Public Involvement timetable & agenda

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Public Involvement – a gamble worth taking?

Wednesday 4 March, One Great George Street

10.00 - Arrival and registration


Session 1: Welcome, scene-setting and keynotes

10.30 - Presentations from:


  • Peter Wanless (Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund)
  • Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport)
  • Dr Simon Christmas (Consumer Psychologist): Motivations for Public Involvement

Session 2: Exploring new perspectives

11.45 - Breakout sessions

Breakout session A: The public as policy-shapers

  • Maeve Sherlock (Chair, National Student Forum)
  • Rachel Green (Deputy Director, DIUS)
  • Emily Keaney (Senior Strategy Director, Arts Council)

Breakout session B: The public as decision-makers

  • Heidi Fanning (member of public, The People’s Millions Panel)
  • Linda Quinn (Director of Communication and Marketing, Big Lottery Fund)
  • Tina Corfield  (Study Director, Black Country Consortium)

Breakout session C: The public as an extension of the organisation

  • Justine Roberts (Co-founder, Mumsnet)
  • John Moules (Chairman, Ebbsfleet United FC)

Breakout session D: The public as designers

  • Godfrey Owen (Chief Executive, Brathay Hall Trust)
  • Simon Binns, Laura Sait, Dean Chappelhow (Members of Edge Learner Forum)
  • Deborah Homa (Consultant, Co-creating Health programme)
12.45 - ‘Do Us A Flavour’ - The role of the public in the recent Walkers crisps campaign
Bridget Angear, Nathan Guerra (AMV BBDO)

13.00 - Lunch

Session 3: Reflection and provocation
14.00 - Headline findings from breakout sessions

14.15 - What is the future of Public Involvement? A panel debate


  • Chaired by: Krishnan Guru-Murthy (Channel 4 News)
  • Ray Snoddy (Journalist)
  • Caroline Spelman MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government)
  • Richard Wilson (Director, Involve)
  • David Halpern (Director of Research, Institute for Government)
  • Sophie Duncan (Deputy Director, National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement)
  • Peter Wanless (Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund)

Session 4: Rising to the challenge

15.15 - An interactive session to identify key insights followed by

Today’s BIG findings: Peter Wanless (Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund)
16.00 - Networking and refreshments