Honor Riley, Chair

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Honor is a Policy and Research Officer at Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority where she helps to bridge the gap between national and local policy. Previously Honor worked at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, and continues to feel passionate about integration of local policy and environmental and public health policy. 

She has worked on numerous high profile campaigns, managed senior stakeholder relationships and has a masters in Political Economy from the University of Manchester. 

Outside of work, you will usually find Honor at the gym, in the kitchen baking or sipping wine in a pub with her friends.

Luana Rodrigues, Secretary

Cummins Inc.

Lua is a Government Relations Specialist at Cummins Inc., where she supports targeted political engagement and advocacy across the UK and the EU. She joined Cummins through the graduate programme shortly after completing her degree in International Relations at the University of Leeds, which included a year studying abroad at Sciences Po Aix in France.

Lua speaks five languages and has a strong passion for global affairs and diplomacy.

Outside of work, she enjoys long nature walks, pub quizzes, learning new languages, and hot yoga.

Kiran Ghuman, EDI Officer

Weber Shandwick

Kiran is an experienced communications professional with a background spanning both agency and public sector roles. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, she spent nine years as a Communications Officer at Hull City Council.

Alongside her role, Kiran is part of the Decoded Collective, where she is committed to championing inclusive representation, creating safe spaces for diverse voices, and supporting career progression across the PR and communications industry.

She holds a Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a BA (Hons) in Journalism. Kiran is passionate about ensuring people have equal access to opportunities and about helping to build a more inclusive public affairs sector.

Rosie Lockwood, Senior Advisor (Communications and Campaigns)

Centre for Local Economies (CLES)

Rosie is a campaigns, public affairs, communications and policy leader with a track record of making a difference on issues such as devolution, child poverty and democracy at the national, regional, and local level. She works with ministers, mayors, the media and communities to create positive change.

In her current role as associate director for external affairs at think tank the Centre for Local Economies (CLES), Rosie leads strategic communications and relationships with local governments, civil servants, politicians, the press, public sector organisations and civil society groups. Prior to this, Rosie served an eight-year stint at the Institute for Public Policy

Research (IPPR) where she was the head of media and advocacy for IPPR North and IPPR Scotland, and a leading voice in shaping the public and political discourse around regional inequality and devolution. Prior to that, she worked for prominent MPs in the UK parliament, and led campaigns.

Originally from North Yorkshire, Rosie has also served as the Mayor of Selby.

Helen Gbortmittah, Senior Advisor (Events and Partnerships)

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Helen joined the CBI in 2014 as Associate Director in the CBI’s London office, before relocating to the North West in 2016 working as Deputy Director for the region until her appointment as Regional Director in July 2025.

Helen is responsible for engaging with and representing business leaders on key policy and regulatory issues affecting the North West region, working with a diverse portfolio of members including many in the professional services, education and manufacturing industries. In addition to account management, she is responsible for commercial sales in the region.

She is a member of the Business Advisory Board for Cheshire & Warrington and is also Co-Chair of the CBI’s Working Families Network

Prior to joining the CBI Helen has experience at organisations such as the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and retail insights provider Planet Retail.

Sophie Moss, Communications and Campaigns Lead

Copper Consultancy

Sophie is a Senior Account Executive at Copper Consultancy, where she plays a key role in delivering consultation and engagement campaigns for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). She is currently working across a portfolio of renewable energy and carbon capture projects in the UK.

Prior to this, Sophie studied Geography and holds a master’s degree in Gender and Politics from the University of Bath, where she researched gender-based and sexual violence in higher education spaces.

She is passionate about building safe, inclusive, and thriving communities, and previously volunteered as a Trustee for Citizens Advice.

In her spare time, Sophie captains a local netball team and is never too far from a coffee shop!

Beccy Hutchinson, Events and Partnerships Lead

Airbus

Beccy is the Public Affairs Manager at Airbus, where she leads on government and stakeholder engagement, with a particular focus on Wales. She has been in her role since September 2025. Prior to Airbus, she led on public affairs at Manchester Airport.

Beccy originally began her career as an intern with the Airbus Public Affairs team in Broughton. She has a degree in Politics from the University of Leeds.

Outside of work, Beccy enjoys trying new restaurants or watching F1 races.

Ione Taylor, Events Officer

Aviva

Ione is a Public Affairs Associate at Aviva, supporting on stakeholder engagement, campaigns, and briefings. She joined Aviva on their Graduate Scheme, and completed placements in Public Affairs, Sustainability and Planning. 

Prior to this, Ione worked at Newcastle University in Marketing and Recruitment, focusing on outreach and widening participation.

Ione holds a degree in Molecular Biology from Newcastle University. In her spare time, she enjoys running, long walks, and crocheting. Don’t ask her how the blanket is going though!

Erin Gilhespie, Events Officer 

Inflect

Erin is an Account Executive at Inflect, a public affairs and strategic communications agency with offices in London and Manchester. She supports client accounts across the technology, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Erin has a particular interest in devolution, education and skills policy, supported by professional experience across local government and the education sector.

Emma Murley, Partnerships Officer

Randall’s Monitoring

Emma is the Head of Service at Randall’s Monitoring, a political monitoring company that she first joined as a Monitoring Executive in 2017. She now leads the team, and is responsible for ensuring that their clients experience a high quality service that is continuously improving. Emma is passionate about understanding the influencing priorities of clients from across all policy and public affairs sectors, to make their service as personal as possible.

When Randall’s became fully remote, back in 2020, Emma relocated to Liverpool where she had studied Modern History and Politics at university. She hopes that WIPA North will bring to light the varied opportunities that do exist in political roles in the North of England, without needing to be London-based. 

In her free time Emma loves exploring the local food and drink scene and runs her own foodie Instagram blog. She enjoys pilates, indie gigs and running with the mental health running group which she co-hosts – Run Talk Run Liverpool.

Elly Baker, Partnerships Officer

AQA

Elly Baker is Community Engagement Manager at AQA, the UK’s largest Awarding Organisation. Before entering Public Affairs, Elly worked in sales leadership for an Education start-up. She is currently studying a Masters of Education with a research focus on policy and social theory.

Elly is also a polyglot, speaking German and Spanish, and she spends her free time at reformer Pilates, on podcast walks and coffee dates with friends.

Niamh Callinan, Events and Strategy Officer

Manchester Airport

Niamh currently works at Manchester Airport in the Public Affairs team. Prior to this she was working at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, in Sydney, as an Executive Officer to Senior Executive in the Public Service.

She also has experience in trade and investment, having completed a graduate program with Austrade, which she did whilst completing a Masters in International Law.

Apart for work, Niamh currently sits on the Board as a non-executive Director for an Australian Non-for-Profit (VOI Australia), also holding the role of Legal and Political Affairs Director.

She has travelled to 27 countries and is aiming to get to 35 before the end of the year!

Kate Wilson, Communications and Campaigns Officer

National Autistic Society

Kate is an Assistant Parliamentary Officer at the National Autistic Society, the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families. The role is her first since completing University in July 2025, where she graduated with a first-class MA in Linguistics and English Language from the University of Edinburgh.

Prior to this, Kate worked in various roles across both public affairs and the third sector. This included establishing a nationally recognised not-for-profit aimed at tackling sexual violence at UK universities and completing three public affairs and strategic communications internships at leading agencies across London, Leeds and Edinburgh.

In her free time, Kate enjoys writing and reading poetry, making jewellery and messing about on Canva.