Women in Public Affairs Executive Committee
The Women in Public Affairs Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day co-ordination and organisation of the Network.
Ella Fallows
WiPA Co-founder
Meta
Ella is Outreach Manager for Northern Europe at Meta, and is co-founder of Women in Public Affairs with Laura Gilmore.
Previously she was Head of Political Intelligence at Lexington Communications and before that she managed political engagement programmes at Dods, ran parliamentary and policy training and worked for two Labour MPs. She has a Masters in Parliamentary Studies from Leeds University and a BA in Politics and History.
She's passionate about promoting and supporting women in all industries. She loves good food and travel, although she has a young son who prevents her enjoying either of those things regularly!
Laura Gilmore
WiPA Co-founder
Cummins Inc.
Laura is one of the co-founders of Women in Public Affairs, which she started with Ella Fallows after meeting whilst studying for a public affairs diploma. She is currently the Director of Corporate Affairs and Chief of Staff for Europe for Cummins, a Fortune 150 global power technology company.
Her earlier career was in politics, with her last political role being Head of the Liberal Democrat House of Lords Whips' Office during the Coalition Government. Laura lives in Hackney with her husband and two young daughters, Matilda and Grace. She is passionate about food, the environment and equality.
anne mirkovic
WiPA Co-Chair
Connect
Anne is an Associate Director at Connect Group. She provides strategic advice to clients on a range of issues at a local, regional and national level as well as advocating on their behalf to raise their political profiles and achieve policy change.
She was previously a long-standing aide to Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge MP and has also worked in public affairs and communications for the Association of British Insurers and the British Chambers of Commerce.
Anne is passionate about championing women in the workplace and is a co-founder of Corby and East Northants CLP Women’s Forum. Outside of work she can be found attempting to run half marathons, volunteering and watching Louis Theroux documentaries.
melanie fernandes
WiPA Co-Chair
KPMG UK
Melanie is an External Affairs Manager at KPMG UK, where she manages the firm’s external affairs work on net zero and sustainability issues.
Mel previously worked at the Association of British Insurers, where she led the trade association’s parliamentary engagement on long-term savings policy. She was named by Policy Mogul as one of the top 30 Inspirational Women in Public Affairs in 2019.
Mel has completed the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Specialist Diploma in Public Affairs and holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Manchester. She is passionate about equality, food and occasionally going to the gym.
charlotte adamson
Cicero/amo
Charlotte is an Account Director at Cicero/amo, having joined the company in 2015. She works with a range of FTSE 100 clients, providing advice on political and policy developments and strategy. Charlotte also heads up the Legislative Affairs Unit at Cicero/amo, providing clients with advice on legislative campaigns, process and constitutional affairs.
Charlotte was named by Policy Mogul as one of the top 30 Inspirational Women in Public Affairs in 2019 and was ranked amongst the HERoes Future Leaders 2019 by INvolve and Yahoo Finance.
She has a degree and research masters in law from Durham University, where she specialised in rape myths and the use of women’s mental health records in rape trials. Outside of work, Charlotte enjoys scouting out second hand deals to expand her ever growing book collection and attempting to find her inner zen at the gym.
anna Harling
Sainsbury’s
Anna is the Senior Government Relations Manager at Sainsbury’s and specialises in issues relating to public health and sustainability.
She was previously a Senior Associate Director at Interel, where she advised some of the U.K.’s largest retail and consumer goods companies and provided pro bono support to Hestia.
In 2019, she was listed in PR Week’s 30 under 30 and was previously a finalist for the PRCA’s Young Public Affairs Professional of the Year and ICCO’s Rising Star of the Year.
Anna has also worked in the House of Commons, Essex County Council and at a PR consultancy. Anna loves her role on the committee and is passionate about diversity in the industry. Outside of work, she will be found on walks around east London with her husband and Merlin, her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Lizzy Tomlin
H-Advisors Cicero
Lizzy is an Associate Director at H-Advisors Cicero, where she works predominantly with financial services clients, focusing on consumer policy, financial services regulation and legislative affairs. Lizzy joined the company in 2017 and now leads on client service delivery in the UK Public Affairs team.
