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Public Affairs in Higher Education 2024: Reputation, Engagement and Influence in Election Year

Thursday 29th February 2024
9:30am - 3:00pm
Virtual Conference

Public Affairs in Higher Education 2024 will explore how institutions can deliver a high impact approach to policy engagement, reputational management and strategic communications as the UK faces a general election.

This implementation-led conference will allow your team to assess how the sector is preparing for a forthcoming election, the next steps in building constructive partnerships with decision makers and how to formulate a long-term approach to advocacy.

Objectives

  • Examine how your external affairs teams can influence and drive policy change ahead of the 2024 election

  • Gain insights on developing constructive and impactful partnerships with decision makers

  • Evaluate approaches to maximising your reputation and managing risks

  • Assess the next steps in driving robust regional partnerships and collaborating with local policymakers

  • Explore how to design, plan and deliver your institution’s next advocacy and engagement campaigns



Headline Speakers

Rachael Richards
Director of Public Affairs
Durham University



José Lope
Pro Vice-Chancellor (External Affairs)
University College Birmingham


Simon Darby
Head of Public Affairs
PLMR


Hayley Mace
Head of Communications and Advocacy
University of East Anglia


Javneet Ghuman
Associate Director, Policy and Advocacy
University of the Arts London


Agenda


9:30 am

Chair’s Welcome Address

 

Hayley Mace
Head of Communications and Advocacy
University of East Anglia (CONFIRMED)


9:40 am

Influencing the Higher Education Debate: What Does it Take to Be a Constructive Partner to Policy Makers?

 
  • What does valuable engagement and advocacy look like to senior policy makers?

  • How to communicate policy proposals impactfully through evidence and sustainable funding ideas

  • Working across the political divide, building coalitions and winning the public debate

  • Thinking long-term: Being persistent and consistent in developing robust relationships with policy leaders

 

Simon Darby
Head of Public Affairs
PLMR (CONFIRMED)


10:05 am

A Broken HE Funding Model: Where Can the Arguments be Won with the Next Government?

 
  • What is the public appetite for HE funding reform and voters perceptions on the sector?

  • What should the sector expect from the leading parties on funding ahead of an election?

  • Why is the higher education sector gaining limited traction on calls for a sustainable funding model?

  • Where can the sector make progress and how can universities begin to shape a deal on efficiency, transparency and enhanced outcomes?

 

Dr Kate Wicklow
Policy Director
Guild HE (CONFIRMED)


10:30 am

Break and Networking


10:50am

Election 2024 Ahead: How Are Universities Delivering Approaches to Advocacy and Engagement?

 
  • What is on the sector’s manifesto wish list and how are advocacy leaders making the case on funding?

  • How can progress be made on transforming public perceptions on the sector?

  • Where can institutions make real impact on policy engagement?

  • How have institutions been engaging with the political parties ahead of the election and are there ‘wins’ to be had?

 

Liam Hurley
Director of Strategy and External Relations
University of Roehampton (CONFIRMED)

 

Rachael Richards
Director of Public Affairs
Durham University (CONFIRMED)

 

José Lopes
Pro Vice-Chancellor (External Affairs)
University College Birmingham (CONFIRMED)

 

Cristina Chapman
Head of Public Affairs
University of Nottingham (CONFIRMED)

 

Joan Concannon
Director of External Relations
University of York (CONFIRMED)

 

Russ Millhouse
Head of External & Public Affairs
University of Central Lancashire (CONFIRMED)


11:30am

Break and Networking


11:40 am

A Sector Under Attack? Building Agility and Resilience in Your Institution

 
  • Preventing crisis mode: how can an institution avoid sudden reputational shocks?

  • Developing a structure for long-term resilience to reputational risks

  • When things do go wrong: Lessons for the sector on communications and media management when facing reputational damage (and how to recover)

 

Lucian Hudson
Director of Advancement, Marketing and Communications
Durham University (CONFIRMED)


12:05 pm

Designing an Impactful Regional Engagement Strategy

 
  • Understanding the engagement motivators for regional stakeholders

  • Exploring your institution’s presence with regional policy leaders

  • Where can you deliver the most impact regionally and where do gaps exist?

  • Exploring the components of a successful regional engagement strategy that is able to influence

 

Matthew Guest
Head of Local and Regional Business Engagement
University of Central Lancashire (CONFIRMED)


12:30pm

Break and Networking


 

Public Affairs in Action Series

 

This sessions will bring together leading practitioners and institutions at the forefront of high impact advocacy and engagement to explore practical lessons and insights for you to implement in your own context.


1:10pm

Building and Maintaining Relationships with Decision Makers

 

Elly Sample
Director of External Relations
University of Derby (CONFIRMED)


1:30pm

Public Affairs and Policy Engagement - Local to National

 

Dionne Lee
Policy & Public Affairs Manager
Teesside University (CONFIRMED)

 

Geraldine Brown
Head of Policy, Development and Public Affairs
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (CONFIRMED)


Break and Networking

1:50 pm


2:10 pm

How to Successfully Work with Academics in Engagement Activity

 

Ian Turgoose
Head of External Engagement
Sheffield Hallam University (CONFIRMED)


2:30 pm

Embedding Compelling Storytelling into Your Engagement

 

Paddy Smith
Senior Public Affairs Manager
Loughborough University Policy Unit (CONFIRMED)


2:50 pm

Designing Your Next Advocacy Campaign: Identifying Targets, Setting Goals and Mobilising an Institution-Wide Approach

 

Javneet Ghuman
Associate Director, Policy and Advocacy
University of the Arts London (CONFIRMED)


3:10pm

Conference Close

*Programme subject to change


 

Audience

  • Heads of Strategic Communications

  • Heads of Public Affairs

  • Heads of Advocacy

  • Heads of Engagement

  • Public Affairs Managers

  • Directors of External Affairs

  • Director of Policy and Advocacy

  • Directors of Communications

  • Pro Vice Chancellors

  • Heads of Policy


Pricing

Public Sector
£345 + VAT

Attendance to Public Affairs in HE 2024

Private Sector
£395 + VAT

Attendance to Public Affairs in HE 2024

HE Professional
£395 + VAT

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For group discounts and enquiries about your registration please contact us on enquiries@heprofessional.co.uk


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Events Coming Up

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28 February

The Knowledge Exchange Framework Conference 2024

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12 March

Premium Lunchtime Webinar: Developing Your Peer Learning Practice to Enhance Educational Experience