Matthew Windrum

Leader and advocate with extensive experience in multiple aspects of government and community affairs.  Successful lobbyist with proven ability to develop and implement outreach strategies, manage risk and influence government officials and other key stakeholders to advance organizational interests.

KASIRER, LLC, New York                                                                                         November 2022 – Present

Vice President, Corporate & Legislation

• Work with corporate clients to develop plans to engage decision makers in elected and other government offices to achieve concrete goals, including reputational development, procurement, legislation and more.
• Compellingly articulate and communicate client priorities to external partners.
• Cultivate network of key stakeholders across New York City government and community leadership, maintaining an intimate knowledge of the local political landscape.
• Kasirer is a consistent, highly-ranked New York lobbying and government relations firm.  It has been the #1 lobbyist in New York City for the last six years in a row, and in the top ten for the last 20 years.

WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY, New York                                                March 2021 – November 2022

Government Relations Director, Northeast Region (USA)

• Directed WGU’s state government relations strategy across a 12-state region running from Maine to Virginia.
• Built relationships with state and municipal officials, working to raise WGU’s profile across a region where brand awareness is fairly low.  Work with officials to create pathways to opportunity for WGU students, including opening access to state financial aid.
• Collaborated with colleagues and external consultants in the drafting of talking points, testimony and legislation.  Managed external consultants.
• Monitored legislation and policy developments, advising University leadership about issues that will impact the institution and its students.
• Founded by 19 US Governors in 1997, nonprofit, accredited WGU is the country’s largest fully online university with 150,000 students enrolled across all 50 states, and 325,000 graduates.  It offers more than 60 accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees across four career-aligned colleges, business, IT, teaching and health professions.

THE DOE FUND, New York                                                                                                  January 2019 – September 2020

Director, Government and Community Affairs

• Principal in-house lobbyist for non-profit organization that works to break cycles of homelessness, addiction and criminal recidivism through the provision of housing, holistic services and paid work opportunities.
• Promoted organizational interests to New York City and State elected representatives, other government officials and the wider community.
• Primary government fundraiser for organization’s portfolio of affordable and supportive housing developments, transitional homeless shelters and Ready, Willing & Able, a year-long program for homeless and formerly incarcerated men centered around paid work, and providing wraparound case management, sobriety support, educational opportunities, vocational training, preparation for full-time employment and help finding permanent housing.
• Worked with wider external affairs team to create and enhance publicity opportunities through high-level engagements with elected officials, including tours of our facilities, interactions with program participants and attendance at groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings and openings for new real estate developments.

BRITISH CONSULATE GENERAL, New York                                                                                     2006 – 2019

Head of Political and Economic Affairs Team &

Deputy Head, Press and Public Diplomacy Department, (2017 – 2019)

• Managed and directed team responsible for political and economic policy engagement in states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including New York City, Philadelphia and state capitals, through established network of contacts across a range of sectors.
• Deputy Head of Press and Public Diplomacy Department, responsible for media outreach, digital strategy, wider public affairs initiatives, events, Marshall Scholarship selection and VIP visits from the UK, including by members of the Royal Family, Cabinet Ministers and senior officials across a variety of subjects.
• Built extensive network of US contacts; advocated for UK Government interests on trade, economic and national security priorities with officials, legislators, private sector organizations, think tanks, lobby groups and NGOs.  Identified opportunities for UK-US collaboration and ran initiatives to deliver enhanced cooperation in criminal justice, climate and sustainability, education policy, fighting human trafficking, interfaith relations and counterterrorism.

MA Degree in International Relations 

Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Bologna, Italy and Washington, DC

BA Degree in Political Science & Spanish

Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania