Our Team
Henry Sands - Managing Director
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Henry is a seasoned communications advisor who has worked extensively on behalf of political organisations, international corporations, private family offices and development foundations, both in the UK and internationally, on political and reputational issues.
Following a stint in journalism - during which he co-founded a lifestyle and literary newspaper and wrote regularly for the Spectator, New Statesman and Daily Mail amongst others - Henry built his experience in communications and campaigning working for Freud Communications and CT Group.
Recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ of the reputation management industry by the Spear’s magazine in 2023 and a former PR Week ‘30 under 30’, Henry founded SABI Strategy Group in 2015. The company has offices in London and Johannesburg and prides itself on being results-driven and execution-focused.
In 2021 Henry was asked by the then Prime Minister to launch and chair the private sector advisory committee for UK African investment on behalf of the UK government’s Department for International Trade. The committee represented the interest of UK businesses operating across Africa.
Before reading Economic History at the University of Edinburgh, Henry undertook a SSLC commission with the British Army where he served with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
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henry.sands@sabistrategy.com
Kathryn Sturrock - Director
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Kathryn specialises in crafting and implementing targeted communications and stakeholder engagement strategies. At SABI Group she advises public and private entities on how to successfully navigate political, regulatory, and operating dynamics through strategic stakeholder relationship management and external communications.
Kathryn has more than fourteen years of experience executing projects for clients across sectors ranging from mining to FMCG. She works with corporates, families and foundations in the UK, Europe and Africa; helping them to hone their messaging, strengthen their relationships with external actors, and position themselves strategically for the future.
In the political space Kathryn leads SABI’s international communications and advocacy work. Working alongside the SABI research team she helps political organisations to develop and refine their campaign offering and messaging, and to strengthen their relationships with external actors. Having worked with the United Party for National Development (UPND) on developing its communications function since 2014, she played a key role in the 2021 election of President Hakainde Hichilema in Zambia.
Kathryn has an MSc in African Studies and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.
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kathryn.sturrock@sabistrategy.com
Jonathan Moakes - Director
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Jonathan joined SABI Strategy Group from American opinion research and campaigning consultancy, GQR Research. Prior to GQR, Moakes was both the Chief Executive and Chief Strategist for the Democratic Alliance (DA), a member of the current South African Government of National Unity (GNU).
Jonathan leads on campaign strategy, campaign design and campaign management for SABI Strategy. He specialises in transforming strategic insights and messaging recommendations from opinion research and social listening into actionable campaign plans focused on the persuasion and motivation of identified target market(s).
He is also a key proponent of applying the rigour, discipline, and speed of political campaigning to corporate and issue advocacy campaigns, enabling clients to be several steps ahead of their competitors and sustain a competitive advantage.
Jonathan has consulted to corporates, governments, advocacy groups, political parties, and candidates in over twenty countries on five continents. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Cape Town.
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jonathan.moakes@sabistrategy.com
Mark Hamilton - US Director
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A native of Texas, currently living in Austin, Mark is a political and international communications adviser who has worked in over 100 countries.
He has advised various U.S. cabinet secretaries, senior government and military officials, presidential and congressional campaigns, heads of state, high-profile business leaders, and various Silicon Valley companies on communications, event production, international affairs and reputation management.
Mark began his professional career in Washington D.C. During this time, he served at The Pentagon, under then Secretary of Defence, Robert Gates, who was a mentor for him during one of the most dynamic and trying times for the U.S. military and the US’s national security. In 2008 Mark was one of a handful of people to transition from the George W. Bush to Barack Obama Administration.
Most recently he also worked for a high profile international strategic advisory firm to provide governments, corporations, and high profile business and political leaders with discreet strategies designed to enhance their reputation, credibility and increase political influence.
Mark has also worked on numerous presidential and congressional campaigns and has spent significant time in Africa, most recently on political campaigns in Zimbabwe and Zambia. He has previously lived in Washington D.C., New York City and Hong Kong.
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mark.hamilton@sabistrategy.com
George Chichester - Senior Account Manager
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George is an experienced strategic communications and public affairs advisor. His work spans across both corporate and political communications as he assists clients with media relations, political analysis, and multimedia campaign strategies.
