Judges

Anna graduated from Leeds University with a BA(Hons) in Politics and Parliamentary Studies and has worked in the US House of Representatives and in Parliament, running General and Local Election campaigns as well as a Shadow Minister’s office.

She now runs a public affairs agency, specialising in representing membership bodies and trade associations.  She builds informed relationships between clients and key decisions-makers in the Commons and the Lords and provides strategic advice to execute campaigns over many parliamentary sessions, as well as organising events within the Palace of Westminster and across the UK.

She also volunteers for APS UK, establishing and fundraising for a research fellowship at St Thomas’ Hospital.

Carl Thomson is Public Policy Manager at Airbnb and a board member of the Short Term Accommodation Association.

Previously, he was a director at Whitehouse Communications and Interel, and an Associate Partner at Dentons Global Advisors. He also worked for several Conservative Members of Parliament, was a local councillor and a former candidate for parliament. He was a member of the Association of Professional Political Consultants management committee, and won Best Crisis and Issues Management at the 2021 PRCA National Awards.

Claire Bass is Senior Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs at Humane Society International/UK and has been working in the animal protection movement for two decades, with recent significant involvement in the successful passage of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act. Claire is the chair of the Animal Welfare Strategy Group in a UK NGO umbrella body (Wildlife and Countryside Link) and is a lead author and strategist on a joint third sector campaign to government to secure the best possible deal for animals in the course of the UK’s exit from the European Union. Claire holds an MSc in Marine Environmental Protection from the University of Wales and in her previous role as Head of Wildlife Campaigns at World Animal Protection she was responsible for the concept, strategic planning, and launch of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, a collaboration that now has membership of 18 governments and more than 100 businesses and NGOs.

With over 25 years of experience in politics and public affairs, David has provided support to over 100 international blue chip companies, trade associations, and professional bodies during his time in consultancy.

Brevia Consulting provides straightforward public affairs and public relations support to organisations in a range of sectors including health, energy, technology, industrials, transport, infrastructure, civil nuclear, and not-for-profit.  Prior to entering Consultancy, David was a senior political adviser to the Conservative Party and worked with eight Secretaries of State on a range of policy briefs.

Lizzy is Head of UK Public Affairs at H/Advisors Cicero, working predominantly with financial services clients. She has widespread agency experience, assisting several FTSE250 clients on legislative affairs, financial services policy and consumer policy. Her clients have included Barclays UK, American Express, Klarna, Santander UK and AXA UK. As part of the H/Advisors Exchange Programme, Lizzy spent four weeks in Washington D.C. with H/Advisors Abernathy working on U.S. Public Affairs and building relationships across the pond.

Lizzy started her career working for two Liberal Democrat MPs – Paul Burstow MP and Adrian Sanders MP – in Westminster during the Coalition Government. Prior to joining H/Advisors Cicero, Lizzy worked for a political consultancy firm specialising in local government and planning. Here she worked on various planning applications across the UK on behalf of large-scale residential developers, whilst circumnavigating local politics.

Hannah Swirsky is the Public Affairs Manager at Samaritans, the UK and Ireland’s largest suicide prevention charity, managing parliamentary influencing and engagement. Hannah previously worked as a Parliamentary Assistant to a Labour MP, as well as for organisations campaigning on issues including women’s political participation, human rights and mental health.

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

Jess is Head of Public Affairs at Teach First – a charity that works to end inequality in education. She oversees the organisation’s strategy for political engagement and creating policy change. Prior to TF she worked in consultancy, supporting national and international charities and NGOs with advocacy work.

Kirsty is a senior policy and public affairs advisor with twenty-five years’ experience across government, voluntary and private sectors. Prior to joining Global, the media and entertainment group, in 2014, she spent ten years at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, working on a range of policy areas.

Kirsty is Chair of Governors at the Global Academy and is also a board member of Coppafeel!, the breast cancer awareness charity.

Leon has more than 20 years international experience as a government relations and corporate communications specialist, having worked for three of the biggest global agencies, been seconded to two national oil companies, and worked inhouse for the likes of SONY and Anglo American.

Leon has led multi-functional cross-border teams in the UK and across Europe and Middle East to develop bespoke reputation, government affairs and communications strategies for pressure groups, foreign governments and large multinationals across multiple sectors. Leon is responsible for overall strategy and client campaign development across Atticus’ client base.

Magdalena has spent 18 years in the communications industry, working across political and regulatory affairs, public affairs, and government campaigns, as well as conferences and events.

Magdalena began her career as an assistant to the public affairs team at Finsbury (now FGS Global). Over her near two decades with the firm, she has worked on a wide range of public affairs campaigns and events, coordinating and managing some of the most successful public affairs events in recent years, including award-winning party conference receptions, bespoke in-person conversations, as well as a series of events during COP26 for several FTSE100 companies.

