Leader in Public Affairs: Zak Viney, Campaigns and Public Affairs Coordinator, Living Streets, “Politics starts locally on the doorstep”

Mace | 3rd August 2026 | In-House Public Affairs, Westminster Index
zak viney headshot

Living Streets’ Zak Viney speaks to The Mace about moving from engineering into advocacy, making the case for walkable streets across political divides and securing practical progress on pavement parking.

Zak Viney did not set out to build a career in public affairs. Trained as an engineer, he left university with a master’s degree and joined the graduate scheme at JCB, rotating through roles in research, manufacturing and product development. It was a solid start to a technical career. But Viney gradually felt misaligned with the issues that most motivated him. “While I was learning a lot, I kept finding myself drawn toward environmental and social justice questions,” he recalls. “I realised I wanted to work closer to those debates.” Joining Living Streets in April 2024 as Campaigns and Public Affairs Coordinator, Viney found his place working across a wide range of activities, from organising advocacy campaigns and parliamentary engagement to media appearances and mobilising grassroots supporters. Living Streets, a century-old charity which advocates everyday walking, campaigns to make streets safer, healthier and more accessible for pedestrians. Its mission is to improve public space...

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Mace | September 17, 2026

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Mace | September 17, 2026

Claire captures the appeal of public affairs: influence without exposure, impact without political office.

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Mace | September 16, 2026

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Leader in Public Affairs: Ros Morgan, Chief Executive, Heart of London Business Alliance, “Build a strong, proud and open culture where everyone has a voice”

Mace | September 8, 2026

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Leader in UK Public Affairs: Tim Hewish, Public Affairs Lead, National Grid, “Go and make a difference”

Mace | September 8, 2026

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Mace | September 8, 2026

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Mace | August 28, 2026

CityFibre’s Charlie Hall explains why joined-up policymaking is vital to infrastructure investment, how in-house advocacy connects politics with commercial reality and why the best decisions draw on every

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Mace | August 26, 2026

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Industry Watch: John Gill, Deputy Director of External Affairs, Reform UK – “There’s no limit to where a man can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit”

Mace Magazine | August 20, 2026

John Gill's promotion at Reform UK, just before the party launches its inaugural Business Day at its September NEC conference, is indicative of how the party is ramping