About us
Punch Consulting is an independent consultancy with expertise in health and science policy research, stakeholder engagement and communications. We founded the consultancy in June 2010 and since then have provided expertise to organisations across the UK and Europe, working with a wide range of stakeholders. We work hard to meet clients needs via our pragmatic and collaborative style.
Director: Dr Alexis Willett
Alexis is the Founding Director of Punch Consulting. Prior to establishing the consultancy, Alexis worked in a number of health policy and science communications roles in the non-profit and public sectors, including: Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the Medical Research Council, Anglia Ruskin University, the Department of Health and Suffolk County Council.
Alexis gained her PhD in biomedical science from the University of Cambridge, where she became interested in using her expertise in the fields of health and science communication and policy development. On a range of topics, her publications include: influencing briefings and reports for policy makers, booklets and guidelines for clinical professionals, website content and leaflets for the public and patients, and academic research papers and reports. She wrote a popular science book about the brain, published in December 2017, and a second book is due out in Autumn 2019.
Alexis’ specialist skills include: knowledge brokering, health & science communications, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, policy development, strategic thinking, research and mentoring. Alexis is an experienced media spokesperson and occasionally reviews the Sunday newspapers on local radio. She is a mentor to policy, public affairs and science communications professionals, was until recently a Trustee at Mind in Cambridgeshire and was a founding Director of The Dosoco Foundation.
Alexis gained her PhD in biomedical science from the University of Cambridge, where she became interested in using her expertise in the fields of health and science communication and policy development. On a range of topics, her publications include: influencing briefings and reports for policy makers, booklets and guidelines for clinical professionals, website content and leaflets for the public and patients, and academic research papers and reports. She wrote a popular science book about the brain, published in December 2017, and a second book is due out in Autumn 2019.
Alexis’ specialist skills include: knowledge brokering, health & science communications, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, policy development, strategic thinking, research and mentoring. Alexis is an experienced media spokesperson and occasionally reviews the Sunday newspapers on local radio. She is a mentor to policy, public affairs and science communications professionals, was until recently a Trustee at Mind in Cambridgeshire and was a founding Director of The Dosoco Foundation.
"The judges felt there was a lot to like in this entry – its impressive scope of partnerships, good impact and strong research. It genuinely made a difference and is an amazing achievement that will shape the landscape of patient focused research."
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Industry recognised expertise...
Alexis is thrilled that her project with The Lullaby Trust, on securing a shared vision for sudden unexpected death in infancy, was presented with a 'Highly Commended' award at the 2018 Communiqué Awards. This groundbreaking, global project was acknowledged for its excellence in healthcare collaboration and partnership. The Communiqué Awards celebrate outstanding work in healthcare communications. A panel of over 100 industry experts and leaders take part in a rigorous judging process to identify winners that showcase the very best in healthcare communications. |
Associates
Where projects may benefit from additional expertise, Punch Consulting works with associates to deliver the best outcomes for the client.
Associate: Dr Jenny Barnett
Jenny's interest is in the translation of science from academic research to real world outcomes, through healthcare, technology and policy development. She completed a BA in psychology from Oxford University and a PhD in psychiatric epidemiology at the University of Cambridge. Jenny is involved in ongoing mental health research at the University of Cambridge, UK and the University of Oulu, Finland and through several EU public-private research consortia. She has published more than 50 papers on topics ranging from drug development for schizophrenia to the health economics of dementia.
Associate: Dr Liam Drew
Liam is a science writer and former neurobiologist. He is a regular contributor to Nature Outlook, and has written for New Scientist, The Guardian, How It Works and Slate. Liam also recently published his first book - I, Mammal: The Story of What Makes Us Mammals - with Bloomsbury. Prior to writing, Liam spent 15 years working in academia. He got his PhD from University College London for studies of the molecular basis of touch and went on to post-doctoral positions at Columbia University, New York, and then UCL. Liam is the founding Director of the London subsidiary of NeuWrite, a network of working groups of scientists and writers interested in science communication.
Associate: Olivia Hind
Olivia has worked in healthcare and commissioning policy in a number of roles, working at the Department of Health, Diabetes UK, and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, along with consultancy positions at other organisations. Olivia is particularly interested in the relationship between national policy and frontline implementation of local service improvements via commissioning and redesign, and has specialist skills in interpreting policy, developing strategies to influence national and local stakeholders and writing bids, reports and proposals.
