b'12 Member News November 2023InfluencePublic Affairs update What has Public Affairsbeen doing? A new Public Affairs Manager, meetings in DowningThe major focus for Public Affairs over the summer and start of Street, and a packed party conference agenda: an insightAutumn has been Party Conference into Public Affairs at the IET. season, which you can read about in full on the next page. But aside from that, we have been: What is Public Affairs?What does this mean Public Affairs at the IET sits in Externalfor members? Working with the Education Communications, and works very closelyTeam to secure a roundtable There are lots of opportunitiesin No 10 Downing Street and a with the Policy and Insights team andto contribute to our policymeeting with the Secretary of with many other teams across the IET. recommendations and politicalState for Education to discuss There are two main strands of work inengagementfrom sitting on ourthe Engineering Kids Futures Public Affairs: harnessing engineeringvolunteer panels and working groupsreport and recommendations.and technology expertise to informwhich inform our reports and responsesWorking with the Policy team policymaking, and influencing policy toto government consultations, toto continue our engagement support and empower the engineeringputting yourself forward to speak atwith Peers to amend the and technology sector. This meansevents, to the media or to politiciansOnline Safety Bill to require engaging with policymakers and allon behalf of the IET. In this comingOfcom to review safeguarding those who influence policy, from MPsyear, as we approach the next Generalin the Metaverse, which was and civil servants to think tanks andElection, Public Affairs will be workingcited extensively during the the media, as well as providing politicalto influence political party manifestosCommittee Stage of the Bill intelligence and insight to the IETand build relationships with the nextin the House of Lords.executive and external facing teams. governmentwhatever form that takes!Working with the External Introducing Tim Allison Communications team to secure media coverage of our policy Tim Allison joined the IET as Publicwork and responses, including Affairs Manager in May this year. He alsohaving our response to the currently serves as a Media OperationsHouse of Commons Science Reservist in the Royal Air Force. and Technology Committees report on the governments Before arriving at the IET, Tim wasnuclear energy strategy Political Chief of Staff to Science,included in the Daily Mail.Research and Innovation Minister Working with the Policy George Freeman MP. Tim joinedand Communications teams Minister Freeman after working asto publish an article on Public Affairs Adviser to the RoyalPoliticsHome calling on Society, and before that was at iNHousepolitical parties to recognise Communications, a Westminsterand embrace a whole political communications agency. Hesystem approach to net also spent two years working out-of- zero technologies, amidst hours in the Conservative Party Pressthe ongoing political debate Office and three years in Parliamentaround the affordability with former Energy Minister Claire Perryof net zero policies.Tim with Katie Ingrey, Education Policy Manager, outside No 10 and former Skills Minister Anne Milton.'