Prior to joining Cicero/amo, Lizzy worked for another political consultancy specialised in planning and development, working on large-scale planning projects across the UK whilst circumnavigating local politics. She is also active in the Liberal Democrats and previously worked in Parliament for two Lib Dem MPs during the Coalition Government.
Outside of politics, Lizzy plays football for Wanderers FC and is a member of the club’s Administration Committee.
Priyanka Patel
CLIC Sargent
Priyanka delivers public affairs and campaigning activity for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people.
She started her career at public affairs agency M&F Health, where she worked with clients across the health and wellbeing sector.
She has a first class degree in International Relations and Management from the University of Exeter.
She is passionate about championing diversity in public affairs. Outside of work, she spends her time swing dancing, growing vegetables and thinking about food.
Louise Abraham
CAFOD
Louise is currently the Government Relations Adviser for CAFOD, an international development charity, leading on their parliamentary and government engagement.
She was previously a Consultant at Interel UK, delivering political engagement and campaigns activity for a range of clients in the sustainability, financial services and health and wellbeing sectors.
She has a first class degree in International Development from King’s College London. She is passionate about the environment, food and upcycling.
Tiffany Burrows
Department for International Trade (DIT)
Tiffany is Deputy Head of External Affairs at DIT. She has over seven years of consultancy experience – most recently as Associate Director and Head of Trade at SEC Newgate UK - and has worked in-house on secondment at Octopus Group. She began her career in public affairs interning for a political consultancy firm in the US.
Tiff has been shortlisted for the Women of the Future Awards this year and was identified by The House Magazine as a ‘One to Watch’ as part of their Women in Westminster 2022 initiative. During the pandemic, she was recognised in PR Week’s 30 under 30 list and in 2019, she was shortlisted for Consultant of the Year at the PRCA Public Affairs Awards.
Tiff enjoys a good book with a glass of red wine or a margarita, swimming, and when able to, escaping to the countryside or travelling abroad.
Madison Rogers
Cats Protection
Madison joined Cats Protection, the UK’s largest cat welfare charity, in 2017 and is currently the Head of Advocacy, Campaigns and Government Relations. Madison started her career on a year long placement at Cavendish Place Communications working for clients within the financial services industry, transport sector and education sector.
Madison has a first class honours degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bath and she recently completed the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Specialist Diploma in Public Affairs.
Madison is passionate about empowering women and outside of work is a Girl Guide leader and previously was a member of Girlguiding’s National Advocate Panel for young women.
laura gabb
5654 & Company
Laura is a Partner at 5654 & Company, leading corporate affairs strategies for clients across the tech, finance, and healthcare industries. Previously she led the digital campaigning arm at Stonehaven, and has a track record of building consultancy teams with a strong focus on multi-channel strategies that drive support and strengthen reputation.
Her consultancy experience includes campaigning with Heathrow to win support for expansion, supporting EDF in its campaign to build Sizewell C, and helping the rail industry to earn reputation. She also played a leading role in the Conservative Party’s successful 2019 digital strategy.
She has a MSc in Communications from Columbia University in New York and in her spare time likes to run around North London parks, and watch her beloved Arsenal FC.
Victoria McNish
DGA Interel
Victoria is an Associate Director at public affairs agency DGA Interel, where she supports clients across the consumer, transport, sustainability and tech sectors. She also leads their campaigns on behalf of the UK’s beauty and wellbeing sector, which was recognised by four industry awards for the team’s work supporting the left-behind sector during the pandemic. She was also recognised as Rising Star of the Year at the ICCO Global Awards 2021.
Prior to joining Interel, Victoria spent a number of years in another political consultancy, and started her career working as a researcher for a Conservative MP in Parliament.
In addition to being on WiPA’s Executive Committee, Victoria is Vice-Chair of the PRCA’s NextGen Public Affairs Committee, and is a mentor for social enterprise I Have A Voice working to improve political literacy for disadvantaged young people. Beyond her day job, you’ll often find Victoria in a basement spin class or lapping the various parks of south London.
