Mark has extensive experience working with business leaders and policy makers to raise awareness and deliver policy change.  Mark founded SMG in 2018 as a strategic communications consultancy with a clear focus on delivering benefits for the UK through its work with local, national and global stakeholders.

Rebecca is a CIPR accredited communicator with over a decade of experience working in political facing roles for organisations spanning the private, public and third sectors. Rebecca leads on scoping and mapping exercises to deliver effective and comprehensive communications programmes to influence and inform decision makers.

Simon has three decades of experience in frontline UK politics as Leader of Durham County Council between 2008-2021, and as the first Chair of the North East Combined Authority. Simon was a member of Labour’s national policy forum for fifteen years and a member of the Commission on the UK’s Future, led by Gordon Brown. After many years in academia, specialising in UK government, Simon leads SMGs work on government relations and policy.

Alex has experience working in both local and national politics. Formerly a local government policy advisor, before joining SMG in 2024, he worked for several years in Westminster for an MP, providing policy research, communications and campaigns. Boasting extensive regional and national political and media contacts he supports SMGs growing regional and Westminster political engagement work.

Georgia has extensive experience of building strong stakeholder relationships and bridging corporate objectives with social benefits. Georgia has well developed cross-party network of stakeholders across local, regional, devolved and UK government policy makers. As well as extensive Public Affairs experience, Georgia worked for the Labour Party for 6 years supporting local, regional and national policy development, issue based, electoral and referenda campaigns across England and Scotland.

After graduating in politics from the University of Sheffield, Joseph worked for several years for a Member of Parliament, building effective constituency campaigns. Since joining SMG, Joseph specialises in providing clients in the development, built-environment and energy sectors with insight into the UKs fast changing political and policy landscape.