Our consultants
Athene’s ‘plug and play’ business model allows us to pinpoint exactly the range of skills your organisation needs to devise and implement successful communications strategies.
Our consultants have a proven track record of working together on a comprehensive range of projects within the public, private and voluntary sectors. You can take a quick look at our team here or call us for copies of full CVs.
Richard Astle MIPR
Before setting up Athene in June 2003, Richard was Corporate Affairs Director for AMP Pearl, one of the country's leading financial services groups. He specialises in developing comprehensive communication plans for a range of projects and change programmes, working mainly in the financial services and public sectors. Richard won the Institute of Public Relations Sword of Excellence for public affairs in 2000.
Ann McHugh AAT PgDMS APDPR
Ann has 12 years experience of delivering communications strategies in large complex organisations. She has worked in the private sector, in the financial and transport industries and more recently in the NHS and local government. An award-winning communicator Ann specialises in internal communications, media relations, change communications and community engagement. She leads on all Athene's health-related client work.
Rebecca Stephens
Following a long career in journalism, Rebecca came on board as one of Athene's consultants in summer 2007. She specialises in communication planning and media relations work. She led our media work for the Energypark Peterborough project and is currently working on developing communication plans to support Peterborough's community cohesion work.
Phil Newby
Phil has worked in senior public and private sector roles. As Group Property Director at Thomas Cook he led complex property transactions whilst working on mergers and acquisitions. As Executive Director at English Nature, Phil was responsible for communications, external relations, customer service and information, and dealt with small and large scale environmental issues between 2003 and 2006. When not working with Athene, Phil brokers and facilitates environmental projects with partners that include Local Authorities, Defra, The Daily Mail, IBM, UK CEED, BAM Nuttall and Royal Haskoning. Outside work Phil and his family have conceived, built and live in one of the lowest carbon homes in the country.
Jane Smith
Jane is an award-winning communications professional with 17 years' experience gained in the travel, financial, retail and public sectors. She specialises in strategic communications planning for major projects and organisational change, and in creative PR which delivers measurable results. Jane has just completed an interim assignment with Pearl Group Ltd and continues to provide consultancy support to BGL Ltd and Peterborough City Council.
Hannah Barrett MCIPR PgDip
Hannah joined Athene in 2008 after completing her English Literature degree at the University of Leicester. Hannah is a natural writer with an additional flair for organising events. She is currently working as account executive for the Greater Peterborough Partnership, ASBAH, Opportunity Peterborough and Frenbury Developments.
Louise Phillips
Louise has a background in community relations and internal communication. She specialises in organising events and corporate hospitality. While at Pearl Assurance she was responsible for the Kids Club Network and AMP's headline sponsorship of The Oval cricket ground and Surrey County Cricket Club.
Pete Bowman
Words are Pete’s forte and he has deployed his copywriting skills across an expansive range of corporate, promotional and commercial publications, presentations and video scripts.
Ruth Peasgood
Ruth is an experienced communications specialist, equipped with a broad spectrum of skills, developed through fundraising, education, marketing and communications roles in both the corporate and not for profit sectors. An effective communicator, Ruth specialises in copywriting and has a proven ability to tailor messages and the media through which they are presented to suit any target audience. In 2007 Ruth successfully organised the BBC Springwatch event in Peterborough for over 10,000 people.
Sophie Jefferies
Sophie is an internal communications specialist and a freelance member of the Athene team. She plans, writes and executes communications which aim to deliver a defined behavioural change among internal audiences. Her work spans projects as diverse as staff retention, brand internalisation, organisational restructures, product training and health and safety compliance. She has particular expertise in the financial services sector and enjoys supporting management teams through times of change.
Emma Cook
Emma is currently in her final year at the University of Leeds, studying towards a degree in English Language and Literature. She has joined Athene on several occasions over the past couple of years, working during her university vacations.