One of the highlights of my week was being a panelist at the launch of Women in Public Affairs (WiPA) Cymru, hosted by the political journalist Felicity Evans. A few takeaways from the event:
- There is a real appetite for WiPA Cymru! Wow – over 60 fabulous women from all sectors, all career stages, and all corners of Wales came to endorse WiPA with a clear message that we want and need an organisation to network, share best practice and support one another.
- Public affairs is critical to a healthy democracy – we educate and inform politicians, helping to positively shape policy and set priorities.
- Senedd reform gives us greater opportunities to engage and provides the basis for better governance.
- The sector would welcome a register of lobbyists. Agencies such as Cadno Communications Ltd are already registered on the UK PRCA Public Affairs Board.
Women in Public Affairs Cymru seeks to be a driving force for positive change in the field of public affairs and policy in Wales. I am pleased to be a senior adviser alongside Nerys Evans, Sian Jones, Helen Swift and Louise Harris.
The hard work to set the organisation up has been undertaken by Maxine Tarrant alongside committee members Elin Llŷr, Helen Antoniazzi, Lisa Childs, Libby Davies.
I am looking forward to supporting the network and welcoming many more women to join us. The next event is on 11 February.
Angharad