ForgeFront is a team of experienced policy and futures experts created by founding members of the Cabinet Office’s Priority Projects Unit, a team which deals with the Department’s most important and high-profile policy and project challenges.

Our Future.Ctrl methodology is based on colleagues’ experience working in a range of UK Government departments, for the European Union and with a number of large organisations in the private and third sector.

At ForgeFront we have three types of team member: full time-colleagues, Associates who work with us on a project by project basis, and our Advisory Board who provide strategic and occasional project support.

  • Founder

    Sam is a policy and government affairs leader who has worked in the private office of two MOD ministers, for the UK’s Cabinet Office, and for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He has worked for a former Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons, led accounts for a leading public affairs firm, and was in the last tranche of British EU Civil Servants working for the institutions in Brussels. During his career he has delivered wargaming and related services to a range of public and private sector clients including NATO, foreign governments, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and companies including Siemens and Zurich. Sam is an accredited Microsoft data analyst and holds a degree in politics from the University of Bristol. 

    sam.douglasbate@forgefront.co.uk

  • Managing Director

    Gavin has most recently led teams at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to analyse the future risk and threat landscape posed by emerging cryptocurrency technologies. Previously he spent time at the UK Treasury where he led work to on tariffs and trade legislation, defending the UK’s interest post-Brexit. He has a deep understanding of decision making in government and has advised MEPs, Lords, UK ministers and senior civil servants on a number of high profile and sensitive issues. He has an extensive stakeholder network in Brussels and Whitehall and previously worked for an MEP and in the Northern Ireland Assembly. He holds an MA in Comparative Ethnic Conflict and Legislative Studies from Queen’s University Belfast, with published works in academic journals and the Northern Ireland Assembly library.  

    gavin.moore@forgefront.co.uk

  • Futures and Policy Executive

    Hester is a strategic planning and training expert, having previously led campaigns for one of the UK’s largest social change charities. A stakeholder engagement and content creation specialist, she has helped deliver projects for C-suite executives, FTSE 100 companies and heads of state. She has implemented future focused industry research, literature reviews and quantitative data analysis for a range of industries including global consultancy, media and technology. She holds a first-class History degree from the University of Bristol. 

    hester.cameron@forgefront.co.uk

  • Futures and Policy Executive

    Eva is our research and data specialist. She has helped inform, analyse and optimise global strategies across a wide range of industries including consumer goods, fintech, tourism and charity. She has delivered end-to-end quantitative and qualitative market research as well as business intelligence projects for some of the largest FMCG and luxury brands. She holds a BA in Literature, History and Linguistics from Bordeaux Montaigne University, France and a MA in Cultural Studies and International Business from Lyon 2 University, France.

    eva.berthiere@forgefront.co.uk

  • Associate

    Athena Peppes is a strategic foresight advisor known for connecting emerging technology insight with economic and organisational strategy. She works with senior leaders to anticipate disruption, navigate uncertainty, and unlock new avenues for growth, particularly in areas such as AI, generative AI, emerging tech, and the future economy. Athena brings a combination of deep economic training and hands-on experience delivering foresight and thought leadership in complex business environments. Prior to working with ForgeFront as an Associate, she spent a decade at Accenture advising global clients across industries including consumer goods, insurance, mining, shipping, and development. She also co-founded Accenture’s Business Futures approach and has led multiple strategy and foresight projects focused on long-term value creation. Athena trained as an economist and began her career advising on macroeconomic and public policy issues. She holds an MSc in Economics from the University of York.

    athena.peppes@forgefront.co.uk