Podcasts about Private Secretary

Caroline Wheeler from The Sunday Times assesses the latest developments at Westminster.To discuss the announcement this week, by the US government, that there would be a pause in all military aid to Ukraine and a pause in intelligence sharing, Caroline is joined by former Cabinet Secretary and National Security Adviser, Lord Sedwill and Air Chief Marshal, Lord Peach, the former head of the UK Armed Forces who was also chair of NATO's military committee from 2018 to 2021. Lord Peach has just stepped down as U.K. special envoy to the Balkans. The Chancellor will deliver her Spring Statement later this month at at time of limited financial headroom. To discuss the impact of possible cuts to the welfare bill Caroline is joined by the former Conservative Party leader and architect of the Universal Credit system, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former Labour MP Rosie Duffield who now sits as an Independent Member of Parliament. Labour's Baroness Hayter and Lord Howard, the former Conservative Party leader, join Caroline to discuss the Hereditary Peers Bill which is currently in the House of Lords. The landmark legislation will remove the right of the remaining 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords.US President Donald Trump has been invited to the UK for a second state visit by the King. To discuss state visits and the so-called 'soft power' of the Monarchy, Caroline is joined by Edward, now Lord Young, of Old Windsor, who was Private Secretary and key adviser to The late Queen. He was with Her Majesty for 20 years until her death in 2022 and oversaw the smooth transition to the start of The King's reign.

In this latest edition of the Sunday Show. Neil de Beer says Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is licking his lips for the return of AfriForum's Kallie Kriel from the Afrikaners' latest mission to the US amid a dispute over farm murder statistics. “…there's a little bit of a facial expression from Mchunu that this is not just about a discrepancy, but this is about: I'm waiting for you.” As for criticism from other Cabinet ministers, he says: “I sometimes think that these ministers that are going through allegations - and there are more than 20, 30 of them - they actually beg that people like AfriForum go run around the world and cause mayhem. Because as long as they are the target, as long as they are the story, they're not the story.” De Beer slams the very poor performance of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Shamila Batohi whose term ends in January 2026 - and lists some of the “walking hyenas that are still around here and some of them disgustingly still being leadership”. Meanwhile, he calls on Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald to review the parole of the long-time “terminally ill” Shabir Shaik who “has become a biological miracle and must be captured and put into a museum”. As for the delayed Budget Speech, he urges Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to introduce cost-cutting measures, “but you have to have nuts to cut”. De Beer also shares details of an hour-and-half long conversation he had with former President Jacob Zuma's Private Secretary, Isaac Leshona, following his interview with BizNews - and the purges being executed by SG Floyd Shivambu in one faction and Duduzile Zuma in another.

Fr Peter Wygnanski reflecting on the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord. Fr Peter is the Private Secretary to the Bishop and Catholic Chaplain to the University of East Anglia. WORD FOR TODAY is broadcast live on Radio Maria on weekdays at 1:15pm and is rebroadcast at 12:15am and 5:45am the following day. In it our Priest Director Fr Toby offers a reflection, usually drawing from the Mass readings of the day.  If you enjoyed this programme, please consider making a once off or monthly donation to Radio Maria England by visiting www.RadioMariaEngland.uk or calling 0300 302 1251 during office hours. It is only through the ongoing support of our listeners that we continue to be a Christian voice by your side.

159/063 Best of: Patrick and I did a live Expert Talk interview in December 2020 which was a huge success. We had assistants from all over the world attending. Some, however, could not make it because of time zone difficulties, so I promised I will interview Patrick again for my podcast. Here we go - I trust you will love the stories he is about to share. A little information on Patrick first: For eight years Patrick Jephson was Princess Diana's private secretary (chief of staff), responsible for every aspect of her public life and private organization. He travelled with the Princess to five continents, working with officials up to head of state and encountering unforgettable figures in politics, philanthropy and the arts such as Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Mother Teresa, Bono and Luciano Pavarotti. Under relentless media scrutiny, his tenure covered the period of Princess Diana's greatest popularity as well as the constitutional controversy of her separation from Prince Charles. He is now a consultant, journalist, broadcaster and New York Times bestselling author, based in Washington DC. His byline has appeared in every UK national newspaper and international titles as varied as TIME magazine, Vanity Fair, People, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Paris Match. A published authority on corporate and personal branding, Patrick equally enjoys coaching C-suite executives, advising UHNWIs on reputation management and addressing PR conferences worldwide. Having worked for an internationally high-profile woman, he feels a special affinity for cross-cultural, protocol, gender and communications issues. He also writes, presents and advises on factual and drama TV programs, appearing on every major US network. He is currently an expert consultant to the award-winning Netflix series The Crown. Check out his website: https://jephsonbeaman.com/ So, it is time to log in now and enjoy this talk. So many take aways will be waiting for you. Let us know how you liked it and give us a review on Apple Itunes. Thanks and best from Diana xoxo Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the-socialista-projects Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

