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 fifteen years of experience executing projects for clients across the UK, US, Europe and Africa. She works with corporates, families and foundations; helping them to hone their messaging, strengthen their relationships with external actors, and position themselves strategically for the future.
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
Saskia van Vredenburch - Account Manager
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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 - Account Manager
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Emily assists SABI’s qualitative and quantitative research operations. She has conducted research for numerous campaigns across Southern and East Africa, including in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Botswana and Malawi.
She also leads on SABI’s open-source intelligence operations including due diligence checks on individuals, corporations, and organisations, as well as long-form investigative reports.
Emily joined SABI from a background in academic research. She has a BA and an MSt 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 - Associate
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Max supports SABI’s international political campaign strategy and communications work - with a focus on East Africa - assisting clients with communications strategy, messaging, and integrated multimedia campaigns. Max also contributes to SABI’s public affairs operations, with a focus on British parliamentary engagement.
Prior to joining SABI, Max worked for several British MPs, including a cabinet minister, specialising in communications and policy research. He also provided campaign support during the 2019 and 2024 General Elections.
Max holds an MA in Politics from the University of Edinburgh.
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max.campbell@sabistrategy.com
Lizzie Hankinson - 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
Isabel Wooddisse - Junior Associate
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Isabel joined SABI in 2025, bringing experience in original content creation with a strong focus on graphic design, website aesthetics and video production. She also leads on the media monitoring and social media management of several accounts, as well as providing fundraising and crisis communications support across a diverse range of industries.
Prior to joining SABI, Isabel served as the in-house marketing lead at a travel security company, where she was specifically recruited for her experience in event and conference planning.
She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Bristol.
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isabel.wooddisse@sabistrategy.com
George Baker - Junior Associate
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George joined SABI Strategy Group in 2025, bringing experience in political research and the property sector. He supports clients through in-depth research, stakeholder mapping, parliamentary engagement, and media monitoring, helping to inform targeted communication strategies across SABI’s diverse range of clients.
George graduated from the University of Exeter with a BA in History and International Relations.
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george.baker@sabistrategy.com