Deputy Head of Campaign at Greenpeace
Apart from your current organisation which other organisations that campaign do you admire and why?
I’ve been really impressed by the ‘no more page 3’ campaign set up by Lucy Holmes. She’s never run a campaign before but has chalked up huge successes already just by giving it a go. Truly inspirational.
And I have to take my hat off to climate camp. Any group of people who can occupy a piece of land and have toilets, sinks with running water and an oven for making vegan cakes set up within hours, in the middle of a field that had sheep in it the previous day shows pretty amazing logistical know-how.
Generally are organisations getting better at campaigning since you began your career? If so, what’s changed?
Obviously the biggest change has been the internet and more recently the creation of social media. I didn’t have a computer or mobile phone when I started my first campaigning job so that’s a huge change in the way that campaigning organisations can disseminate information and mobilise support.
Which campaigner inspires you most?
Probably Doreen Lawrence for changing the way that we think and talk about race and racism in this country and for just not giving up.
What three attributes make a good campaigner?
Tenacity: don’t give up in the face of setbacks
Risk taking: Don’t be frightened to try something new
Ability to understand where the power lies: who can make the change that you need and how can you best influence them?
What’s the most rewarding or exciting campaign you’ve worked on and why?
It would probably have to be the campaign to stop a 3rd runway at Heathrow. Greenpeace buying part of the new runway and inviting everybody around the world to own it with them was really fun.
How do you feel campaigns will change over the next five years?
It’s got to be new technologies which are going to offer new opportunities to engage and mobilise support for our campaigns.
What advice would you give someone starting their career in campaigning today?
Stop talking about it and just get on with it! If one tactic doesn’t work, try another approach.
If you weren’t a campaigner, what would you be?
A psychotherapist!