Amplifying your voice: Introducing the Policy and External Affairs team

An introduction to the Institute's new Policy and External Affairs team.

In the run up to the recent UK general election, many of you will have seen CIAT’s manifesto analysis and recommendations for the next government. These are the first pieces of work from the Institute’s new Policy and External Affairs workstream, recently launched to amplify the voice of the membership and shape public policy.

Sitting within the Practice and Technical Department, CIAT’s new Policy and External Affairs team will lead this programme of activity, working with members, sector bodies, local and national governments and international organisations, to give Architectural Technology a stronger voice in sector policy discussions.

The team will focus on themes such as the potential of Architectural Technology professionals to lead the sustainability transformation in the built environment, the need to strengthen skills and training pipelines to meet the future needs of the sector, and the importance of including Architectural Technology professionals in public sector procurement opportunities.

Day to day, the team's activity will include:

• meeting with MPs, civil servants and government ministers, to discuss key issues;
• contributing to parliamentary enquiries, debates and committee hearings;
• responding to government consultations;
• preparing policy papers and briefings explaining key issues to policymakers;
• strengthening CIAT’s relationships with other sector bodies;
• building awareness of Architectural Technology within the media and broader public.

To deliver this new programme of activity, this year, CIAT has created two new roles; Business Development and External Affairs Executive, and Policy and Public Affairs Executive.

Mervyn Pilley, Business Development and External Affairs Executive, joined CIAT following an extensive career leading membership organisations, most recently with a focus on energy and sustainability.

Jack Fleming, Policy and Public Affairs Executive, joined CIAT from a specialist healthcare public affairs and communications agency. He has previously held several policy and public affairs roles, including leading on workforce policy for the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Mervyn and Jack will work collaboratively with colleagues across the Institute and will be looking to engage with the membership, to ensure CIAT reflects their priorities and provides robust, evidence-based recommendations which will deliver a better built environment sector. This will build on current initiatives, including the newly piloted societies and workshops for developing consultation responses.

To keep up to date with the work of the team and opportunities to engage, keep an eye on AT Weekly.

If you’d like to discuss a specific issue, feel free to email [email protected]