Kirsty leads Lodestone’s investor advisory work, bringing over 10 years’ experience supporting private equity and institutional investors across the fund cycle. She specialises in political due diligence and fund-level political intelligence, providing strategic insight on political, regulatory and policy risks spanning fundraising and investor political risk support, transaction diligence, stakeholder engagement, risk mitigation, portfolio management and exit planning. She also delivers scenario analysis and strategic communications to help investors navigate complex political environments.
Previously, she led political due diligence practices at Hanbury Strategy, Global Counsel and GK Strategy, and earlier worked for a Liberal Democrat minister during the Coalition.
Michael Murphy is a business leader and communications specialist with decades of global experience in helping organisations to change and adapt, become more efficient and successfully develop. He provides senior counsel for Lodestone and has a portfolio of non-executive, advisory and project roles with a range of businesses large and small. Previously Michael was Global CEO at Grayling, a global PR consultancy, CEO of Trimedia International, CEO of Hatch Group, CEO of APAC, Weber Shandwick and CEO, International and CEO of PR Consultants Scotland. Michael uses his extensive and trusted network of global partnerships and relationships to support organisations to achieve their business and growth goals.
Ben has over 20 years of experience in frontline government and political relations, policy development, and wider media and communications roles, working across a range of sectors, with a strong focus on nuclear energy and infrastructure. He established and led the public affairs and media relations function for Horizon Nuclear Power, a multi-billion-pound nuclear new build project, and helped deliver key policy changes at a UK level and EU political/regulatory approvals to support the advancement of vital energy infrastructure development. Prior to that he has held several senior in-house and consultancy positions and has also worked in the public sector, including leading on the communications for a high-profile enquiry and report within the NHS. He begun his career in the House of Commons.
Jo is a Director specialising in public affairs and campaigns across the sustainability, higher education and tech sectors. Prior to Lodestone, Jo worked for Tom Watson MP on his successful Deputy Leadership campaign, General Elections, the Referendum and supporting the DCMS brief, gaining strong networks across the Labour Party and industry. Jo account directs the secretariat for the Parliamentary Internet, Communications and Technology Forum and has been instrumental in the formation of the Data Poverty APPG. She advises clients on strategic and corporate communications, PR, public affairs, brand strategy and campaigns. She was listed in the 2020 PR Week’s 30 under 30, Computer Weekly’s list of most influential women in tech in 2021, 2022 & 2023, is an Ambassador for the Digital Poverty Alliance and an Impact Council Member for We Are Group.
Stuart Warriner is a Non-Executive Director at Lodestone and advises Lodestone’s Political Risk unit, which provides investors with insight for their due diligence processes. Stuart has a portfolio of Chair roles in private equity backed businesses from range of different business sectors. Previously he was a Corporate Finance Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and a Senior Advisor at Houlihan Lokey. He is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and has an MA in Economics from Queens College, Cambridge.
Fran has over 10 years’ experience at board level advising clients on strategic communications and public affairs in tech, sustainability, education, health and a number of other sectors. She has written for the Times, the Fabians, the Cambridge Evening News and magazines and she has made Bafta nominated programmes for ITV and Channel 4. Prior to becoming a director of a communications consultancy, she worked in a policy related role within Government. Fran is a former member of the PRCA Public Affairs Board Executive Committee and is included in Computer Weekly’s list of the most influential women in tech. She Co-Founded the Interparliamentary Forum on Emerging Technologies, bringing together legislators from countries around the world to discuss policy, working in partnership with UNESCO, the Global AI Action Alliance and the World Economic Forum.
An experienced political strategist, Martha is a founding partner and Managing Director of Lodestone. She advises clients on strategic communications, campaigns, public affairs and strategy. She has led award winning campaigns for the Musicians’ Union and the Bourbon Alliance and leads on critical political issues, regulatory challenges and reputational management.
She is a Trustee of the Institute of the Future of Work, accoladed an ‘environmental champion’ and ‘innovator of the year’ 2024 and co-founded the cross-party, grassroots organisation, RegistHERtoVote dedicated to encouraging women across the UK to vote. She has also advised on a number of political campaigns and headed up communications for Labour Party leadership candidates in 2015 and 2020.
David advises on business and organisational strategy in the UK, USA and across Europe. With over 30 years’ experience, David has worked with clients in the finance, defence, aerospace, energy, tech, planning, pharma, chemicals, health and food sectors. He advises a range of clients that has included QinetiQ, MBDA Missile Systems and KPMG. Prior to consultancy, David was a Board Member of Nirex, the organisation in charge of the UK’s radioactive waste strategy. He led delegations of politicians to Japan, USA, Russia, China, France, Germany, Finland, and Sweden to share experiences and learn from other programmes. He works with leading global thinkers, academics and senior government officials on long-term resilience. David has an extensive network in the media, industry and politics.
