Overview
Neil is a long-time communications and government professional with experience working in governments and for clients from Washington, D.C., Europe and across the U.S. West. Neil’s award-winning media, cybersecurity, policy and crisis communications experience make him a valued member to clients across many disciplines.
Neil has deep and varied experience in crisis communications work, having helped clients in healthcare, finance and higher education to prepare for and navigate everything from ransomware attacks to major public health outbreaks. After the 9/11 attacks, Neil was selected as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow and among the first legislative aides in the U.S. House to work on cybersecurity policy.
Equally comfortable in a private sector boardroom or the halls of government, Neil has designed a 12-week cybersecurity curriculum and tabletop exercises for a global consulting firm and scores of Fortune 500 and public sector clients, helping security leaders improve their crisis preparedness, detection and response efforts.
As a former journalist, Neil advises clients on strategic communication plans and media relations, bringing his unique ability to find powerful characters and storylines that resonate and drive new narratives.
Neil has held public diplomacy leadership roles for the U.S. government and international organizations. From 2016 to 2022, he helped guide the European Union’s public engagement with the U.S., managing a federal and 50-state partnership strategy that resulted in stronger transatlantic collaboration on issues ranging from data privacy and digital trade to climate action and human rights.
Neil’s policy work has resulted in state and federal laws that increase transparency in the fields of energy, improved port and homeland security, and electoral governance. After working on the first sanctions against Russia during the Obama administration, Neil went on to be based in Denmark and a career working on international human rights, economic and environmental cooperation, and democracy promotion.
He is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker, having produced the first film featuring survivors from an FBI-run World War II Japanese Internment Camp, as well as other productions featuring the rise of women in politics, the power of bipartisanship and municipal smoking bans.
Neil holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science from Northwestern University and a master in public administration from Portland State University.
*Neil is not a lawyer and does not provide legal advice.
Education
- Portland State University (M.P.A, 2023)
- Northwestern University (B.S., 2000)
Community
- WorldOregon, Advisory Board Member