Phil has worked in political campaigning and communications for over 30 years, specialising in local advocacy, infrastructure and real estate for over two decades. Phil co-founded Newington Public Affairs in 2006, which merged into SEC Newgate UK in early 2021.
Over that period, Phil and his colleagues have worked in more than 90% of local planning authorities across the UK, delivering consistently high levels of service and success. He has personally been involved in over 1,000 planning applications across the residential, commercial, student, leisure, education, waste, infrastructure and energy sectors.
Phil leads the SEC Newgate UK team in the Eastern Region from their Chelmsford office, while also working on live projects around the country.
Advising on local community consultation and relations alongside local, regional and national political engagement, Phil has worked with companies and organisations across the public and private sectors. His current and recent client list includes British Land, Google, Far East Consortium, EDF Renewables, Homes England, Canary Wharf Group, Berkeley Homes and Ryse Hydrogen. He has also worked with a range of international clients seeking to engage with UK audiences, working with clients from the US, Middle East, China and Europe.
Phil previously served as a Conservative councillor in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, has been a candidate for the Greater London Assembly, and remains politically active.
Phil is a founding director of the Conservative Housing and Development Network, a member of the SME Sub Group of the Impact Disclosure Taskforce and an Eastern Region Board Member of LandAid, the property industry charity.