Association News
Movers & Shakers: People on the Move
March 22, 2017 - Association News
Public Affairs Adviser
The Royal College of Nursing is looking for a new Public Affairs Adviser to work at its UK headquarters in London.
As the largest trade union of nursing staff and students in the UK – with around 435,000 members – and number 15 in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not for Profit Organisations to work for, the RCN are accredited with Investors in People Gold Standard.
The post holder will be expected to use their skills, knowledge and experience of influencing to deliver positive change for nursing staff. They will also be expected to develop and implement strategies for building and maintaining relationships with key influencers and lead public affairs activity on cross-organisational projects. In-depth parliamentary knowledge would also be useful in identifying opportunities to influence stakeholders to achieve RCN priorities and objectives.
So, whilst lobbying on behalf of members will be the primary role, the new Public Policy Adviser will also contribute to integrated communications, policy and industrial relations campaigns; leading on the organisation’s response to legislation, seeking to influence and amend where appropriate. They will also influence critical decisions about political engagement, as well as supporting members to become more politically active.
New Chairman for BPA
Dr Nick Webborn has been named as the new chairman of the British Paralympic Association.
The 60-year-old sports medicine specialist has been working with Paralympic athletes since 1992. He suffered a spinal cord injury playing rugby as a 24-year-old whilst serving as a doctor in the Royal Air Force. After an initial complete paralysis he made a partial recovery. He was awarded an OBE in last year’s Queen’s birthday honours list. He was chief medical officer for the London 2012 Paralympics and is part of the International Paralympic Committee’s Medical Committee.
He beat blind footballer Dave Clarke to the role and succeeds former Paralympic swimmer Tim Reddish.
With only 25 employees the BPA is a small organisation led by CEO, Tim Hollingsworth, and supported by a team of five directors: Director of Sport, Penny Briscoe MBE; Finance and Corporate Services Director, Elaine Battson; Director of Communications, Anna Scott-Marshall; Commercial Director, Karl Reynolds; and Director of Operational Delivery, David Courell.
New Trustee for EPI
Sir Michael Wilshaw has joined the board of trustees at the Education Policy Institute. This follows his role as Chief Inspector at Ofsted from 2012-2016, and over four decades of teaching experience.
Sir Michael joins existing EPI Trustees Sir Theodore Agnew, Charles Brand, Baroness Sally Morgan, and the Chair of Trustees, Sir Paul Marshall. Commenting on Sir Michael joining the EPI Board, David Laws, Executive Chairman, said: “I’m delighted that Sir Michael has agreed to join EPI’s Board of Trustees. He comes with decades of experience both as a successful teacher and as Chief Inspector at Ofsted. His contribution, along with that of our other trustees, will support the EPI in its mission to improve education policy through independent, data-driven analysis and research”.
Wilshaw grew up in south London in the 1950s, and went to Clapham College, a south London grammar school, and then St Mary’s teacher training college in Twickenham. He took a part-time History degree at Birkbeck College while teaching in various London schools; was appointed head teacher of St Bonaventure’s Catholic School in Forest Gate, London; and whilst there was knighted in the New Year Honours for 2000 for services to education. In November 2011, he was announced as the successor to Christine Gilbert as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and took up his five-year term from 1 January 2012.
The Education Policy Institute is an independent, impartial and evidence-based research institute that aims to promote high quality education outcomes for all children and young people, regardless of social backgrounds.