Jon McLeod, Chairman, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
Jon McLeod went into public affairs in 1994, having spent six years in financial and legal journalism. His specialisms include: Parliamentary and lobbying campaigns, coalition building, national media relations, litigation and legal communications, and strategic counsel.
He has worked in a variety of industry sectors, including transport and infrastructure, financial services, food and agriculture, property and planning, legal and professional services, healthcare, the voluntary sector and information and communications technology.
Clients counselled include the Bar Council, Microsoft, the BBC, Shell, Coca Cola, the Meat & Livestock Commission, War Child, Barclays plc, Mars, Clifford Chance, Panasonic, ntl inc. and Volvo Car UK.
Jon was a Board Member of the East Midlands Development Agency from 2000 to 2007, with lead responsibility for communications, ICT, human resources and remuneration. He is a former Council Member of the Nottinghamshire Learning & Skills Council.
Click here to read Jon’s article for PRWeek entitled ‘Politics goes digital...at last’
Contact
Jon McLeod
+44 (0)777 553 0978
jmcleod@webershandwick.com
Tara Hamilton-Miller, Vice-Chairman, Public Affairs
Tara has over 13 years experience working in the media. She joined Weber Shandwick in 2008 as a non-executive director advising primarily on political issues and was subsequently appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Public Affairs in 2009.
A Westminster insider with excellent contacts, Tara is a political writer and commentator with a regular column in the New Statesman and PRWeek. She is a panellist and reviewer for BBC television, radio and Sky news.
Tara worked for five years within the hub of Conservative Central Office’s press office, from 2000- 2005. A press officer for 11 Shadow Secretaries of State, she specialised in education, the environment and Culture, Media and Sport.
During her time with the Conservative Party, Tara worked daily with the parliamentary lobby, broadcasters, trade press, leader writers and Comment editors.
After leaving Conservative Party Campaign Headquarters she was Deputy Editor of The Sun newspaper’s political diary, and worked as a political consultant on a number of projects including Live Aid in 2005 and with M&C Saatchi.
Prior to politics Tara worked in television making a range of programmes ranging from factual, educational and light entertainment for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Contact
Tara Hamilton-Miller
+44 (0)207 067 0311
thamilton-miller@webershandwick.com
Alex Deane, Head of Public Affairs
As the former head of a campaigning think tank in Westminster, and a former Chief of Staff to David Cameron, Alex Deane provides counsel and advice to a range of companies and organisations. With extensive experience in politics and an enviable range of contacts, he regularly gives written and oral briefings on the full range of Coalition Government policy. A non-practising barrister and writer, he often prepares or reviews written submissions, speeches and documents to the highest standard. He has trained high-profile individuals and companies to appear before Parliament on a range of issues.
Alex read English Literature at Cambridge University and took a Masters degree in International Relations as a Rotary Scholar at Griffith University. He is a World Universities Debating Champion. A barrister by training Alex is the author, co-author or editor of several books and pamphlets about law and politics. Most recently, he was the editor of Big Brother Watch: the state of civil liberties in modern Britain.
Alex has been an active member of the Conservative Party since 1995. In 2004-2005 he was Chief of Staff to Tim Collins and David Cameron during their respective periods as Shadow Secretaries of State for Education, and worked in the Party's Headquarters. A regular writer for ConservativeHome, he has a thorough understanding of the issues and personalities in play across the Conservative Party.
In 2007, Alex was asked to serve as an adviser to the Liberal Party's campaign for re-election at the federal polls under John Howard. He spent seven months on that campaign – and even demonstrated his commitment to the cause by subsequently marrying an Australian Liberal.
Alex remains committed to the highest standards of advisory work and professional conduct, and aims to use his insight and experience to ensure that clients understand the priorities and nuances of the Coalition Government and of the think tank world. He is an elected Common Councilman in the City of London.
Follow Alex on Twitter at @ajcdeane
Contact
Alex Deane
+44 (0) 7584 524 351
