Workings of Whitehall: Key Players in the Policymaking Process

Frank leads JRF’s public engagement, advocacy, and campaigning work. Frank is also responsible for providing all parts of the JRF and JRHT group with high quality communications support through its media, marketing, digital, strategic communications, public affairs, and events teams. Prior to his appointment, Frank held a series of campaigning, policy and influencing roles at JRF, the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, The Nuffield Trust, The Royal College of Physicians, and Alcohol Concern. He holds degrees in philosophy, public policy and management.

Katie has spent the last 14 years working in the aerospace industry in the UK at Rolls-Royce and Airbus. Over that time she has chaired several industry wide groups, and has been particularly engaged with the decarbonisation of aviation and inclusion and diversity in the sector.

Katie is currently Director of UK Public Affairs and Policy at Airbus. She leads Airbus' engagement with Government and Parliament across the UK including the devolved governments covering Airbus' three businesses - Commercial Aircraft, Defence & Space and Helicopters. Key policy areas include industrial strategy, trade, advanced manufacturing, decarbonisation and skills. 

She joined Airbus in 2019 from Rolls-Royce Plc's government relations team after eight years covering civil aerospace, defence and nuclear. Prior to that she spent time at Dods, the Skills Funding Agency and PMI. 

Katie is a member of ADS’ Civil Aerospace Sector Council and is Vice Chair of ADS’ International Relations Committee. She is part of DBT’s Economic Security and Resilience expert panel and the Welsh Economic Growth Advisory Group. Katie is a Trustee and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee for the Industry and Parliament Trust. She is actively involved in the Aerospace Growth Partnership focused on strategy and is supporting the work of the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter and Women in Defence. She is also a Member of the International Aerospace Women’s Association (IAWA). She has previously chaired the Sustainable Aviation comms working group and the Aerospace Growth Partnership’s engagement group. 

She has a BA in Sociology from the University of Warwick and an MA in Legal and Political Theory from UCL.

Sara joined Sainsbury’s in February 2022, post six years leading the policy and partnerships agenda for Roche in the UK, liaising with the government on key issues such as COVID, flu, oncology and rare disease. Before joining Roche, Sara was the Assistant Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs at News UK, owners of the Times, Sunday Times and Sun newspapers. Previously, she held numerous senior roles at the Conservative Party, working alongside both David Cameron and Boris Johnson. Sara holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and she is a part-time Magistrate outside of work.

Olly Newton spent 12 years in the Department for Education working on policies including 14-19 diplomas, raising the participation age and finally as Head of Apprenticeship Strategy. Olly is now Executive Director of the Edge Foundation, where he oversees a programme of primary research, is lead author on all of the charity’s policy reports and runs the Edge Future Learning delivery programme for schools and colleges.

In his spare time, Olly volunteers with the Scout Association, is Enterprise Adviser for Firth Park Academy and supports community theatre in Sheffield.