The UK-based Mineral Products Association (MPA) has appointed three new members to its executive team: Tony Jones is the organisation’s new director of health and safety, while Neal Weston will succeed Brian James as director of regions. Dr Robert McIlveen, head of public affairs, will take over from Jerry McLaughlin.

Tony Jones is an experienced SHEQ specialist having worked in the security, safety, oil & gas and mineral products industries. Following 23 years in the British Armed Forces, he spent several years working with major international oil companies throughout the Middle East and Africa.

Neal Weston holds a BA (Hons) degree in History from the University of Liverpool and has spent much of his career working for membership and representative organisations in a variety of policy, communications, public affairs and stakeholder roles.  Most recently, he was External Relations Manager at the Institution of Civil Engineers for five years and subsequently Head of Policy & Communications at the trade body Airlines UK for 12 years.


Dr Robert McIlveen has a first-class BA (Hons) degree in History & Politics from the University of Warwick and an MA in Politics and a PhD focussed on political party organisation and campaigns, from the University of Sheffield. He was a Research Fellow in the Environment and Energy Unit at Policy Exchange, then Public Affairs Manager and European Affairs Specialist at Network Rail. Latterly he was UK Public Policy Manager at Royal Mail. He has extensive political campaigning experience at both national and local level.