Team
Ben Verinder, Managing Director
Ben is a strategic communication and public relations expert specialising in AI and reputation, leadership communication training, reputation research and crisis management.
He is one of 50 Founding Chartered public relations practitioners globally, a pioneering authority on AI in PR and leading commentator on the impact of AI on reputations and relationships.
Alongside Stephen Waddington, Ben is the co-editor of ‘AI for PR’, a new book on the subject commissioned by Kogan Page, due out in early 2026.
He is a regular speaker on AI and PR, crisis and issues management, communication, reputation and research, and he delivers training and consultancy on these topics to a wide range of public and private sector clients in the UK and internationally, with a focus on helping communication teams adapt and integrate AI into their workflows.
Ben has a background in print and digital journalism, software business development and in-house public relations at director level.
He is a founder member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ AI in PR panel, the author of the first papers published by the CIPR on AI in PR (on AI and data ethics), a contributor to a wide range of publications on the topic, and creator of the ground-breaking AI and Reputation Leadership course.
Ben is also a founder member of the CIPR’s Behavioural Insights Interest Group and Chair of the Socially Mobile assessment panel.
Since 2018 he has been the manager and author of the CIPR’s ‘State of the Profession’ research studies, alongside special projects investigating the demography of UK PR practitioners using Office for National Statistics data.
Ben is also a contributor to several public relations books, including 'Chartered Public Relations: Lessons from Expert Practitioners' and ‘Introduction to Public Relations’. He has worked as a strategic advisor to the CIPR Board and as conservation strategist for the international charity ZSL.
David Payne, Research manager
David leads the senior stakeholder elements of our projects and supports Ben in project design and delivery.
David has extensive experience in managing research projects over several decades, covering education, skills, learning and workforce development, business support and enterprise, community consultation, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessments.
He has a long track record in delivering successful research outcomes for a range of different clients, including awarding organisations, further and higher education institutions, sector skills councils, the NHS, local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, employer organisations, the voluntary and community sector and regeneration partnerships.
Vicky McGuire, Media trainer and researcher
Vicky McGuire is a strategic communications consultant, media trainer and researcher specialising in behaviour change and public-interest communications for the public and not-for-profit sectors, with more than 20 years’ experience delivering campaigns across education, health and social justice.
She has worked across Whitehall on programmes ranging from modern slavery communications for the Home Office to workforce recruitment campaigns for government, using communications to embed national policy and improve outcomes. For eight years she led award-winning work as Managing Director of the social purpose division at Four Agency Worldwide.
She is an experienced issues and inquiry specialist, with work spanning major public inquiries including Brook House and Angiolini, and she led the launch of the Angiolini Inquiry’s first report, generating extensive national coverage and rapid government response.
A media trainer for the last decade, Vicky has coached senior leaders including Lady Elish Angiolini, chairs of public inquiries, charity CEOs and Innovate UK entrepreneurs, and she also runs insight-led workshops on narrative, messaging, campaigns and communications strategy.
Kellie Simpson, Research recruitment
Kellie Simpson is the founder and director of Kellie Simpson Legal Ltd, providing specialist virtual PA and operational support designed for boutique law firms. With around 25 years’ experience in the legal sector as a PA and more than seven years running a virtual support business (launched in 2018), she helps firms streamline client onboarding, case administration and billing workflows so practices run smoothly behind the scenes. She leads a growing team of experienced associates and works closely with clients to improve systems and structure, and is a Clio Affiliate Partner.
Tony Bridges, Data analyst
Tony leads on analysis of large-scale data sets for Chalkstream.
Tony has a background in local Government.
He has helped clients such as Sector Skills Councils, Metropolitan Police, Association of Directors of Public Health, and the NHS, generate useful insight from big data.
Kathy Sharpe, Copy/Reports
Kathy is an award-winning copywriter and communications consultant with a background in the education, charity, not-for-profit, and arts sectors.
She has worked in communications for 18 years and is a member of the Professional Copywriters’ Network and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Kathy specialises in copywriting, awards bids, proofreading, editing, external and internal communications, public relations, crisis / change planning, and marketing training.