Send us a textThe board is responsible for appointing the CEO, and the relationship between the Chair and the CEO is crucial - but often not easy.  So what matters when selecting a CEO, and how can we establish and develop a good relationship between the Chair and the CEO? In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses the crucial relationship between the Chair and the CEO with Sir David Norgrove, currently a Governor at the University of the Arts and Chair of the aBDRN Financial Fairness Trust.  Sir David has held a number of chairing roles in leading public sector organisations. His early career was at the Treasury, at First National Bank of Chicago, and as Private Secretary to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. This was followed by Marks & Spencer from 1988 to 2004, including as a member of its Board.“It's important to be on the shop floor and to see what's going on.”Sir David relates that during his 16 years at M&S, he worked under three chairmen, all of whom held the dual role of Chair and Chief Executive - an approach less common today.  While the third eventually separated these roles, the first two were dominant and highly authoritative figures. Their leadership styles had significant drawbacks, particularly a reluctance to encourage challenge or dissent.  Too often, the board acted as a rubber stamp for their decisions.  Despite these challenges, Sir David learned valuable lessons.  “The dictatorial approach is subtle, but it's still there.”Sir David reflects on past experiences in the boardroom, acknowledging that standards were quite different decades ago.  He recalls unacceptable behaviour, with a culture of bullying and a dictatorial approach that at times crossed the line.  He believes this leadership style was deeply damaging to the business and carried that lesson with him into his later roles.  “Having the right CEO is the number one, two and three most important things for a chair.”Sir David emphasises that selecting the right CEO is the most critical responsibility for a chair, ranking it as priorities one, two, and three.  He believes that the wrong appointment can strain the chair/CEO relationship and lead to organisational unhappiness and failure to meet objectives.  While acknowledging the difficulty of defining the perfect CEO, he recognises the need for trade-offs.  He focuses on core qualities.  A CEO must be direct, transparent and willing to speak openly about issues.  “All you can do is trust your instinct - and that can be wrong.”Sir David acknowledges the inherent challenges of assessing candidates, especially in determining whether they meet the criteria and trust can be established.  However, he believes no process can guarantee absolute certainty, as ultimately, decisions rely on instinct, which is not infallible.  “The person you're talking to is the Chief Executive. He's not your underling.”Sir David believes building and maintaining a strong relationship with a CEO requires adapting to the individual's character.  He emphasises the importance of regular, consistent communication, which often takes the form of a weekly meeting or phone call to discuss what's happening in the business, address mutual concerns, and ensure an open line of dialogue.   The two top takeaways for effective boards from our conversation are:1.      Have the right CEO.  If the CEO isn't right, then the CEO should go.2.     Ask questions.  Get out and about, go and visit places and sit down with people, get them to tell you what they're doing. There's no substitute for it.

GUEST OVERVIEW: Harry Miller is a former police officer and now the Co-Chief Executive Officer at Fair Cop, a group of individuals who have come together over shared concerns about police attempts to criminalise people for expressing opinions that don't contravene any laws. GUEST OVERVIEW - Harvey Proctor was the Conservative MP for Basildon 1979-1983 & Billericay 1983-1987. Vice President. Private Secretary to the Duke of Rutland.

Acting Ombudsman Rebecca Hilsenrath kicks off the first episode of our brand new podcast, Making Complaints Count. Joined by her Private Secretary, Faye Glover, she talks about her upbringing, priorities and future plans as Ombudsman.

