PCF Seminars and Events - 2012

A PCF seminar with Rt Hon Peter Riddell, who will be the new Executive Director of the Institute for Government from 1 January 2012. This will be a great opportunity for members to meet Peter early in his new role, and will also be an opportunity for him to share his perspectives on the challenges faced by Government over the coming year. Peter’s biography can be downloaded here.

The event is a collaboration between the Institute for Government, Deloitte, and the Public Chairs’ Forum.

Since coming into power, the Coalition Government has initiated far reaching governance reforms across central government departments. As part of this, departmental Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) were introduced at the end of 2010 in an effort to bring a more “business like” approach to government and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public services.

An important element of the departmental NED’s role relates to interactions with ALB Chairs and Boards. This interactive event takes a detailed look at this relationship one year on, and considers how improved mutual understanding and strategic alignment could be achieved. The second half of the session will be an opportunity for attendees to discuss the issues raised in focused breakout sessions.

Programme:
16:00 – 16:30 - Setting the scene on the new departmental governance arrangements

Speakers: Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office
Dan Heard, Lord Browne’s office
Followed by question and answers

Panel discussion Chris Banks (Chair of the Public Chairs’ Forum)
Stephen Bundred (Former Audit Commission Chief Executive who has also served as a Chair and board member of several public bodies)
Ed Smith (NED, DfT and Chair, Student Loans Company)
David Verey (Lead NED, DCMS)
Chair: Zoe Gruhn, Institute for Government

This event is by invitation only. Please contact Amy Noonan if you are interested in attending.

Sir Bob Kerslake will be meeting with the PCF for the first time in his capacity as Head of the Home Civil Service. This will be an opportunity for members to engage with Sir Bob early in his new role and to hear about his priorities for the coming months.

Reception to mark the launch and publication of the joint PCF / Institute for Government guide to effective public body and departmental relationships.

Margaret Hodge, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, will be speaking to Chairs about accountability, the relationship between parliament and ALBs ant the continuing drive to ensure value for money across all public spending.

John Cridland CBE, Director General of the Confederation for British Industry (CBI), will be attending and speaking at PCF’s seminar in September.

Discussion will focus on the relationship between the public and private sectors and the private sector’s role in the recovery from the recession and the reform of public services.

The Government has outlined its aspiration for at least 50% of new Ministerial appointments to the boards of public bodies to be women by the end of the current Parliament. In order to make this aspiration a reality, Chairs of public bodies need to play their full part.

As well as the challenges, this session will focus on the practical things that Chairs can do to help to improve the balance of women and men on boards of public bodies. The issues will be put into the context of overall board diversity. 

We will be joined by Chloe Smith MP, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, Ruth Medd, Founder of Women on Boards, a successful Australian social enterprise recently launched in the UK and Anne Watts CBE, Chair of the Appointments Commission. Denise Keating, Chief Executive of the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion, will act as first respondent, leading into a wider discussion and debate with Chairs.

Sir Bob Kerslake, Head of the Civil Service, is now confirmed to speak at the PCF’s first annual conference. He will join other top speakers from government to consider themes such as transitions, effective relationships between ALBs and Departments, accountability in public bodies and new models for service delivery. You can download a copy of the programme here.

A seminar with Dame Julie Mellor, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

The seminar will consider the role of Chairs of public bodies in handling complaints – what should we be doing, what more we can be doing, and how the Ombudsman can help.