy is Managing Partner and co-owner of the Connect Group, comprising London based Connect and Belfast based Stratagem. He provides strategic advice and senior counsel to our clients on media and political strategy, issues management and crisis communications. Andy draws on his experiences as a former Member of Parliament, representing Corby and serving as a Shadow Minister, member of a Select Committee and Bill Committees. Prior to this, Andy was Chief Executive of the LGIU, an award winning thinktank and membership body for UK local government. Andy’s other experience includes: Vice President of the Local Government Association, trustee of the Centre for Public Scrutiny and Board Chair of Local Energy Ltd, a social enterprise business. Andy has worked in the European Parliament and with the EU Committee of the Regions. He has also served as a councillor and local authority Cabinet Member in Dartford, Kent. Andy is a Board Member of the Public Relations Consultants Association and Vice Chair of Governors at the Kettering Buccleuch Academy. In his spare time he coaches a youth football team in the Weetabix League. Andy features in the PR Week Powerbook of leading figures in public relations.

Chris is an Associate Director at the award-winning iNHouse Communications, where he specialises in reputation management and works across a range of FTSE 100 companies and high-profile corporate clients. Having started his career in consumer PR, Chris switched to politics and has since run and supported campaigns for Armed Forces veterans, public health and support for small businesses. Outside of work, Chris is a committed charity fundraiser, setting himself (and sometimes friends) annual challenges for the likes of Shelter. He is also an avid rugby watcher and a long-suffering Spurs fan.

Emily is a Partner at Hanbury Strategy where she advises clients on UK political strategy, campaigns and communications across a range of sectors, from technology to financial services. In her five years at Hanbury she has built the public affairs practice which she now manages. She is an experienced communicator and campaigner, having managed the media campaign for Jo Swinson’s successful bid for the Liberal Democrat leadership, as well as working on three general election campaigns. Emily was a councillor for five years. She has been elected by industry peers to sit on the PRCA Public Affairs Board Executive Committee, which upholds ethical standards in public affairs and sits on the Design Museum’s External Affairs Committee.

Jessica is Head of Public Affairs and Associate Director at Hanover Communications where she provides senior counsel and advice on political communications and campaigns. Jessica has over 5 years of consultancy experience and began her career working in Westminster. She is also a member of the Public Affairs Board Executive Committee

Khalil is a International Relations and Politics BSC Graduate, and will begin this year with a Masters in Diplomacy. Khalil is an avid Reader – politics is his passion and he is committed to contributing towards creating a more equitable world socially, economically and politically.

Lindsay has worked in and around the public affairs industry throughout her career, most recently as global COO at Interel (now Dentons). She also has inhouse experience with the Law Society of Scotland, and government experience from her time with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the European Commission. She now works as an executive coach to the public affairs industry, with a focus on supporting people who are newly promoted into senior leadership roles.

Oliver co-founded Pagefield in 2010 after a decade working inside British and European political institutions, industry trade bodies, and high-profile listed companies. He is an integrated campaigning specialist, with over twenty years’ experience protecting, promoting and rebuilding corporate reputations through a combination of public affairs, public relations and crisis management. Oliver has overseen Pagefield’s rapid growth to become one of London’s go-to agencies for integrated communications across multiple sectors – including fintech and tech, professional services, transport, property, infrastructure, FMCG, and charities. Oliver is a Freeman of the City of London; is regularly named as one of Mace Magazine’s top 100 political consultants; features in the PR Week Power Book; and – in July 2022 – was appointed to the Board of the National Centre for Social Research.

Sarah Clothier is a former journalist and experienced public affairs consultant, specialising in political communication and public health campaigning. For the last 10 years, she has worked as Public Affairs Consultant for Slimming World, the largest group-based weight loss organisation in the UK and Ireland.

In 2019, Sarah completed an MA in International Public and Political Communication (distinction) at The University of Sheffield. She has co-authored and led a number of award-winning national public health campaigns working with strategic partners and government agencies.