Some people have the gift of making others feel seen. Sir Tim Hitchens is one of those people. He has held several titles throughout his career, was knighted by and worked alongside Queen Elizabeth II, and is deeply interested in getting know people on an individual level. While we touch on diplomacy in this episode, we also talk about Kim Kardashian, the Royal Family, pop culture and the idea of celebrity. Get 10% off my favorite organic juice - Suja. Use code HEREFORIT10 for 10% off your purchase at sujaorganic.com Midday Squares are my favorite way to fight hanger. Head over to middaysquares.com via this link for 15% off your entire order.  Produced by Erica Muller Music by Eric Welton Special thanks to 58 Ember Media  Copyright 2024 Erica Muller Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: Peter Mcilvenna is the Co-founder and host of Hearts of Oak a populist free-speech alliance. Chief of Staff to Lord Pearson of Rannoch House of Lords. Free Speech absolutist, Christian, ex-UKIP national Campaign Manager in 2019. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Andrew Bridgen is a Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire UK since 2010 and is very active in standing up against the official narratives including COVID and Net Zero. Andrew was initially elected to Parliament in 2010. GUEST 3 OVERVIEW: Harvey Proctor was the Conservative MP for Basildon 1979-1983 & Billericay 1983-1987. Vice President. Private Secretary to the Duke of Rutland.

There will be a British general election on July 4. “The most consequential of our generation” no doubt many politicians will remind the voters. But almost exactly 45 years ago, there really was a profoundly consequential British election. Back in May 1979, Mrs Margaret Thatcher's Conservative party won power in an election that ultimately changed everything about Britain. In 1979, (Sir) Tim Lankester was the first economic private secretary to Margaret Thatcher and, in his new book, INSIDE THATCHER'S MONETARISM EXPERIMENT, he writes about the promise, failure and legacy of this radical economic gamble. Yet in spite of the economic failure of Thatcher's monetarist experiment, Sir Tim appears not a little nostalgic for a politician with the vision and will of the Iron Lady. “Mrs Thatcher never lied”, he reminded me about a politician whose success at the polls was rooted in the trust she established with the electorate. And it's this trust that seems most scarce now, not just in the UK, but also in the US and other late-stage western democracies. Sir Tim Lankester has led a distinguished career in economics and public service and is an ardent supporter of charity and the arts. After studying at St John's College, Cambridge, and Yale University, Tim went on to enjoy an career with World Bank and then in the English Civil Service, including; at the British Embassy in Washington D.C., as Private Secretary to James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher, as Permanent Secretary at the Overseas Development Administration (now the DFID), and at the Department of Education. He retired from public service in 1994, for which he was knighted. He went on to serve as Director of the School of Oriental and African Studies (1996 – 2000), President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford (2001 - 2009), and Chair of the Council of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2008 – 2014). From 2007 to 2015, Tim was Chair of The Place and formerly a board member of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama and Governor of the Royal College of Music. Currently, Tim sits on the boards for many charities, including; Wells Maltings Trust, Norfolk; International Foundation for Arts and Culture; MBI AL Jaber Foundation; and Karachi Education Initiative UK. Tim also sits on the Board for the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Art and Culture, University of East Anglia, and is and Honorary Fellow of both SOAS and St John's College, Oxford.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

History has no better teachers than the eyewitnesses that watch it unfold and are "in the room when it happens." This unaired episode of Taiwan Talk is an eyewitness account presenting former Control Yuan and Foreign Minister Fredrick Chien's memories and insights of what transpired after the U-S announced it was derecognizing the ROC (Taiwan). Chien walks us through some of the negotiations and events that took place; and reintroduces us to key historical figures of the time including the last U.S. Ambassador to the ROC, Leonard S. Unger who was appointed in 1974 and Warren Christopher, who served as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's official emissary who led negotiations between Washington and Taipei. Chien also talks about the roles of ROC Foreign Minister Shen Chang-huan who resigned after the U.S. announcement; Victor Wei-Jen Hu who was Private Secretary to the Foreign Minister H.E. Chang-Huan Shen; and GIO director James Soong in the complicated unwinding of diplomatic ties with an important ally. The former diplomat even shares the late President Chiang Ching-kuo's reaction to the events which continues to shape much of Taiwan 's internal and external policies today. This interview is presented as part of I.C.R.T's 45th birthday celebrations. A shorter version which aired on April 15, 2024 is also available to download.

GUEST OVERVIEW: Harvey Proctor was the Conservative MP for Basildon 1979-1983 & Billericay 1983-1987. Vice President. Private Secretary to the Duke of Rutland.

In a very special episode of Radio Ombudsman, Rob Behrens takes the hot seat as he's interviewed by his Private Secretary, Faye Glover. As his term comes to an end, he reflects back on seven years as the Ombudsman, his early life and career, and shares his future plans.

GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: Harvey Proctor was the Conservative MP for Basildon 1979-1983 & Billericay 1983-1987. Vice President. Private Secretary to the Duke of Rutland. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Alan Miller is the co-founder of the Together Declaration and one of the UKs most important freedom campaigners.

