About Us
Brendan Mulgrew and Carl Whyte founded MW Advocate in 2012 after realising they shared the same vision for delivering comprehensive, results-driven services to clients across all sectors. Having worked together in PR and Communications for several years, they saw the potential to create a more holistic approach to advancing clients' agendas. Since then, MW Advocate has expanded its team and expertise, offering a full suite of services, including PR, Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement, Community Engagement, Media Training, Event Delivery, and Research and Evaluation Analysis.
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Our Team
Brendan Mulgrew, Managing Partner
Brendan Mulgrew has over thirty years experience in strategic advisory, communications and politics. He began his career with a jobs and enterprise agency in West Belfast, before moving into Government advisory positions and communications consultancy. He is a former Ministerial Special Advisor at the Department of Employment & Learning and the Department of Finance where he led a range of policy initiatives and oversaw the drafting of NI Executive Budgets, which involved regular liaison with other Departments and HM Treasury.
Previously MD of a communications agency in Belfast, he co-founded MW Advocate in 2012 and has led its public affairs and communications activity since then, with a particular focus on energy, infrastructure and third sector work.
He studied at Queen’s University Belfast and, as well as being a former Antrim GAA County PRO, continues to coach for his local GAA club.
Carl Whyte, Partner
Carl Whyte has nearly twenty years experience in finance, journalism, public relations and public affairs. A trained economist, he leads our research work and plays an integral part in our third sector and corporate campaigns and communications activity.
Carl started his full-time career in economics advisory and corporate banking and also worked as a freelance journalist and sub-editor for a range of titles including the Sunday Independent, Belfast News Letter, Magill Magazine. He began work in communications and co-founded MW Advocate with Brendan Mulgrew in 2012.
Carl studied at University of Dublin, Trinity College, Johns Hopkins University and Queen’s University Belfast. He continues to work as a teaching assistant at Queen’s, teaching Economics to undergraduate students.
Sibley Berty, Senior Advisor
Sibley Berty has ten years marketing and PR experience in retail, tourism, recruitment, healthcare and beauty. Having worked with luxury brands such as Elizabeth Arden, Gucci, Tudor, TAG Heuer, OMEGA and Montblanc, as well as one of Belfast’s iconic tourist destinations, Queen’s Arcade, Sibley is a seasoned campaign specialist with a strong understanding of how to captivate audiences online and offline.
Previously Digital Marketing Specialist for Lunn’s Jewellers, Sibley has extensive experience setting up social media campaigns, managing a multi-channel content calendar and developing new CRM strategies.
She studied at Goldsmiths University of London and works on women’s health projects in her spare time.
Florence McGowan, Head of Growth & Partnerships: Summit Events
Florence graduated from NUI Galway with a joint honours degree in Law and English before spending five years working in a Dublin-based law firm as a Legal Executive and Trainee Solicitor.
Following a change in career direction, she moved into business development, initially working as a Gallery Manager before joining a technology start-up as Business Development Manager. As part of a small team, she helped drive the company's growth through to its successful acquisition by a leading payroll and HR software provider in the UK and Ireland, with her contribution to the acquisition recognised.
Florence is now Head of Partnerships and Growth, where she focuses on identifying, developing and nurturing new relationships and opportunities.
Having lived in Martinique, New York, Brussels and France, Florence has a love of travel, experiencing different cultures.
Lucy McQuaid, Associate
Lucy McQuaid is a Business and Political Science graduate from Trinity College Dublin, with experience in sales, marketing, PR and communications.
Having previously worked with a luxury retail brand, Lucy has developed skills in digital marketing, social media management, influencer marketing, event coordination and content creation. Her background also extends to political communications, including public affairs campaigns, media relations and stakeholder engagement.