Zinc Network

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Group.png Zinc Network LinkedIn WebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Formation2012
Founder• Scott Brown
• Robert Elliott
HeadquartersLondon, UK, Sydney, Australia
Interestssocial change
Membership• Robert Elliott
• Scott Brown
• Adam Rutland
• Buster Dover
• Kru Desai
• Scott Brown
• Robert Elliott
• Louis Brooke
• Margherita Watt
• Janet Chambers
• John Montell
• Katie Barnett
A "a privately owned communications agency that supports communities, brands and governments drive positive social change". Partnered with the Institute for Statecraft to propose a network of 56 NGOs in a bid for £9.75M funding from the UK/FCO.

The Zinc Network was set up in 2012 by Scott Brown and Robert Elliott. As well as an HQ in London, there is Zinc Network Australia based in Sydney. A UK government website as of 2021 termed it "a privately owned communications agency that supports communities, brands and governments drive [sic.] positive social change".[1]

EXPOSE network

Zinc Network collaborated with the Institute for Statecraft and other groups to propose the UK/FCO grant them £9,750,000 to set up the EXPOSE Network, made up of 56 NGOs. This was revealed by Leak 7 from the Integrity Initiative. The directors were proposed to be Louis Brooke (ZINC Network), Amil Khan (Aktis) and Chris Donnelly of the Institute for Statecraft.

“Bringing together organisations including Zinc Network, the Institute for Statecraft, Aktis Strategy, Bellingcat, DFR Lab, the Media Diversity Institute, Toro Risk Solutions and Ecorys, our Consortium combines recognised market leaders in understanding, monitoring, and countering Kremlin-backed disinformation... This ecosystem of credible voices will continue to grow, exposing the actors and networks behind Kremlin-backed disinformation, reducing unwitting multipliers of disinformation, and building resilience amongst key target audiences across Europe.

We will mobilise a Network Hub based in London, led by an experienced Project Director, consisting of an agile team with core competencies augmented by a wider pool of vetted experts. Our approach is highly localised, based around regional clusters of actors who can collaborate to effectively undermine the disinformation

ecosystem in their respective areas and engage audiences most vulnerable to disinformation... It is a highly complex project involving coordination of many independent actors, and thus risk must be carefully managed and risk profiles constantly adapted, serving as the basis for all activity. The approach we propose is based on the identification, monitoring and management of risks as they materialise, allowing members to continue taking smart risks as they increase the scale and impact of their activities.”
' [2]

Leadership

The ZINC Network has been managed since 2015 by Louis Brooke whose CV notes he has "more than 10 years’ experience working in complex strategic communications, such as countering violent extremism, countering disinformation and promoting good governance" and in 2018 was on the board of NATO’s Centre of Excellence for Strategic Communications.[2]


 

A Document by Zinc Network

TitleDocument typePublication dateSubject(s)Description
Document:A Network of NGOs Technical Proposalproject plan31 August 2018NGOA central II document. "Project Risk: Project interpreted as UK-sponsored disinformation or ‘troll factory’, seriously undermining UK reputation and agenda in this space"

 

Known member

1 of the 10 of the members already have pages here:

MemberDescription
Adam RutlandDiplomat mentioned multiple times in the Integrity Initiative Leak.

 

Related Document

TitleTypePublication dateAuthor(s)Description
Document:British govt funded plan for censorship of factual NATO criticismArticle3 October 2023Jack PoulsonLeaked documents reveal British intel contractor Zinc Network singled out The Grayzone’s Max Blumenthal for online censorship, and seeks to redefine factual criticism of NATO as disinformation
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References