My guest this episode is Rami Madbouli, who, at the time of this podcast recording, was working as a Private Secretary to Ministers in the UK Government's Department of Health & Social Care. Rami's 90:10 work:life ratio is the highest figure weighting on the work side that has featured on ‘A Fine Balance'. And whilst this is a work-life balance that – on the whole – works well for Rami, he says that he usually finds that it's met with disapproval. That Rami applies a 90:10 figure on his work:life ratio was, as always, just a starting point to our conversation. In the process, we touch on: What it's like when you feel proud and motivated by the mission of your work, even if you're not paid any extra for working more than your contracted hours; Work being something that identifies who you are at any given stage in life; Finding balance in a relationship when both partners are career-oriented and ambitious; Making work-life balance choices that deviate from what's considered “normal” by your peers both in and outside of work; Modelling your work-life balance choices according to your upbringing, and opting to make choices different to those that your parents made when you were growing up; and Rami's tips for squeezing more into one day than you may have thought possible. At the heart of his story though, was Rami's description of being an introvert, and how he recharges his energy by spending time alone rather than by surrounding himself with other people. This provided a rich, and essentially logical, backdrop to the hours that Rami chooses to dedicate to his work, and, indeed, how he chooses to spend his time outside of work too. To read more about my interview with Rami and with those other people mentioned on this podcast episode, go to: www.a-fine-balance.com/podcast.

Simon Lancaster is one of the world's top speechwriters. He first became a speechwriter in the late 1990s working for Tony Blair's Cabinet. He has since written speeches for the CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world including Unilever, HSBC and InterContinental Hotels Group. A leader's ability to communicate is critical to success and first impressions last! Simon's journey started as a musician with a dream of becoming a songwriter yet by the age of 24 he became a Minister's Private Secretary. Not bad he tells me for a kid that grew up on a council estate with his single mum.  Simon was paired up with Alan Johnson MP who became an important mentor in his life as Alan went on to become Secretary of State for Education and Skills from 2006 to 2007. Simon listened to Alan deliver multiple iconic speeches over the years mixing his personal story with the national story during the Thatcher years.  Simon explains that a good speechwriter has to find what's inside someone's soul. Most great speeches must not simply contain a list of your attributes and achievements as the audience is not that interested. Simon remembers advice from Peggy Noonan (speechwriter to Ronald Reagan) who said "reading is collecting wisdom and writing is spending it."Simon has a passion for helping the younger generation learn this skills and shares his advice of 'be proud to be yourself and be proud to show yourself to the world.'  Simon's 3 Top Tips for any leader include:1. The audience is more important than the speaker. It's not what you want to say but what the audience want to hear. 2. Emotions are more powerful than logic, this is based on biological fact. 3. Less is more www.bespokespeeches.comHe is the author of 'Connect' a book that helps a general audience that wants to be better at connecting and communicating with people. Available on Amazon. Simon would love to write a speech for Oprah, so if you are listening...........!Watch & Subscribe:

Jackie Nalubwama speaks with Irene Kawuma about her education background, how she joined the government and her work experience including with the first lady and minister of education and sports, Janet Museveni, as her principal private secretary. Listen on ViDE: https://newvisionapp.page.link/QFvKi2pemAy5Wbqh9

Singapore-based Andrew Tan has spent 28 years in the public sector where he's held key positions across various Singapore government agencies, from the Ministry of Information and the Arts, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in the Prime Minister's Office as the Private Secretary to Lee Kuan Yew. He is also a former CEO at Singapore's National Environment Agency, and Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. He's spent time as Director of Singapore's Centre for Liveable Cities, and has most recently been working as a managing director at global investment company Temasek.He also finds time to be involved with the Singapore Management University, and the Singapore Business Federation.Andrew was in New Zealand recently to address the China Business Summit held in Auckland, and following his address he spoke to Suz Jessep and James To from the Asia New Zealand Foundation about Singapore's development model, and the challenges ahead across the region.  Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentreWebsite asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nzWhakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

#73 Sir Tim Hitchens, former Assistant Private Secretary to the Queen of England, sits down with Erica and the two discuss the world of diplomacy, pop culture (Prince Harry, the Royal family + Kim Kardashian), his current role as President of Wolfson College and his hopes and goals for the younger generations. He also shares tips for negotiating, how to deal with conflict, bringing joy and play into work and why regaining your sense of curiosity is essential. Follow Erica @ericamullerr Submit to Here For It: Here For YOU - advice column form click HERE  Here For It or Not form click HERE For more information on Wolfson College, Oxford click HERE Produced by 58 Ember Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

