Leader In Public Affairs: Lewis North, Head of Public Affairs, Porterbrook, “Take care of your people and they will take care of you”

Mace | 26th August 2026 | In-House Public Affairs, Westminster Index

From gaining his politics degree to standing in the 2019 General Election - Lewis reveals how these experiences informed his career in public affairs.

“With a politics degree and having worked for an MEP… public affairs was an obvious route,” says Lewis North. The path itself, however, was less straightforward. Moving from Brussels to Westminster meant “a couple of sideways career steps” to learn the procedural differences — a reminder that even adjacent political systems require different instincts. That early experience left him with something more durable than process knowledge. “The contact book has stayed quite strong,” he says, reflecting on a cohort that returned to the UK around Brexit. It is a quiet advantage in a profession where relationships, once formed, tend to endure. Today, he operates in a sector where policy, finance and infrastructure intersect closely. Porterbrook is one of the UK’s leading rolling stock leasing companies, owning and financing thousands of rail vehicles used across the national network. Working with train operators and government, it plays a central role in how trains are procured, upgraded and de...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



Leader in UK Public Affairs: Andy Brown, Marketing, Communications and Business Development Director, Arup, “Be open”

Mace | September 17, 2026

Andy talks about how career progression isn't just about salary but spending time doing work that you find meaningful

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Claire Lovegrove, Director of Corporate Affairs, Mitie, “AI is an enabler, not a replacement”

Mace | September 17, 2026

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

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Dr Michelle Howard, Senior Advisor for Defence and Space, Lexington Communications: “The future of public affairs is full of promise for the creative”

Mace | September 16, 2026

Lexington’s Michelle Howard explains how an unconventional career spanning opera, journalism, hydropower and defence led her into public affairs, why political instability rewards creativity and listening, and what

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

After two decades spent in advocacy on behalf of business, Ros reveals what parts of the industry she believes needs reform.

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

Mace | September 8, 2026

Tim reflects on the reality of operating in an environment where political pressure, public scrutiny and long-term infrastructure decisions all collide.

Leader In UK Public Affairs: Dan Mann, Corporate Affairs Manager, Cemex, “Side before self every time”

Mace | September 8, 2026

Dan discusses his time in the industry that "literally built Britain", his leadership philosophies, and how AI will never replace empathy.

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Charlie Hall, Public Affairs Manager, CityFibre “I want to advocate for businesses that make a meaningful contribution to society”

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

Leader in Public Affairs: Sophie Timms, Corporate Affairs Director, Kier Group, “Nothing is more important than keeping people safe”

Mace | August 27, 2026

Sophie has been passionate about politics since her teenage years. Now, she works at the intersection of policy, delivery and public accountability.

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

The Mace Questionnaire: Marshall Manson, CEO, FleishmanHillard UK – “Politics is seeping into business through every crack” 

Mace Magazine | August 12, 2026

The innovative digital comms veteran Marshall Manson, now CEO of FleishmanHillard UK, reveals how he misses The West Wing, was introduced to Westminster by Gyles Brandeth's political diaries