SANS FRONTIÈRES ASSOCIATES - Key Persons
Charles Byrne is a Senior Account Executive with experience working on an international communications campaign for a government in sub-Saharan Africa and with corporate clients across agricultural, banking, and fintech sectors.
Charles' professional background includes experience with Sir Ed Davey and The Economist Group. With a strong interest in politics and global affairs, Charles has an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Durham University and a Master's degree in Global Security from King's College London.
Edward Lee is an Associate Director and has extensive experience advising companies, individuals, and political actors on corporate, financial, reputation, and crisis communications at C-suite and board level.
Acting for clients operating in multiple global jurisdictions, Edward has particular expertise in natural resources, energy, financial services, defence, and industrials.
His recent work includes launching and fundraising communications for a mining-focused private equity fund, advising a global commodities trader on its sale to a large Chinese conglomerate, and counselling a major international defence contractor on issues around securing a significant supply contract with a western government.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager
- PA and Office Manager
Georgie Caney is a PA and Office Manager and previously worked at Pagefield Global Counsel as PA to the Managing Partner and Partners. Alongside this, she was also Office Manager, overseeing the efficient running of the office, as well as organising events and helping with HR processes.
Georgie has experience in the public relations industry as well as being a team manager for a catering company, helping to organise and run events in Hertfordshire.
Joe Riley is an Account Director and has previously advised international organisations and governments in North America, Africa, and the Middle East on their international communications, handling high-profile reputational challenges and advancing international interests.
He specialises in reputation management, elections, public affairs, crisis communications, and capacity building for governments and individuals. He also worked at advertising agency M&C Saatchi on behaviour change campaigns in North Africa and the Middle East, shaping civil society and democratic norms through innovative campaigns.
He speaks French and holds a BA in History from Bristol University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director at Sans
Jonathan Lehrle is Managing Director at Sans Frontières Associates and is a former Conservative Party Chief of Staff responsible for foreign policy evaluation and formulation (2001 - 2005), who possesses sound knowledge of political message control and media handling skills. From his entry into the international PR world in 2008, he has handled numerous sensitive projects, from repositioning Belarus in 2008/9, followed by more traditional political projects in Zambia, South Africa, Gabon, Guinea, Zambia (mining), Nigeria, Niger, DRC, Republic of Congo (PCT), Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Ukraine, and the Middle East.
In 2016 he established Sans Frontières Associates Ltd (SFA). Since then SFA has continued with more high-level work, including litigation in Mongolia, Presidential support and country positioning for the DRC, litigation support for the wife in the UK's then-largest-ever divorce case, as well as several charities dealing with sensitive issues such as human trafficking and victims of systematic rape.
Job Titles:
- Account Director
- Account Director With Sans
Lily Owen is an Account Director with Sans Frontières Associates and has a breadth of experience leading communications campaigns for multi-nationals and fast growing companies operating in emerging markets and key development industries. Her experience also encompasses working with governments, corporates, and individuals on their communications, reputation, and ESG offerings.
Lily has also worked on campaigns shedding light on human rights injustices and marginalised communities - most notably with victim groups of conflict-related sexual violence and human trafficking.
Prior to joining SFA, Lily was previously based in Vietnam where she worked for a public policy and international development think tank, providing consultancy work for a number of international organisations. She has an Undergraduate degree in Law and completed a Masters degree in Conflict, Security and Development studies. Lily has a particular interest in human rights and sustainability, which has been developed through her work in the sustainability department at a FTSE 100 company and within a legal aid charity.
Melissa Bertolo is an Account Manager with a diverse background in public affairs, regulation, and public policy. She has worked across governmental affairs for major companies in defence, retail, food and drink, and energy sectors. She also produced a podcast for a British MP and former Special Advisor.
Melissa has a master's in international public policy from UCL, a Law Conversion degree, and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. Her interests include crisis communications, reputation management, and litigation.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director at Sans
Neil Cameron is a Director at Sans Frontières Associates and has many years of experience in providing senior level communications counsel to a wide range of private and public sector organisations around the world. He specialises in international media relations, issues and crisis management, and legal communications. He has also provided strategic counsel covering fully integrated communications programmes, the hosting of major international conferences, and change management initiatives.
Neil's clients have included governments from around the world, together with international business leaders working in mining and commodities, energy, financial services, transport, property, and construction.
Philip Peck is a Director and has many years of experience managing reputations, campaigns, and crisis communications for governments, individuals, and businesses based predominantly in emerging markets.
Philip's experience includes advising an African government on international communications around security and climate change, a global investment promotion campaign for a Middle Eastern government, leading profile-raising campaigns for a number of fast-growing Africa-based businesses, and advising on three presidential election campaigns.
Philip has a degree in politics and international relations from Sheffield University and spent a year studying Mandarin at Fudan University in China.
Yasmine Ahmed is a Senior Account Executive and a former journalist who covered developments in the Middle East and elsewhere, predominantly providing well-informed analysis of political and societal issues, whilst also keeping an eye on cultural trends.
Yasmine began her career in the not-for-profit sector where she was responsible for developing multichannel communications strategies. She is bilingual in English and Arabic.