07/12/2007

Forster adds social communications expert Ben Jackson to the team

We’re still growing! Last month Forster appointed social campaign communications expert Ben Jackson to our team. Ben has 20 years experience leading and delivering campaign, policy and communication work on international and social issues.

As Head of Campaigns at the World Development Movement and then Director of Action for Southern Africa, he led a number of high-profile campaigns such as securing the return of British aid budget illegally spent on the Pergau Dam project and engaging industry and government players to stem the flow of UN sanctions-busting ‘conflict diamonds’ to UNITA rebels in Angola.

As Director of Communication and Campaigns at Shelter he led the organisation’s major rebrand and the launch of its Million Children Campaign. He also managed an award-winning joint campaign with Citizen’s Advice to secure new official standards on housing overcrowding.

Ben has also worked on the other side of the campaigning fence in both Westminster and Whitehall, including within the Home Office leading the communications work of the Respect Task Force on agendas around anti-social behaviour, parenting and empowering communities. He was a founder Board member of the Fairtrade Foundation, and has recently been working with its Director researching and editing a forthcoming book on the rise of the Fairtrade movement. He has also acted as mentoring and trainer to the winners of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation awards for outstanding new campaigners.

He is author of two books and a wide range of articles and publications on international and social issues.