Associate: Louise Lakey
Louise has more than fifteen years experience in writing, research and policy-related roles, working for employers such as Pearson Education, the British Medical Association and most recently for Alzheimer's Society as Policy Manager. Her specialist skills include policy development, report writing and editing, public engagement and team development. Louise has a masters in health psychology, is a qualified teacher and has worked in the education field, and is now training to be a counsellor.
Associate: Caroline Philpott
Caroline Philpott has over 16 years’ experience in developing and delivering public health campaigns and health promotion activities, with expertise in marketing, communications and partnerships. Most recently, Caroline was Senior Health Community Engagement Manager for Cancer Research UK - the world’s leading independent cancer research charity. Caroline was previously Health Promotion & Information Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the UK’s leading breast cancer charity, and worked in the NHS as Marketing and Service Development Manager for a North London stop smoking service. She started her started her career in private sector agencies.
Associate: Emma Taggart
Emma worked in a number of campaigning and influencing roles for ten years before setting up her own consultancy in 2006. Formerly Director of Policy & Campaigns at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and aide to a UK Government Minister, Emma now works with charities and not-for-profit organisations supporting them to campaign effectively to achieve change in policy and practice. Emma’s specialist skills include: campaign strategy and planning, coaching and mentoring, training, campaign evaluation (including qualitative research), supporting user-led campaigning and self-advocacy.
Jenny's interest is in the translation of science from academic research to real world outcomes, through healthcare, technology and policy development. She completed a BA in psychology from Oxford University and a PhD in psychiatric epidemiology at the University of Cambridge. Jenny is involved in ongoing mental health research at the University of Cambridge, UK and the University of Oulu, Finland and through several EU public-private research consortia. She has published more than 50 papers on topics ranging from drug development for schizophrenia to the health economics of dementia.
Associate: Dr Liam Drew
Liam is a science writer and former neurobiologist. He is a regular contributor to Nature Outlook, and has written for New Scientist, The Guardian, How It Works and Slate. Liam also recently published his first book - I, Mammal: The Story of What Makes Us Mammals - with Bloomsbury. Prior to writing, Liam spent 15 years working in academia. He got his PhD from University College London for studies of the molecular basis of touch and went on to post-doctoral positions at Columbia University, New York, and then UCL. Liam is the founding Director of the London subsidiary of NeuWrite, a network of working groups of scientists and writers interested in science communication.
Associate: Olivia Hind
Olivia has worked in healthcare and commissioning policy in a number of roles, working at the Department of Health, Diabetes UK, and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, along with consultancy positions at other organisations. Olivia is particularly interested in the relationship between national policy and frontline implementation of local service improvements via commissioning and redesign, and has specialist skills in interpreting policy, developing strategies to influence national and local stakeholders and writing bids, reports and proposals.
Associate: Louise Lakey
Louise has more than fifteen years experience in writing, research and policy-related roles, working for employers such as Pearson Education, the British Medical Association and most recently for Alzheimer's Society as Policy Manager. Her specialist skills include policy development, report writing and editing, public engagement and team development. Louise has a masters in health psychology, is a qualified teacher and has worked in the education field, and is now training to be a counsellor.
Associate: Caroline Philpott
Caroline Philpott has over 16 years’ experience in developing and delivering public health campaigns and health promotion activities, with expertise in marketing, communications and partnerships. Most recently, Caroline was Senior Health Community Engagement Manager for Cancer Research UK - the world’s leading independent cancer research charity. Caroline was previously Health Promotion & Information Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the UK’s leading breast cancer charity, and worked in the NHS as Marketing and Service Development Manager for a North London stop smoking service. She started her started her career in private sector agencies.
Associate: Emma Taggart
Emma worked in a number of campaigning and influencing roles for ten years before setting up her own consultancy in 2006. Formerly Director of Policy & Campaigns at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and aide to a UK Government Minister, Emma now works with charities and not-for-profit organisations supporting them to campaign effectively to achieve change in policy and practice. Emma’s specialist skills include: campaign strategy and planning, coaching and mentoring, training, campaign evaluation (including qualitative research), supporting user-led campaigning and self-advocacy.
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