Meet the Samtaler Team
Samtaler is a top-tier social value consultancy with procurement, political, strategy and third sector consulting expertise across multiple markets and regions. We build a project team with a range of experience and knowledge to get you the desired results, which could be a combination of Samtaler social value consultants and industry associates.
Our understanding of, and experience in, social value is broad and deep. Our team understands that society needs profitable businesses and that your social value offer must align with your business goals and other drivers.
With Samtaler your business is in safe hands
SARAH STONE
Founder and Director
Sarah began working in social and sustainable procurement in 2016 for Local Authorities in Scotland to implement the requirements of the (then brand new) Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act. In 2019 she created Scotland’s first community benefit wish list for Perth & Kinross Council. This concept was adopted by Local Authorities across Scotland and the UK.
She has extensive experience in social value design and delivery across multi-sectors and consults with many blue-chip corporations and procurers across the UK.
Before moving into social value, Sarah was a senior adviser to David Cameron (2006-2012) and Ruth Davidson (2015-2017). She also co-founded and ran a social enterprise working with community groups and grassroots campaigners before launching Samtaler in 2017.
Sarah is a former community councillor and the founder of the Military Coworking Network, a community group for non-serving military community members. In addition, she is a trustee and adviser to several military charities and social enterprises.
KATE GRÄFE
Senior Social Value Consultant
Kate has over 25 years experience in procurement and contract management across both public and private sectors, including 12 years as Chief Procurement Officer for the London Borough of Ealing and Reading Councils. Kate created and implemented the Social Value Policy at Reading, including working with local partners to link proposed social value delivery with need and support a business case for a local social value model. A passionate advocate of social value, Kate has been a co-lead on the Social Value UK Contract for Change programme and provided practioner input to a number of the National Audit Office Commercial Hub seminars.
More recently, Kate has worked as an Associate to deliver a variety of projects, including a circular economy business case, Innovate UK grant bids and supporting climate tech start-ups with defining and measuring impact.
Kate is a trustee for Graft Thames Valley, a micro-charity that aims to eradicate barriers to employment and training for disabled, neurodiverse and other communities for which a standard, generic approach does not work.
ROSE WALTON
Social Value Consultant
Rose came to Samtaler after working as Bids and Social Value Manager for a global medical consumables company. Her specialist area of expertise is in building creative, strong social value offers for the health sector and Rose has secured contracts with public sector procurers worldwide, including the NHS, Health Canada, and Healthshare NSW (Australia). She has also had responsibility for developing and implementing a global corporate social value strategy, and training the Senior Management Team on social value and its importance.
Rose also has extensive experience working with community groups and social enterprises. Before moving into Social Value in Public Sector procurement, she was Head of Business at youth-led charity, Blackburn Youth Zone, where she worked closely with community groups as well as local businesses to support them with their social impact, ensuring they made meaningful contributions to the local community.
Rose is a trustee for the Myotonic Dystrophy Support Group, a cause close to her heart, having Myotonic Dystrophy herself. Her aim is to help individuals and the families affected by the condition.
LORRAINE BRIFFITT
Social Value Consultant
Lorraine has over twenty years of experience in the non-profit sector, establishing innovative social justice projects and directing multi-project charities. Starting on the frontline supporting young people and women with complex issues, she advocated for them in decision-making spaces, navigating multiple stakeholder groups. Alongside this, Lorraine consulted for SMEs, CICs and public sector services (including the Ministry of Justice and Home Office). Passionate about inclusive stakeholder engagement, her experience in social value lies in partnership and project creation through strategic development.
Lorraine currently also leads a regional cross-sector network, Connect Reading, utilising her frontline experience to ensure social value is grounded, impactful and inclusive of each sector. Lorraine also chairs a national grant-making charity which supports project working with women exploited in the UK sex industry. She continues on the Board for Reading City of Sanctuary in an advisory capacity, having previously Chaired the group.
MICHAELA PEARSON
Social Value Consultant
Michaela is an experienced professional with 10 years of work in the events and third sector industry. Before joining Samtaler, she was head of fundraising at The Music Works, a charity focused on supporting young people. Michaela takes pride in building strong relationships and specialised in engaging stakeholders such as trustees, partners, foundations, businesses and individuals to help them with their social impact and bring about positive change to the lives of young people within the community.
Outside of her professional life, she has serves as a trustee for a local grant charity, where she supports local family’s and individuals in financial hardship and ill-health.
TILLY CROWHURST
Social Value Consultant
Tilly has built a career as a social value consultant and in-house specialist, dedicated to turning compliance-driven initiatives into strategies that deliver real, measurable impact. With a strong foundation in the construction industry, she excels in developing social value strategies, crafting compelling bids, designing impactful programs, and measuring results.
Her experience extends beyond the corporate world to include work with charities and community groups, where she fosters collaboration and creates inclusive solutions. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Tilly has introduced DEI initiatives and health and wellbeing programs that drive positive change at an organizational level.
Committed to supporting young people, Tilly has led corporate apprenticeship and early careers programs that open doors for individuals from all backgrounds. Outside of work, she channels her passion for youth development as a volunteer Scout leader, leading cub scouts in a exciting program and as a member of the UK international service team.
LOIS TAYLOR
Social Value & Community Engagement Consultant
Lois has over 15 years of community and stakeholder engagement experience and has an extensive network of local government contacts, grassroots, third sector and community organisers. She leads Samtaler's work with third sector and community-based delivery partners and specialises in stakeholder identification and needs analysis. Lois excels in identifying opportunities for our clients to generate meaningful social impact by building partnerships with the VCSE community.
Lois was a core part of the team which built some of Scotland's first Community Benefit Wish Lists for Perth & Kinross and Clackmannanshire Councils. She has in-depth knowledge of the National TOMs and writes social value bid writing responses for clients such as Indaver, Vattenfall and Igne.
Prior to joining Samtaler, Lois worked within strategic communications for the UK Military with British Forces Germany and has planned, organised and ran large scale communications campaigns at both local and national level within Scotland. She has also worked on media, business and stakeholder engagement for a large number of high-profile public events and conferences.
We are social value consultants with a heart
We take the time to get to know your business and commercial requirements. Find out more about our approach.