- SPECIAL KNOW-HOW FOR PROJECT COMMUNICATION.
- BIG PROJECTS, BIG TROUBLE? MANAGING PUBLIC OPINION.
- NOT UNIVERSALLY POPULAR? WE HELP YOU IMPLEMENT YOUR PROJECT.
- POLITICS – SHOWSTOPPER FORENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE?
- HOW TO GROW PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE.
- … AND WHAT ABOUT THE EU – DOES IT HAVE A SAY?
- HOW TO INVOLVE STAKEHOLDERS, POLITICS AND MEDIA.
- PUTTING ENERGY IN COMMUNICATION.
WHO WE ARE.
Advocacy Strategies is a specialised consultancy for PR, communications, political advice and lobbying in the areas of energy and infrastructure. We work with international clients across the EU, the Nordic/Baltic regions, in Russia, and beyond.
We are an international team with solid experience from project communication, media relations, political lobbying, government and NGOs. Our consultants have worked for high-profile projects that are internationally recognised for best practice solutions.
We lay great emphasis on performance and accuracy, strict quality control and timely delivery. We work mainly in English, German, Russian, and Finnish.
We help creating the conditions of your success: how to engage the stakeholders of your energy project, how to support a construction license for new infrastructure, how to work with governments and international institutions, how to promote your interests in media and public opinion.
WHAT WE DO.
COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
We create the right approach for your project in the most demanding operational environments at all stages of project implementation.
LOBBYING AND ADVOCACY
From discreet talks and under-the-radar consultations to roadshows, town hall meetings, public hearings, and media relations.
PERSUASIVE MESSAGING
What to say to whom at what stage of the procedure – we will guide you.
CHANNELS FOR MESSAGING
We develop content for presentations, websites, digital channels, printed materials, brochures, white papers.
STAKEHOLDER MAPPING
You need to know who to talk to – we find out for you who matters.
TRAINING AND AUDITING
Is your team really as prepared to promote your project as you think? We will check and suggest improvement where necessary.
TEAM ALIGNMENT
We offer speeches and presentations to share experience from a multitude of other projects, to motivate your staff, and to align your team on common objectives.
INVESTING IN A PROJECT?
We check whether politics, public opinion or opponents pose a risk to your money.
NOT UNIVERSALLY POPULAR? WE HELP YOU IMPLEMENT YOUR PROJECT
Big projects trigger big controversy – whether a gas pipeline, nuclear power plant, port enlargement, railroad, airport, or wind farm. More often than not, the reason for project failure is related to politics, stakeholder management or public acceptance. As project developer you must manage interest groups and decision-makers – at grass-roots level, in government, EU and international institutions. You are guaranteed to face political opponents, critical media, and skilful campaigners. We identify your challenges and equip you with the right strategies, tools and activities.
COMMUNICATION WITH AN IMPACT
Project communication is very different from normal corporate communication: all activities must directly contribute to project implementation. Anything else is a distraction. But which activities are the right ones? We understand that your project is driven by engineering and construction schedules, licensing procedures, impact assessments, stakeholder consultations, financing decisions, political approvals, regulation. Skilful communication is indispensable for avoiding problems before they emerge.
BEST-PRACTICE
Our team members have successful experience from some of the most difficult communication challenges in the EU, Russia and emerging economies. We have experience with political relations for multi-country pipelines; project communication for large power stations; stakeholder relations for new-build nuclear plants; lobbying in the European Parliament and the EU Commission; working for intergovernmental organisations; and many other areas. Our experience is accumulated through managing real projects in a variety of operational environments.
RISK AUDIT FOR LENDERS
Are you investing in energy and infrastructure? Engineering-driven organisations frequently fail to identify accountabilities and challenges from politics and society. We review and analyse your client’s preparedness and recommend mitigation where needed. This is part of any responsible due diligence.
HOW WE WORK.
Our business model is to provide substantial added-value for the specific needs of your organisation so that you achieve your objectives. It is not part of our business model to maximise the number of hours billed to our clients.
We analyse the precise challenges that you are facing and we design the exact steps and activities for the achievement of your specific objectives. We sell no lofty PR campaigns, but provide you with practical tools and real-world guidance ready for implementation.
Our team members look at your business from the client perspective and know the value of “no-nonsense advice”.
PR and public advocacy are instruments for supporting tangible results such as a license to operate, political approval, a construction permit, a positive public profile, a friendly media environment, and good stakeholder relations. They are also needed when encountering political opposition, a media crisis, reputational breakdown, lack of public confidence, hostile campaigning.
THE TEAM.
Some of our key players.
SEBASTIAN SASS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Over 15 years experience at the interface of politics,
EU, media and business.
Since 2013: Founder and Director of Advocacy Strategies AG,
based in the Canton of Zug, Switzerland, and
providing services for clients across Europe.
Until 2013: Head of Communications and
Spokesperson at the South Stream Pipeline Project.
2007–2010: Head of EU Representation and
Spokesperson at the Nord Stream Pipeline Project.
2006–2007: Coordinator of Finland‘s EU Presidency
(Justice/Home Affairs) for the Finnish Government.
Until 2006: advisory roles in the German Parliament
(Bundestag) and Parliament of Finland as well as for
Finland’s former Prime Minister Mr Paavo Lipponen.
Lawyer: State Examination, DE; Master of EU Law
LLM, UK.
Registered lobbyist at the European Parliament.
TIINA TIGERSTEDT
SENIOR ADVISOR
15 years experience in communications, public relations and stakeholder management.
Since September 2016: Independent private advisor; Senior Advisor to Advocacy Strategies; Consultant to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna)
Until September 2016: Stakeholder Involvement officer for the IAEA. Duty station HQ in Vienna, Austria (Department of Nuclear Energy). Direct engagement with IAEA Member States for developing and implementing stakeholder involvement support for nuclear power programmes. Work both HQ and field based.
Until May 2015: Independent advisor and Senior Policy Advisor to Sass Consulting.
Until December 2014: PR and Communications Manager for Fennovoima. Scope of work covering all levels of stakeholder management, including strategic and operational work. Specialisation in international affairs and supplier relations.
Until October 2007: Project manager and team leader for Observer Finland and Cision Finland. Media analysis and advisory, areas of specialisation: energy industry and utilities, financing and insurance businesses.
Master of Political Science, Helsinki University.
English, Finnish, Swedish, German.
KSENIIA STEBLIANKO
CONSULTANT
Since November 2015: involved in business activity in Russia and Eastern Europe, research reporting and analysis of political devel-opments in EU-Russia relations; office management.
2012: PR support for EU-Russian energy projects (South Stream).
2011-2012: Support in organizing events for RussianOlympic Committee, participation in volunteering programmes relating to Sochi Winter Olympics.
BA in diplomacy and international relations, Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO): political history of South-Eastern Europe.
English, Russian, German, Romanian.
CONTACT.
Advocacy Strategies AG
Grafenaustrasse 5
6300 Zug
Switzerland
Phone: +41 41 763 10 55
mail(at)advocacy-strategies.eu