About Bert

Bert Brandenburg has almost three decades of experience at the intersection of strategy, communications, law, policy, politics, management and development. Bert’s senior positions in numerous sectors have strengthened his understanding of how things work on the inside, and how to build effective strategies to shape policies and reach different audiences. He has led national nonprofit organizations and boards of directors, managed public affairs for a major federal department, written speeches for a cabinet officer, and served as counsel on Capitol Hill. He has also worked on political campaigns, in a presidential transition, at a think tank, as an adjunct professor, as an international election observer, and at an artificial intelligence start-up.

Before joining Ward Circle, Bert was President of Appleseed, a network of 17 public-interest justice centers helping low-income people and working families. Bert rebuilt the national office, helped expand the network, and launched a highly-acclaimed “deportation manual” that will help millions of immigrant families protect their assets and children if they face deportation.

Bert was born in Washington, DC and lives in Silver Spring, MD with his art historian wife and two busy boys, both of whom began their musical careers playing Bert’s childhood cornet. When he can he likes to read, write and see whatever’s playing at the AFI Silver Theater.

Career Highlights

• Ward Circle Strategies, Senior Counsel
• National Institute on Money in State Politics, Current President of the Board of Directors
• Appleseed, President
• Justice at Stake, Executive Director
• U.S. Department of Justice, Director of Public Affairs
• National Performance Review, Team Leader
• U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Chief Speechwriter
• Presidential Transition Team, Domestic Policy Advisor
• Congressman Edward Feighan, Counsel
• Progressive Policy Institute, Policy Analyst

Fun Facts

• At a recital at the end of high school, he hiccupped his way through the French Horn transcription of Handel’s 3rd Sonata for Cello. His skin has been thicker ever since.
• He shares a birthday with Jane Addams, Rosie Perez and John Wall, but none of them ever won a college marching band scholarship.