I am a writer and communications consultant with high level experience in politics, business and the media. As well as writing speeches for business leaders, I also write reports and websites and advise organisations on communications strategy and media relations. 

I was born in Bristol in 1956 and was educated at Reigate Grammar School and Trinity College Oxford where I gained a degree in English. I trained as a journalist with Surrey and South London Newspapers in the 80s. I then moved on to join the BBC as a producer and editor on the Radio 4 Today programme where I worked for six years and won Sony Awards for our coverage of the Lockerbie plane bombing and the Romanian Revolution. 

I then worked as press secretary and chief of staff for the then Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown for two years. In 1996 I became Director of Communications for the European Movement – the pro-European campaign group – co-ordinating activities by politicians and business leaders ranging from Peter Mandelson and Edwina Currie to Charles Kennedy and Chris Haskins.

Between 1997 and 2002 I worked for BT as speechwriter to the Chairman, Chief Executive and other directors. During that time our two children were born and I stood for Parliament in West Wiltshire in the 2001 general election, improving the Liberal Democrat vote. I then went back to running my own writing and communications business in 2002, now with the benefit of substantial experience in the corporate world. 

My client list has expanded to include AstraZeneca, BP, BT, Clifford Chance, Tomorrow's Company and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). I am now developing the business to focus mainly on keynote speeches and media articles for individual leaders, high profile reports for organisations, and consultancy on media relations and communications strategy – in other words, helping organisations and individuals to put over their messages in the most effective way.

Outside work, most of my time is spent with the family. I also write songs and play guitar in a band as well as enjoying travelling, walking, tennis and golf. I have just completed a four-year term as governor of the local comprehensive school, St Laurence, Bradford on Avon, and am President of West Wilts MENCAP.