Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium
An international affairs expert with an outstanding track record of advocacy and research. A graduate of Cambridge University, with a PhD from Belfast, fluent in French, German and Dutch. Director in the Brussels office of APCO Worldwide, challenging conventional thinking for our clients. Ranked one of the top 40 EU Digital Influencers by EurActiv and ZN Consulting in 2017. Excels at creating successful alliances and connections with senior political figures, including presidents and political leaders, to secure win-win outcomes. Designs and implements strategies to lobby the European Union institutions, national governments and other international bodies - brokering and bridge-building relationships between decision-makers who need to talk to each other. An effective team member in multicultural environments, and an instinctive mentor of new talent. An articulate writer, presenter and public speaker, and a regular television commentator and broadcaster. Leading expert on Northern Ireland elections and electoral systems. Other areas of political expertise include the European Union, Western Balkans, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, South Caucasus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Western Sahara, South Sudan, Somaliland, Spain / Catalonia, democratization, and elections. Also a science fiction blogger. Private email: [email protected] Twitter @nwbrux Please note that if I do not know you I will not accept a request to connect on LinkedIn. Please note that if you contact me with a view to selling unsolicited financial services, I will block you and report you to LinkedIn, particularly if you are in any way linked with De Vere.
APCO Global Solutions advises political leaders, CEOs and high profile individuals, helping them successfully navigate reputational challenges, investment opportunities, crisis and complex geopolitical issues. Our team of senior consultants combine the disciplines of strategic communications and stakeholder engagement, public affairs and media relations, research and intelligence gathering, litigation and crisis management, as well as business management and intermediation. We work at the highest echelons of public and private sectors, leveraging our global networks to provide bespoke solutions that help our clients succeed. We work directly with the decision makers, including: * Governments * Political leaders * High-profile individuals * CEOs We solve issues of critical importance outside our clients’ comfort zone, including: * Complex geopolitical challenges * International political communications * International litigation communications * Foreign Direct Investment * Business brokerage * Reputation and issue management
I founded and maintain the definitive on-line archive of Northern Ireland election results at http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/ with complete coverage of all elections held from 1973 and some details going as far back as 1885. I appeared as one of the panelists on BBC Northern Ireland’s live election coverage in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, twice in 2017, 2019 and 2022. I also co-authored a book on the 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly elections. Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Social Science, Ulster University.
The Hugo Awards, presented annually since 1955, are science fiction’s most prestigious award. They are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”). I am the Administrator of the Hugo Awards for Seattle Worldcon 2025, which administers the awards; previously WSFS Division Head and Hugo Administrator of the 2024 Worldcon, Glasgow 2024; Deputy Hugo Administrator for the 2022 Hugos, awarded by Chicon 8; WSFS Division Head for the 2021 Hugos, awarded by DisCon III; Deputy Hugo Administrator for the 2020 Hugos, awarded by CoNZealand, the 2020 Worldcon; Hugo Administrator for the 2019 Hugos, awarded by Dublin 2019: An Irish Worldcon and also Hugo Administrator for the 2017 Hugos, awarded by Worldcon 75 in Helsinki. http://www.thehugoawards.org/about/
One of five judges for the annual Arthur C. Clarke Award for the best science fiction novel published in the United Kingdom in 2022, nominated by the Science Fiction Foundation. (Previously served in this role in 2014-15.)
Key advisor to governments and others with difficult foreign policy problems. Designing and implementing strategies to lobby the European Union institutions, NATO, the Council of Europe and European governments. Brokering agreements and communication contacts between actors who need to talk to each other. Established Brussels office of new organisation (headquarters is in New York). Successfully persuaded European Parliament to reject a major international treaty in 2011. Secured intervention of the Council of Europe to protect democracy in Georgia, 2012. Advised : - the governments of Kosovo and South Sudan on their paths to independence; - Croatia on its EU membership; - Moldova on its EU Association Agreement; - Turkish Cypriot leadership on reunification of the island; - the Georgian opposition on their international outreach strategy.