Strategic communications and public affairs consultancy The Sandpiper Group has announced the dual appointment of Aliyah Dar and Isabelle Trick to senior advisory positions based in Dubai and Singapore, respectively.
Strengthening Public Affairs in the Middle East
Operating from Dubai, Aliyah Dar joins as Associate Director of Public Affairs to lead the expansion of Sandpiper's public affairs practice across the Middle East. Her remit focuses on guiding clients through the region’s sweeping national transformation agendas and strengthening their engagement with institutional and government stakeholders.
Dar brings two decades of economic and policy advisory experience spanning Europe and the Middle East. Her background includes a senior strategy position at a Dubai-based investment firm, more than ten years within the UK government—highlighted by a tenure as Chief of Staff to His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan—and most recently leading the UAE operations for Global Counsel.
Commenting on her appointment, Dar noted: "The Middle East is undergoing extraordinary transformation, creating significant opportunities for organisations that can engage thoughtfully with government priorities and national visions. I'm excited to join Sandpiper and to help clients build the relationships and insight they need to succeed in the region."
Expanding Capabilities Across Asia Pacific
Based in Singapore, Isabelle Trick steps into her new role as Associate Director of Public Affairs to drive the growth of Sandpiper’s capabilities across Southeast Asia and the wider Asia Pacific region. She will advise multinational corporations, institutional investors, and private equity firms on navigating regulatory shifts, policymaker engagement, and government relations.
Trick brings extensive political risk expertise across emerging markets in Asia, Europe, and Africa, covering sectors such as technology, healthcare, financial services, and energy. She also joins Sandpiper from Global Counsel, where she directed Investor Services and Global Macro projects, following prior leadership experience running an international non-profit organization.
Expressing enthusiasm for her new role, Trick said: "Singapore sits at the centre of the region's policy conversations, and clients increasingly need advisors who can connect the dots between regulation, reputation, and investment. I'm delighted to join Sandpiper and look forward to building on the firm's strong foundations across the region."
Integrated Regional Growth
In their respective capacities, both appointees will collaborate closely with Sandpiper's leadership teams across the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Their work will integrate public affairs, research, and strategic communications to help clients manage market entry, regulatory turbulence, and periods of intense public and political oversight.
Kelly Johnston, Chief Operating Officer of Sandpiper, emphasized the strategic importance of the hires: "Public policy is now one of the defining factors shaping how businesses across Asia Pacific and the Middle East grow and protect their reputations. Isabelle and Aliyah bring deep expertise and strong relationships in two of the most important hubs in our network. Their appointments significantly strengthen our ability to help clients understand the policy landscape, engage constructively with governments, and turn regulatory complexity into strategic advantage."
