Describing the change you want to see, and then realising it
For more than two decades supporting civil society, philanthropy and campaigns in describing strategies to realise change for the ocean, environment, food systems and people, in Europe and globally.
Politics is the art of the possible. Campaigning widens what’s possible
OD Communications is Mike Walker. I work with organisations large and small to realise change: describing strategy, putting in place the corresponding systems to realise it, campaign architecture and strategic communications, advocacy and political analysis.
Realising change means attainable objectives, clearly articulated, based on a solid situational analysis and backed by a coherent strategy — and the flexibility to adapt when reality intervenes. That’s where the real campaigning starts and the fun begins.
What I do
An experienced consultant, working alongside you: tailored to your needs, attentive to where you are, and adapting as circumstances change; and they will.
01
Strategy & systems
- I work with you to describe what needs to change, how to realise it and how you’ll know it’s happening
- I analyse the situation properly before recommending anything, and match the plan to the resources you have available
- I set up the plans and routines the campaign runs on
- What you get: a strategy that works, and a team that has the confidence and the knowledge to realise it
02
Campaign architecture
- We will co-design the campaign: who acts, when, and where the pressure goes
- I put the steps in the right order, each building towards the decision
- When events shift, I redesign rather than plough on
- What you get: a campaign that survives contact with reality and wins
03
Strategic communications
- I work out what to say, to whom, and when
- I write the materials: messages, press releases, briefings, articles, posts
- I deal with the journalists and outlets that cover your issue
- What you get: audiences moved to act, not just informed
04
Funding & coalitions
- I build relations with funders and between funders and civil society
- I design and convene coalitions and networks, and map the stakeholders which fit
- I support grantees with guidance, strategy and capacity
- What you get: the resources and the alliances the campaign needs
05
Advocacy & political analysis
- I identify who makes the decision, what moves them, and what their interests are
- I analyse the dynamics and forces which are moving and defining the political context
- I map the political actors and motivations
- I make some crude predictions for how the politics will evolve
- What you get: political insight, understanding and the confidence to engage
Old dogs offer honesty, focus, tenacity, loyalty — and a few crafty tricks. So does OD Communications.
Why the old dog?
Track record
Climate, land use & food
The European Climate Foundation
Strategy advisor since 2020: supporting the design, implementation and revision of a pan-European strategy for the Land Use and Food Systems project, including grantee capacity-building and funder community relations.
Southern Ocean protection
Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition
Strategy consultant, 2016–2024: guided the geopolitical strategy of a global campaign to secure designation of protected areas in the Southern Ocean, engaging decision-makers at European and global level.
Ending EU overfishing
Our Fish
Strategic advisor, 2017–2023: strategy design, creative thinking and campaign tactics, coordination of scientist support, and high-level engagement.
Ending plastic pollution
Break Free From Plastic Europe
Strategic advisor: strategy and systems design, campaign design and management, and policy and political advice to the movement and the Rethink Plastic alliance — working to end plastic pollution and secure an ambitious Plastics Treaty.
Ocean conservation
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Communications manager, 2008–2016: ocean conservation and fisheries campaigns, from ending EU overfishing to marine reserves and shark conservation.
Others I’ve worked with include: Adessium, Oceans 5, the Plastics Solution Fund, the European Foundations for Sustainable Agriculture and Food, the EU Food Policy Coalition, CIEL, Only One, HEAL, Changing Markets, NABU, Climate Catalyst, the Blue Nature Alliance, Fern, Carbon Market Watch, Project 0, Harwood Levitt Consulting, and the Irish Environmental Pillar (Fair Seas).
Why the old dog?
Old dogs, at least this one, exhibit extraordinary honesty, focus, determination, tenacity, loyalty and a few crafty tricks.
OD Communications delivers the same in supporting organisations to achieve their objectives — spotting the opportunity for attainable change, building the strategy, and building the capacity to achieve it.
Tell me about the change you’d like to realise
It begins with a conversation: let’s start with what needs to change, why, by when, and who decides.
+353 86 6033002 · mike[at]odcommunications.com · LinkedIn · Bluesky