.
sophie morris
WSTA
Sophie is currently the Policy and Parliamentary Affairs Officer for the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), where she manages the WSTA’s political campaigns and relationships with political stakeholders. She is also the secretariat for the Wine & Spirit All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Prior to joining the WSTA, Sophie worked at political consultancies where she helped to deliver various campaigns and mitigate reputational risks for a range of FTSE100 clients.
Outside of work, Sophie can be found watching F1, planning her next trip abroad or hunting for the best cheap eats in London.
Natasha Egan-Sjodin
WA Communications
Natasha is an Associate Director at WA Communications, where she devises and oversees strategic communications campaigns across a range of sectors.
She is passionate about promoting the role of women in public affairs and communications roles and was awarded a Mark of Excellence in the CIPR Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year category in 2022.
She has worked in a range of agency settings – big and small – and was previously Head of Ministerial Briefing and Advice at BEIS leading on Secretary of State briefings ahead of Parliamentary appearances and Cabinet.
Natasha has a master’s degree in Political Communications from Cardiff University, and when not following the political gossip of the day she can be found climbing mountains or in a pub garden.
Julia Root-Gutteridge
EY UK
Julia is an Assistant Director in the Governance and Public Policy team at EY UK. Her specialism is in financial and professional services, having worked at ICAEW and Cicero Group. She started her career as an intern in Brussels, but readily admits she moved there for the chocolate and moules frites without a clue of how the EU worked.
At ICAEW she ran a campaign to mark 100 years since the Institute admitted its first female chartered accountant, Mary Harris Smith. After an 18 month battle she secured a plaque for Mary in the City of London – only the third of 182 blue plaques in the City to commemorate a woman!
In her free time, she cooks elaborate meals for friends and hunts down trendy spots in her new area of Zone 6 east London (still looking). She also likes to try out unusual ways to relax – her current favourite is a gong bath.
Julie Byers
Domino’s Pizza UK & Ireland
Julie is the Senior Government Affairs Manager for Domino’s Pizza UK & Ireland, where she leads their Government and Parliamentary engagement. She has considerable experience working in trade associations, most recently as Public Affairs Manager at the Food and Drink Federation. Prior to that, Julie was Public Affairs Manager at the Association of Convenience Stores.
She has completed the CIPR Professional Public Relations Diploma and the CIPR Digital Communications Specialist Diploma. Julie also has a Level 1 qualification in British Sign Language.
Julie has a degree in Politics from the University of Surrey, where she explored the representation of women in NBC’s The West Wing in her dissertation. Outside of work, Julie enjoys swimming, musicals, and a good negroni.
Emma Wade
National Grid
Emma currently works at National Grid as Public Affairs Manager, where she has a focus on net zero jobs and skills in addition to energy policy matters.
She has over a decade of public affairs experience, having also previously worked for various industry trade associations and in local government. In her last role, Emma led the day-to-day public affairs activity for ABTA – The Travel Association, during the global pandemic.
Emma’s academic background is in economics and international relations, and she started her career working in the UK Parliament.
In her spare time, she volunteers as a Brownie Unit Leader for Girlguiding, and attempts to avoid injury while playing touch rugby.
Women in Public Affairs Scotland
Catriona Melville
Age Scotland
Catriona is the Policy Engagement & Campaigns Officer at Age Scotland, the leading charity representing older people in Scotland.
Prior to joining Age Scotland in 2020, she spent over three years at Edinburgh-based political monitoring agency, Newsdirect.
Catriona has been involved with Women in Public Affairs since its launch in Scotland in 2019. She previously served on the committee of the Association for Scottish Public Affairs and volunteers with Shelter Scotland and Young Scot.
Sarah Cowie
NFU Scotland
Sarah is environmental resources policy manager at NFU Scotland, working on issues such as pesticides, farm plastics and biodiversity, in order to secure a sustainable future for Scottish agriculture.
Prior to this she worked for Edinburgh-based political monitoring agency, Newsdirect. She is also an operational volunteer with the 2050 Climate Group and has a strong interest in climate change action and policy.
Outside of work she loves going for brunch, walking and listening to podcasts.
Kimberley Somerside
Voluntary Health Scotland
Kimberley is the Policy Engagement Officer at Voluntary Health Scotland, the national intermediary and network for voluntary health organisations in Scotland.
She previously led the public health portfolio within Newsdirect and prior to that was a caseworker for Jo Swinson MP. She has a degree in Geopolitics from the University of Dundee and recently graduated from the Young Women Lead programme run by YWCA Scotland, having published a report on feminist town planning in Glasgow.
Clare Slipper
Message Matters
Clare Slipper is an associate at Message Matters since 2021.
She previously worked at NFU Scotland, having started her career as a consultant in the Scottish office of an international Public Affairs and Public Relations agency.
As well as WiPA Scotland, Clare also sits on the CIPR Scotland 2020-21 Committee.
Ariadna Roca Beroy
General Medical Council
Aria currently works as a Policy and External Affairs Officer for the General Medical Council, the UK regulator for medical practitioners. Before joining the GMC, Aria worked in a strategic communications and public affairs consultancy for almost two years with a wide portfolio of clients in renewable energy, housing, social care as well as different third sector organisations.
From Barcelona, she moved to Edinburgh to continue with her studies in 2015 and holds an MSc in Political Communication.
Jodie Hedley
Weber Shandwick
Jodie Hedley is the Account Director of Weber Shandwick’s Public Affairs team, providing strategic policy advice and developing and delivering public affairs plans for a range of retail, manufacturing, energy and technology clients.
She joined Weber Shandwick in 2017, following a public affairs career in both consultancy and in-house roles.
Debbie McCreath
Alexander Dennis Limited
Debbie is Marketing Communication & Public Affairs Manager for Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), leading on ADL’s public affairs activity. ADL is the UK’s largest bus and coach manufacturer and a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers.
Debbie brings a very thorough understanding of a variety of political landscapes to ADL from her previous public affairs roles in different industries. Most recently, she was advocating for an Innovation Centre in the University of Strathclyde looking to drive biotech uptake in Scotland, and previously worked for trade association the Food & Drink Federation on all political issues affecting UK food and drink, as well as government agency Skills Development Scotland.
Sara Collier
Skills Development Scotland
Sara is Parliamentary Liaison Team Leader for Skills Development Scotland, Scotland’s national skills body.
Prior to this she worked in various public affairs, policy and communications roles in third sector membership organisations in Scotland. Outside of work she enjoys long walks, shorter runs, reading and watching documentaries.
Vallath Kavitha Krishnan
Scottish Government
Vallath is a Senior Policy Advisor in the Scottish Civil Service. She has worked for over 15 years in Public Affairs and Crisis Management across various industries.
Vallath lived and worked in Qatar, where she was raised, before moving to Scotland in 2013. She is an accredited member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has been a board member for the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Aberdeen Performing Arts.
Ellie Wagstaff
Marie Curie
Ellie is Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Marie Curie in Scotland, a charity which provides palliative and end of life support to those affected by terminal illness across the country. She joined Marie Curie in 2019 and is responsible for supporting the charity’s work in Scotland particularly around health inequities and social care.
Outside of Marie Curie, Ellie enjoys running, open water swimming and escaping into the hills whenever possible.
Ruth Shewan
London North Eastern Railway
Ruth Shewan is Communications Manager for Scotland for London North Eastern Railway (LNER), managing the business’s public affairs activity in Scotland, stakeholder engagement and media relations.
Ruth, who has a Masters in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University, joined LNER in early 2020.
Prior to LNER, Ruth worked in senior roles in communications and media within the agricultural and food and drinks industry and spent six years as a local journalist in the west coast of Scotland.
Lucy is the Senior Policy Officer with Human Rights Consortium Scotland, leading on access to justice and domestic and international policy for the Consortium. Prior to this, she was policy and public affairs manager with 3x1 Group in Glasgow, a leading agency. Lucy has worked across a range of portfolios from renewable energy, the food and drink industry, health and social care, and public inquiries.
Prior to her current role, Lucy worked in New York City for the leading UK-US chamber of commerce. She is part of the fifth cohort of the 2050 Climate Group’s young leader’s development programme.
Outside of work, Lucy enjoys writing, open water swimming, and hassling her friends to go to karaoke.