At SABI Group, George has advised private and public corporations on how to best leverage their external communications through both conventional and digital media. He has extensive experience in building brand awareness, managing crisis communications, and implementing media strategy and training. George has supported companies at every stage in their development, from start-up, through public listing, to thought leadership and global expansion.
In the political sector, George has advised political parties, companies, think-tanks, and grass-roots movements in campaigns stretching from Westminster to Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2021, George supported the digital and international communications for the UPND Alliance’s successful election campaign in Zambia, resulting in President Hakainde Hichilema taking office on 24th August. He continues to provide communications support to the Government of Zambia.
In 2023, George worked with the Zimbabwean opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) on its campaign communications and international advocacy during the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections. He also supported the development and implementation of the party’s Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) system.
Prior to joining SABI, George completed a BA in History at the University of Oxford.
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george.chichester@sabistrategy.com
Billy Wolstenholme - Account Manager
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Since joining the team in 2019, Billy has advised clients from a wide range of industries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and United States.
At SABI, Billy assists with in-depth quantitative and qualitative research and analysis geared towards delivering actionable insights that drive real change for those within the political, corporate, and non-profit sectors.
He has conducted political campaigns across Central and Southern Africa, and developed positioning on a number of contentious issues for a Southern African political party.
He also specialises in original content creation, from video and film production to more traditional forms of print and broadcast media.
Billy has a BA in History and Politics from the University of Exeter and a diploma from the Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises at the Université Catholique de Lyon.
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billy.wolstenholme@sabistrategy.com
Alice Strong - Manager
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Since joining the team in 2021, Alice has worked with clients focused on economic and social development across Africa.
At SABI, Alice specialises in original content creation with a focus on video and film production. She also leads on the media monitoring and social media management of several accounts as well as providing crisis communications support when necessary.
Prior to joining SABI, Alice completed an MA in International Development at the University of Sheffield.
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alice.strong@sabistrategy.com
Saskia van Vredenburch - Senior Associate
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Saskia joined Sabi Strategy Group from Hanbury Strategy, where she was a Public Affairs and Communications Executive. In this role, she helped clients navigate political and regulatory change by providing policy analysis, stakeholder mapping, and media monitoring reports.
Prior to this, Saskia worked at communications consultancy Instinctif Partners where she provided political support to clients in the pharmaceutical, energy, and environmental sectors.
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Emily Osborne - Senior Associate
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Emily assists SABI’s research and communications operations, supporting its political and corporate clients in areas of political analysis, stakeholder mapping, and media insights.
She also supports SABI’s open-source intelligence research.
Emily joined SABI from a background in academic research. She has a BA and an MSt in History from the University of Oxford.
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Choolwe Chibomba - Consultant
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Choolwe is based in Lusaka and supports SABI's government communications advisory work, as well as campaign coordination in southern Africa.
Alongside his work at SABI, Choolwe is the Chief Operating Officer of Timedia in Zambia and works as a consultant for Gralix Actuarial Consulting.
Choolwe was previously a youth coordinator for the United Party for National Development (UPND) in Zambia during the 2021 and 2016 elections.
Choolwe graduated from the University of Surrey with a BA in Politics and International Relations.
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Max Campbell - Junior Associate
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Max assists SABI’s research and public affairs operations, with a focus on British parliamentary engagement.
Prior to joining SABI, Max worked for several British MPs, including Flick Drummond and Greg Hands, assisting with communications and policy research. He also provided campaign support during the 2019 and 2024 General Elections.
While at university, Max worked for 180 Degrees Consulting: the world's largest university-based consultancy for non-profits and social enterprises.
Max has an MA in Politics from the University of Edinburgh.
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max.campbell@sabistrategy.com
Lizzie Hankinson - Junior Associate
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Lizzie joined SABI Strategy Group in 2024, bringing a background in research and policy analysis. She helps clients develop and execute targeted communication and stakeholder engagement strategies, leveraging in-depth research to drive outcomes across multiple sectors.
With international experience, Lizzie previously lived and worked in Argentina, where she managed operations for an international equestrian business, honing her cross-cultural communication and Spanish speaking skills.
She graduated from the University of Leeds with a first-class degree in International Relations and Sociology.
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lizzie.hankinson@sabistrategy.com