Primary Access & Research was founded in 2019 to provide research and access that delivers a better understanding of politics, geopolitics and related economic drivers.
Our team’s expertise and reputation has been built over many years, in various demanding sectors, including government, politics, defence, historical analysis, equity and innovation. Our network is extensive.
Excellent business and political networks across all major international geographies. Considerable experience of establishing, managing and selling businesses and chairing complex organisations.
Previously Government Minister at the Home Office. Departmental responsibilities for Public Safety, National Security and Migration, British Overseas Territories, Cyber Security, Data and Identity Analysis, Science and Technology, Public Appointments and Sponsorship, Animals in Science, Corporate Delivery and all Home Office business in the House of Lords including legislation.
Prior to joining the Government senior financial markets and communications professional with 25 years' experience in Asia-Pacific, the USA and Europe. Appointed OBE June 2018 and elevated to the House of Lords in September 2020.
Annalisa Jenkins, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.P. is a biopharma thought leader with over 25 years of industry experience. Dr. Jenkins has extensive recent experience in building and financing biotech companies pursuing cures for the most challenging rare diseases to address important medical issues globally. She has consistently built and led teams advancing programs from scientific research through clinical development, regulatory approval, and into healthcare systems globally.
In addition, she is an advocate for diversity and inclusion, particularly for women in science. Dr. Jenkins served as president and CEO of Dimension Therapeutics, a leading gene therapy company that she took public on the NASDAQ and subsequently sold to Ultragenyx. Prior leadership roles have included the head of global research and development and executive vice president global development and medical at Merck Serono, and several senior positions at Bristol Myers-Squibb over 15 years - including serving as senior vice president and head of global medical affairs. Earlier in her career, Dr. Jenkins was a medical officer in the British Royal Navy during the Gulf Conflict, achieving the rank of surgeon lieutenant commander.
Dr. Jenkins is a board member of several growing companies, including Oncimmune, AVROBIO, COMPASS Pathways, AOBiome, Phaim Pharma, Conduit Connect, Affimed, Genomics England, Blue Advent Ltd, Perspectum Ltd, Cyte Limited, Ori Biotech, and Cocoon Biotech Inc. (Non-Executive Chair). She also is a trustee for The King's Fund, medical trustee for the British Heart Foundation and a committee member of the Science Board to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, which advises FDA leadership on complex scientific and technical issues, advisory board member at FasterCures a center of The Milken Institute and Chair of The Court for The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Lord Graham Brady MP was Conservative & Unionist Party MP for Altrincham and Sale West from 1997 to 2024. Lord Graham succeeded Sir Michael Spicer as Chairman of the 1922 Committee in 2010, a role he has held continuously since (recusing himself from running the leadership election in 2019, in order to consider running as a candidate himself). In opposition between 1997 and 2010, Lord Graham became a member of the Education and Employment Select committee, was appointed PPS to Michael Ancram MP, then Chairman of the Conservative Party, and, later, PPS to Michael Howard when leader of the Opposition in 2003. From 2004 he was Shadow Minister for Europe, a position he resigned in 2007 in protest at Conservative Party leader, David Cameron's opposition to grammar schools. Throughout the European Referendum on the EU, Lord Graham was a prominent Brexiteer, a position which in conjunction with his chairmanship of the 1922 Committee was later, in the aftermath of the poll and the subsequent political and parliamentary turmoil, to prove of some significance. Lord Graham made several pivotal parliamentary interventions, not least the euphemistically coined amendment which called for "the Northern Ireland backstop to be replaced with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border" on the island of Ireland. In the wake of the second government mandated lockdown during the Covid pandemic, Lord Graham became an outspoken critic of restrictive measures he considered disproportionate, particularly so in the context of mental and physical well-being. Lord Graham's contribution to Primary cannot be over-stated, helping us to understand the complex undercurrents of politics.
Professor Simon Heffer, historian, academic, author and journalist brings to Primary a kaleidoscopic range of specialist interests and a hugely connected network in political and educational circles. Simon is one of the UK's most prolific and versatile commentators whose formidable learning and sharply observed analyses have been insightful to Primary clients in a series of set-piece interviews to discuss and debate matters of topical interest. Indirectly, Simon has introduced to Primary clients individual experts in a wide range of subjects, from domestic and international policy and politics, defence related thematic appraisals and highly valued academic colleagues across a swathe of specialist disciplines. Prof Heffer has written a number of diverse biographies including those of fellow historian, Thomas Carlyle, musician and composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and, to considerable acclaim, that of Enoch Powell. More recently he will be remembered for his edit of the Henry 'Chips' Channon diaries, and for his ongoing chronicle series on the social history of Great Britain from the period since the mid-nineteenth century. Simon's generous contribution of time and his keen wit are vastly appreciated.
Chris Parry runs his own strategic forecasting and trouble-shooting company, advising governments, leading commercial companies and financial institutions about geo-political and strategic issues, future trends and systemic risk. With a doctorate in organisational and behavioural psychology, Chris teaches strategic leadership, future warfare and command psychology at universities in the UK and abroad, and within corporates. An active author, his most recent book is 'Super Highway: Sea Power in the 21st Century'.
Previously, after reading Modern History at Jesus College Oxford, Chris spent 36 enjoyable, rewarding years in the Royal Navy as an aviator and warfare officer. He commanded two destroyers, an amphibious assault ship, the UK's Amphibious Task Group and the Maritime Warfare Centre. He also held three senior Joint and UK Ministry of Defence strategic and policy appointments. As well as sailing every sea, he experienced regular operational tours and combat operations in Northern Ireland, the Gulf and The Falklands, where he disabled an enemy submarine and rescued 16 SAS troopers from a glacier during a hurricane. He was also the founding chair of the UK's Marine Management Organisation. His best-selling Falklands' war diary was published by Viking Penguin as 'Down South'.
