Connect Public Affairs is an independent, award winning public affairs consultancy.
Our training service uses our own experienced, public policy professionals to deliver insight, intelligence and understanding.
Gill Morris, Managing Director
Gill has over 25 years experience of working in public affairs. Her knowledge of the political landscape makes her a leading commentator on what is happening in Westminster and Whitehall. She has particular expertise in social policy development and specialises in housing, homelessness, regeneration issues and regional policy.
Emily Wallace, Deputy Managing Director
Emily has delivered a range of bespoke training and support packages for clients, ranging from running internal communications workshops and priority setting sessions, to working with Board members and senior management to agree strategic organisational objectives. Emily has also delivered training on influencing the legislative process, and the role and value of public affairs programmes.
Emily has responsibility for our internal training and development programme, and has successfully supported Connect through two Investor in People assessments.
Andrew Pakes, Associate Director
Andrew is an experienced campaigner and has over 10 years experience providing strategic advice and public affairs support across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
He has been involved in a range of high profile campaigns, serving as President of the National Union of Students (NUS) during the shake up of student finance, as a political advisor at the GLA, and working as Head of Political Communications at the Labour Party.
Andrew specialises in regional and local government issues and is also a borough councillor in London.
Laura Blake, Account Director
Laura has particular experience of working in the local government, housing and regeneration sectors. She is an experienced campaigner, and was a key part of the team that helped police authorities secure a major government u-turn in defeating the proposed force mergers. Laura also worked with pensioners’ organisations to raise the profile of the impact of the 10p tax rate within Parliament and across the media.
Ian Geary, Account Manager
Ian has a strong background in national policy work and Westminster orientated public affairs, having worked for a senior Labour backbencher and major trade union.
At Connect, Ian works for a range of not-for-profit and corporate clients, including trade unions. Ian has previously delivered training on local government and Westminster on behalf of Transport for London.
Caroline Gordon, Account Manager
Caroline worked in public affairs for high-profile charities including Mencap and Mind, as well as for Yvette Cooper MP during her
role as Housing Minister.
She worked closely with London Mayors and Leaders as Labour Group Adviser at London Councils, and has an MA in Political Campaigning and Communications.
Caroline has previously devised and carried out training and education programmes on understanding Parliament and how to influence MPs and ministers.
Adam Thomas, Account Manager
Adam joined Connect after graduating with a First Class degree in Law from Oriel College, Oxford.
Adam has experience of planning, local government and utility sectors. He has worked closely with a number of developers to deliver a range of residential and major infrastructure projects.
Earlier this year he also worked with the All Party Parliamentary Water Group in delivering a major national report on the future of the UK water sector.
Andrew Smith, Account Manager
Andrew joined the Connect team in early 2009 and brings with him a wealth of experience of public affairs, campaigning and policy development.
He specialises in local and regional government, regulatory issues and Opposition policy development.
Prior to joining Connect Andrew worked as the Political Adviser to Alan Duncan MP during a period when he served as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Shadow Transport Secretary and Shadow Business Secretary. He has also worked in Conservative Central Office as a member of the Conservative Research Department, and is a borough councilllor in London.
At Connect Andrew works on a range of client accounts including Santander and the Financial Services Authority.
James Hawkins, Account Manager
James has over six years experience as a campaigns and public affairs professional.
He most recently worked for the Regional Development Agency Secretariat, having previously worked as the parliamentary researcher for Charles Hendry MP during his time as Shadow Minister for Energy, and Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry, as well as working in the Political Unit of the Conservative Research Department during the 2005 general election.
James also worked for three years for Investec Private Bank in London, along with short stints in their Johannesburg and Channel Islands offices, and has worked as media consultant for a major US governmental defence client, which involved several months in Baghdad. He also worked for a US Congressman in Washington DC before joining Connect in 2009.
Find out more about the whole Connect team on our people page.
