Science and research communicator.

Senior experience.

Making evidence work for everyone.

picture of Simon

I’m Simon Wilde. I help science, health and research organisations communicate complex evidence to the people who need to hear it: policymakers, professionals, funders, and the public.

With over 20 years of senior experience, I’ve worked at the heart of national bodies including Genomics England, NICE, the Medical Research Council, the Health Research Authority and BBSRC. I understand how to build public trust, manage reputation and risk, secure meaningful media coverage, and create engagement that actually changes things.

I work as a freelance consultant and I’m also open to senior employed roles where my experience would add real value.

What I do

I help organisations, research teams and policy partners communicate complex ideas in ways that connect with people, inform decisions and create real-world impact. My work spans three interlinked areas:

Science & health communication

I translate complex research into clear, credible communications for a wide range of audiences. This includes:

Corporate communications strategy developing the framework that ties media, digital, stakeholder and internal channels together. I connect the dots between your day-to-day comms and your long-term goals.

Press and media relations proactive and reactive, including on ethically sensitive or controversial topics such as genomics, stem cells, data use and screening. I know what journalists want - and how to give it to them.

Writing and editing news stories, press releases, briefings, annual reports, web content, newsletter copy and specialist publications. I write in your voice for the people you want to reach.

Digital communications content strategy, website redevelopments (which I've led at NICE, the HRA and for several NHS trusts), social media, email and analytics. I pick new systems up fast, and I’m not afraid of the technical side.

Straight advice for senior leaders briefing executives and spokespeople, creating lines to take, advising on reputation management and issues comms. I tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear - and I help you act on it.

Public affairs & policy engagement

I help organisations use evidence to influence policy and build standing in their sectors. I've led public affairs at a national level, including a successful parliamentary campaign at the MRC that led to changes in the law on biomedical research. I understand how to position organisations effectively across government, Parliament and the wider policy community.

My work in this area includes:

  • Developing and implementing public affairs strategies, including stakeholder mapping and influencer analysis

  • Producing policy briefings, consultation responses and parliamentary submissions

  • Building relationships with ministers, MPs, civil servants, arm's-length bodies and sector partners

  • Advising on timing and framing. I know how Parliament and Whitehall actually work, and how to make sure your evidence lands when decisions are being made.

Public engagement, involvement & stakeholder relations

I design and deliver engagement that goes beyond consultation. My work genuinely informs decisions, builds trust and demonstrates accountability. At Genomics England and the MRC I have led a number of major Sciencewise public dialogues (on health data, stem cells, genomics, and newborn sequencing), which have directly shaped national policy. I have extensive experience working with patient groups, underserved communities, young people and families on complex and sensitive topics.

This includes:

Public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE) designing processes that give communities genuine input into research and policy

Public dialogue and deliberative engagement commissioning and managing dialogue projects, including youth-focused strands

Stakeholder relations building and sustaining relationships with funders, charities, NHS bodies, government and delivery partners

Co-production working with researchers, clinicians and communities to develop communications, consent materials and engagement strategies together

Who I am

I'm a freelance science and research communicator based in Greater Manchester, with over 20 years of senior experience in health, science and public sector communications.

My career has centred on organisations doing work that matters in places where accurate communication is not a nice-to-have but essential to public trust, research integrity, and impact. I've held senior roles at Genomics England, NICE, the Medical Research Council, the Health Research Authority, BBSRC and various NHS Trusts, as well as freelance roles in the NHS and research sectors.

I combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. I'm as comfortable writing a press release or briefing a chief executive as I am developing a five-year communications strategy or facilitating a public dialogue workshop. I've led teams of up to 14, managed budgets exceeding £1 million, and contributed to successful funding bids.

Before returning to communications consulting, I trained and worked as a primary school teacher. That experience is directly useful: I can develop schools engagement strands with curriculum-linked resources as part of a wider communications package, and I bring a practitioner’s understanding of what works in classrooms that teachers need, and how to reach families and communities who don’t usually engage with research and science.

How I work

I start by understanding what you want to achieve, who you need to reach, and the context you're operating in. From there I work quickly. I've spent 20 years learning to understand complex organisations fast and identify what matters most.

I'm used to working with senior leaders, researchers and subject experts. I can draw out key messages without losing nuance or accuracy. I bring structure and clear thinking, and I'm willing to give honest, direct advice even when it's not what people want to hear.

I work collaboratively and adapt to different teams and timelines. I take the quality of the content seriously, as well as the quality of the process. And I keep the focus on outcomes: what is this communication actually trying to achieve, and is it going to work?