Naomi Williams is Managing Partner and Co-Owner of Camlas. Naomi has worked in public affairs in Wales since 2011 and has extensive experience of working across numerous policy areas, with a particular focus on infrastructure, housing, energy and environment. She provides strategic advice and support for clients on their political engagement in Wales. Naomi was also the Chair of Public Affairs Cymru between 2021/2023 and is a regular political commentator on Welsh language news programmes offering analysis of latest political developments in Wales.

Originally from Criccieth, Naomi graduated from Cardiff University with a BA degree in Politics and Welsh and went on to receive a postgraduate Masters degree in International Relations. As an alumni of Cardiff University, she regularly provides mentorship opportunities for current undergraduate and post-graduate students at the university. In addition, Naomi has a Diploma in Public Relations from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Prior to joining Camlas, she worked as a legal consultant for The Law Society and worked for both the former Assembly Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Dafydd Elis-Thomas and former South Wales West Assembly Member, Dr Dai Lloyd.

Olivia Choudhry is the Founder of the Public Affairs Racial Diversity Network (PARDN). PARDN is the first of its kind national network hoping to break barriers and provide a voice to racially diverse professionals who are trying to work in, currently working in or trying to progress within the Public Affairs sector. Olivia specialises in government relations work and is currently an Account Manager at Cavendish Consulting, an integrated communications agency.

Rebecca is a Partner at Pagefield with over 15 years’ experience providing strategy, policy, public affairs, and corporate communications support for clients in sectors including property, charities, FMCG, defence and transport.

Rebecca is actively involved with the Labour Party, having stood as a candidate at the 2017 and 2019 General Elections, and she was a Labour Councillor in Southwark from 2012-2022.

Rebecca was announced as one of the ‘Ones to Watch’ in the Women in Westminster 100 in 2023.

Sabine is an Associate Director in the Advocacy team at SEC Newgate UK. She has over a decade of experience working in public affairs and communications. She gives senior counsel to organisations across a range of sectors, including food and drink/FMCG, supply chains, international trade and associated consumer briefs.

Over the course of her career she’s worked at Dods UK Monitoring as a parliamentary expert, and delivered Marketing, Corporate Communications, PR and PA briefs across a range of roles across the charitable, public and private sector. At SEC Newgate she combines these disciplines, specialising in integrated campaigns, to make sure her clients have the best chance of being noticed and listened to by decision-makers.

Sarah Clothier is a former journalist and experienced public affairs consultant, specialising in political communication and public health campaigning. For the last 12 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.

Sarah works as an Associate Lecturer on the MA Public Relations at Sheffield Hallam University.

Simon is a vastly experienced consultant, having worked in public affairs and communications for fifteen years.

Simon leads PLMR’s public affairs practice, advising clients on how to navigate the policy, political and regulatory environment impacting their business and helping them engage with policymakers and wider stakeholders. Simon has an extensive track record of delivering successful public affairs and PR programmes for clients to help them achieve their objectives.

He is responsible for setting the strategic direction of our work for clients and leading account teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality campaigns. During his career, Simon has worked with clients across a range of sectors. Notably, this has included organisations within the health, housing, tech, skills, infrastructure and professional services sectors as well as across wider public service markets.

Simon works with organisations seeking to engage at a national (Westminster), devolved, regional and local government level. He has led numerous award-winning campaigns and was recognised as the PRCA’s 2022 Public Affairs Consultant of the Year.

Thomas Barton leads UK Public Affairs at Entain Group, having previously worked in lobbying at Sainsbury’s and at Vodafone Group. Thomas is also the Founder and CEO of Polis Analysis, a start-up political intelligence organisation. Before starting his career in public affairs, Thomas worked in Parliament and also held numerous roles with the Conservative Party.

Thom is currently the UK Public Affairs Lead at easyJet and joined in August 2022. In this role, he leads on easyJet’s public affairs strategy and engagement in the Westminster and Devolved Nations. He also leads easyJet’s charity engagement through its charity partner UNICEF and works closely as part of a pan-European Corporate Affairs team. Prior to joining easyJet Thom worked at ADS, the UK’s aerospace, defence and space trade association for almost five years, leading on many cross sectoral political campaigns, events and wider political engagement.

Thom is a British Politics and Legislative Studies graduate from the University of Hull and previously worked for a Labour Shadow Cabinet Minister in Parliament.

Verona is an experienced government affairs and policy professional currently leading UK public affairs for FTSE250 global cyber security firm NCC Group. In this role, she oversees NCC Group’s engagement with UK government and regulatory decision-makers and the wider policymaking community, against a backdrop of the increasing regulation of cyber resilience. Prior to joining NCC Group, she has overseen in-house and consultancy public affairs programmes for a range of organisations – from FTSE100 and public sector institutions to start-ups and disruptors, across many sectors of the economy including aviation, logistics, and utilities.