Communications
and advocacy
experts for the
built environment.

ALEX CHALLONER

BOARD DIRECTOR

A political strategist with more than thirty years’ experience in public affairs and communications advocacy, Alex provides clients with senior counsel to ensure policy supports their corporate aims, be that policy change or raising their profile on key issues.

As a former adviser to the Conservative Party during the 1997 General Election Campaign, Conservative Campaign Director of the London Mayoral Campaign in 2000 and current Board Member of the Tory Reform Group, Alex has a comprehensive knowledge of the key figures and the trends and power-bases within the Party.

He has advised clients such the Met Office, John Lewis Partnership, Canal & River Trust, Crest Nicholson, Aster Group and Arvato.

SARAH WARDLE

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Sarah has a wealth of experience in developing stakeholder engagement and public affairs strategies across London and the South East.

Sarah has worked for major housebuilders such as Redrow and Taylor Wimpey, housing associations ranging from One Housing to Home Group, hotel operators and large build to rent developers, Greystar and Essential Living.

Notably, Sarah led the engagement on the UK’s first ever purpose-built family PRS development and has increasingly focused on setting early engagement strategies for estate regeneration projects.

Outside London, Sarah has worked with both the Local and Neighbourhood planning process to secure strategic allocations.

Prior to this, Sarah worked in the House of Commons for two Conservative Members of Parliament and holds a comprehensive knowledge of the legislative process.

Beyond BECG, Sarah remains politically active and is a Councillor in the London Borough of Barnet.

MAX CAMPLIN

DIRECTOR

As Head of our London team, Max has overall responsibility for BECG’s service delivery to clients across a range of sectors in the Capital and wider South of England. Providing planning and political counsel to clients such as Blackstone, British Land, Inland Homes, Goodman and Frasers Property Group, Max’s expertise covers retail, residential and commercial developments across the UK.

ANDREW HOWARD

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Andrew Howard is one of the UK’s leading specialists in the politics of planning and development. Andrew now advises a wide range of UK and international clients and has extensive experience of working on high-profile, complex development projects across the country.

As one of the founders of the company, Andrew has ensured BECG’s reputation was built upon securing successful planning consents. His wealth of industry knowledge ensures he provides specialist guidance on a strategic basis for our private and public sector clients across sectors including property, infrastructure and energy, transport, health, leisure and local government.

JAMES BIRD

DIRECTOR

With a background as a freelance broadcast journalist, local Councillor and parliamentary candidate, James is a seasoned public affairs professional who is as adept at negotiating the politics of Westminster and Whitehall, as he is in planning and executing local community campaigns.

With a client base as diverse as housebuilders, local authorities and transport bodies, James offers strategic and tactical advice which is politically insightful and commercially focused.

JENNY RIDDELL-CARPENTER

DIRECTOR

Jennifer is an experienced communications professional who has held senior in-house positions at L&Q, and brings a decade of communications experience from the housing association, property, urban development and charity sectors.

At BECG, Jennifer heads up the PR team in London, and leads communications strategies for clients across the built environment.

ALI CRAFT

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Ali is a political and communications professional with over eleven years’ experience working in Labour politics including two years as Deputy Director of London Labour Party. This has given Ali an unrivalled understanding of the operation of the Labour Party across all 32 London boroughs.

Ali has developed close relationships with senior politicians and decision makers across the capital including the Mayor of London and his senior team, MPs, local government leaders and the trade unions.

KEVIN WHITMORE

DIRECTOR

Kevin is an experienced local government communications consultant who specialises in planning communications, political advocacy and community campaigning for clients across the built environment.

He has over 12 years’ experience working with both public and private sector clients and leads BECG’s North & Midlands team.  He works with local communities and their elected representatives to understand the need for and build acceptance of changes to the local built environment.

STEVEN PARK

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Our team bring their experience, insight and political network to provide senior counsel and expert advice.

Steven has over 18 years experience working in the Public Affairs and Communications environment and is one of Scotland’s leading specialists in the politics of planning in the development sector. Having represented some of the most highly regulated sectors, dealing with topical and sensitive issues, Steven’s vast experience coupled with his professional approach and knowledge of the political landscape in Scotland, provides clients with unrivalled strategic, political and communication support – ensuring that their investments and commercial dealings are robustly looked after.

CHRIS RICOT

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Chris previously worked as a Senior Advisor to the Leader of the London Borough of Lambeth for four years, where he provided political oversight over key policy areas. He also led on the implementation of the Leader’s policy agenda, with political oversight of the Local Plan among his responsibilities.

Key development projects include advising the Leader on the Shell Building, Elizabeth House and the Garden Bridge. Chris has worked on a number of residential and commercial schemes across London and the South East, including for Berkeley Homes, Hyde Housing and Legal & General. Additional clients include Whitbread and the BFI.

Prior to working for an inner-London authority, Chris worked for the NHS Chief Executive at the Department of Health. Chris has also worked as a speechwriter and researcher for two Labour Secretaries of State and their Ministerial teams.

Chris remains an active campaigner for the Labour Party, and was an elected officer for his local branch in Vauxhall. He is a Governor for a school in Lambeth, and the Co-Chair of Planning Out.

ADAM FARRELL

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

Experienced in political communications, through elected office, working for a Member of Parliament and running campaigns across local Government, Adam is part of our Midlands team as Account Director.

Adam has spent ten years in local Government as an elected councillor, serving five years as an Opposition Group Leader. As a Councillor, Adam often sat on meetings of the planning committee and attended planning appeals and hearings, making representations to the Planning Inspector. Adam spent five years working for a Member of Parliament in the West Midlands.

His experience as a local councillor and as a senior parliamentary advisor for an MP in the region means that Adam has direct experience of how politicians need to navigate the Local Plan process and manage community opinion when responding to change.

SEAN FIELDING

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

Sean has direct experience of Strategic Leadership roles in Local Government, having served for three years as the Leader of a Greater Manchester Local Authority and a Member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Alongside his roles in Local Government Sean also has previously been employed as a Research and Communications Officer for a senior Labour MP and within the Policy and Communications Team at a Greater Manchester Council neighbouring that to which he was elected.

Both Sean’s elected roles and previous employment involved engaging directly with stakeholders and communities on often contentious issues, including planning. He appreciates the importance of tailoring messaging for different audiences and the value of identifying local advocates as part of campaigns seeking to chorale support for planning and investment proposals.