Before his election as Green Party chief in September 2025 – and for a short while afterwards – Zack Polanski would arrive at interviews alone, with out the entourage of advisers usually trailing high-profile politicians between engagements. A 12 months on, with the Greens surging within the polls, the get together has begun to professionalise.
As Polanski’s staff of non-public advisers has grown, so too has the community shaping and influencing the Green Party’s eco-populist chief. From get together lifers to former Corbynites to an performing coach, the New Statesman takes a take a look at Polanski’s operation and its key figures.
The two Georgias
At the center of Polanski’s staff are his two advisers – Georgia Nelson and Georgia Elander – identified internally as “the two Georgias”. Nelson, Polanski’s management workplace supervisor, has been concerned with the Greens since her pupil days in 2019 and beforehand labored for Carla Denyer on her 2024 election marketing campaign earlier than becoming a member of the chief’s workplace. Elander, Polanski’s particular communications adviser, additionally labored for Denyer as a media officer earlier than shifting into Polanski’s staff; their first expertise in comms got here as a volunteer within the Green Party press workplace in 2015.
On the marketing campaign
During each his deputy management bid in 2022 and his profitable management marketing campaign final 12 months, Polanski was supported by Naranee Ruthra-Rajan, a Green Party candidate for Hammersmith and Fulham Council. A celebration member since 2009, she stood unsuccessfully as a potential parliamentary candidate in 2024 and beforehand co-chaired her native get together alongside Polanski in 2019.
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Polanski’s earlier life as an actor in Manchester is well-known, and theatre continues to form his management fashion. A key affect on his speechcraft is Aileen Gonsalves, a former director on the Royal Shakespeare Company and creator of the eponymous “Gonsalves method”, of which Polanski is a former student. The approach goals to reinforce “charisma, effectiveness and influence”.
Gonsalves developed the strategy whereas directing Judi Dench, Simon Russell Beale and Vanessa Redgrave on the RSC (she has stated Dench “does this authentic present connection instinctively”). It emphasises “being in the moment” and “active listening”, and is taught via “Gonsalves Cards”, every presenting a special train – from improvised office encounters to awkward probability conferences. Under her tutelage, Polanski has used the strategy to sharpen the authenticity of his communication and supply.
The vanguard
Greens Organise was instrumental in Polanski’s election (usually in contrast – not all the time favourably for its members – to Momentum underneath Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour management). Founded by 150 members on the get together’s convention in September 2024, it’s an inner stress group looking for to shift the Greens leftwards.
The group started with an open letter urging the get together to “realise its responsibility and potential” as “the electoral voice of a popular movement”. Early supporters included former chief Sian Berry and Hackney mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett. Since then, Greens Organise has pushed for an “internationalist, anti-capitalist and ecologically transformative agenda”, backing motions reminiscent of “Abolish Landlords” on the 2025 autumn convention.
More just lately, it coordinated an anti-austerity pledge for native authorities, signed by over 200 Green councillors and candidates, and now backed by Polanski. One co-founder, Steve Jackson, helped run the get together’s marketing campaign within the Gorton and Denton by-election and labored on Polanski’s 2025 management bid. He now works in Hannah Spencer’s workplace following her election in February.
Another outstanding determine is Matt Zarb-Cousin, a former spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn, who publicly backed Polanski and defended Greens Organise in opposition to claims of a “hostile takeover”. While not formally a part of Polanski’s inner circle, he has constantly argued for the get together to undertake extra explicitly socialist positions, criticising its failure to capitalise on the 2024 election.
The press staff
As a part of a broader push to professionalise amid rising membership and improved polling, the Greens’ press operation has expanded. Anjula Singh, previously communications director for Jeremy Corbyn and a BBC journalist, now works on press and communications. More current hires embrace Abi Wilkinson, a journalist and commentator who till February 2026 labored for Your Party co-founder Zarah Sultana. Prior to that position, Wilkinson had publicly endorsed Polanski and joined the Greens.
The concepts
In March, James Meadway – a former adviser to John McDonnell – launched the assume tank Verdant alongside campaigner Deborah Doane. Meadway, a former Treasury official and chief economist on the New Economics Foundation, performed a key position in shaping Labour’s 2017 financial programme. Parallels have already been drawn between that platform and Polanski’s rising financial agenda.
Verdant’s launch drew a variety of Green figures, together with Denyer, Spencer, Ellie Chowns and Caroline Lucas, in addition to Labour MP Clive Lewis. While not formally affiliated with the get together, its shut hyperlinks recommend it is going to assist form future coverage.
Polanski’s podcast, Bold Politics with Zack Polanski, launched quickly after he grew to become chief, has additionally turn out to be a automobile for affect as a lot as profile-building. Guests have included economist Gary Stephenson, journalists Grace Blakeley and Owen Jones, immigration knowledgeable Zoe Gardner and former Labour candidate Fazia Shaheen – all figures informally near Polanski.
Elsewhere, the progressive assume tank Common Wealth, based by Mathew Lawrence, has contributed to coverage improvement. Ideas reminiscent of how the UK would possibly decouple electrical energy and gasoline costs – outlined in Polanski’s March speech on the New Economics Foundation – originated there. Khem Rogaly, a principal analysis fellow, has additionally suggested on Nato and defence coverage.
These are Polanski’s individuals. As the Greens look forward to the 7 May elections, the prospect of great positive factors is coming into view. The sturdiness of that surge will depend upon the energy of Polanski’s operation, and on how successfully its politics and communication will be sustained.
[Further reading: The Green Party is using housing inequality to punish Labour]