This episode is another conversation with Daniel Thornton (like Episode 2 but this time with bells on) about Covid, companies dying, electric cars, corporate bullshit, and the Succession series.Daniel Thornton - BioDaniel studied PPE at Oxford and History at LSE. He's had huge experience in central government. He worked in the Foreign Office, Parliament, the Treasury, DCLG and has been a Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. He's been a programme director at the leading think tank the Institute for Government, the Director for External Relations at Ark an educational charity running dozens of schools and is currently an adivsor with the global vaccine alliance GAVI.

James and Jonathan dissect the discussion on Parliamentary Private Secretaries with Mark Fletcher, current PPS to Jeremy Hunt, and Alex Davies-Jones from Monday's pod.Follow and comment on Twitter @WhitehallPodUK

This week the gang are joined by Mark Fletcher, current PPS to the Chancellor, and Alex Davies-Jones, who is the current shadow minister for Digital but has previously been PPS for Rachel Reeves. Mark and Alex help take us inside the world of the Parliament Private Secretary, Ministerial aids who are unpaid but have an influential role in how parliament and indeed government is run.Follow and comment on Twitter: @WhitehallPodUK

Harvey Brownstone conducts an in-depth interview with Nelson Mandela's Personal Assistant, Zelda La Grange, Author, “Good Morning, Mr. Mandela: A Memoir” About Harvey's guest: Today's guest, Zelda La Grange, has had the most remarkable and life-altering career working side by side with one of the greatest and most beloved statesmen in history: Nelson Mandela.   She grew up in apartheid South Africa as a white Afrikanner, in a world of white supremacy and black oppression, separation and segregation.  Black and white people were not allowed to socialize or congregate in any way outside of an employment relationship.  And people of colour were not allowed to vote.   Our guest was raised to embrace the concept of apartheid.   But her perspectives, attitudes and beliefs – and in fact, her entire life – were totally transformed, starting in 1994, when at the age of 23, she began working as a typist in the office of South Africa's 1st democratically elected Black President, Nelson Mandela – the man who was the voice of the oppressed, and who personified the liberation struggle, having spent 27 years in prison.    Over the course of almost 20 years, our guest served President Mandela in various capacities, both during and after his Presidency, going from typist to Assistant Private Secretary, to Private Secretary, to Manager and Spokesperson for his office, until his death on December the 5th, 2013.   She accompanied him on dozens of official visits and personal appearances, to virtually every corner of the globe.   In 2014, she published her highly acclaimed, deeply moving and compelling memoir entitled, “Good Morning, Mr. Mandela”.  She not only shares some of the most memorable moments during her time at Mr. Mandela's side – but MOST IMPORTANTLY, this is an inspiring story of love and hope, in which she candidly explains the monumental impact that Nelson Mandela had on her life, and more specifically, on her personal transformation from a believer in apartheid to a believer in full equality for all people.   In 2014, her book was named the International Bestseller of the Year, and it's been translated into 13 languages.  Our guest has received many awards for her dedication and service to Mr. Mandela, including the 2008 Woman of the Year Award by the South African Press.   And she's one of the most sought-after speakers on the international lecture circuit, having given inspirational and motivational presentations at the most prestigious conferences and events throughout the world.  She's also co-hosted a national TV talk show in South Africa.   And in 2019 she co-produced a documentary about Nelson Mandela entitled, “Madiba: A Glorious Human Achievement”.   She was also a guest curator to an international exhibition on the life and times of Nelson Mandela that has been touring internationally for the past 5 years. For more interviews and podcasts go to: https://www.harveybrownstoneinterviews.com/ To see more about Zelda La Grange, go to:http://zeldalagrange.com/ https://www.instagram.com/zeldalagrangesa/https://twitter.com/ZeldalaGrangeSAhttps://za.linkedin.com/in/zelda-la-grange #ZeldaLaGrange   #harveybrownstoneinterviews

On this episode, Kennedy sits down with Consultant, Journalist, and Broadcaster Patrick Jephson to discuss his time as Princess Diana's Private Secretary and Chief of Staff. Patrick reveals how much of the Netflix hit The Crown is historically accurate, how he became a historical consultant and dives into the details of Princess Diana and Prince Charles' marriage. Later, he weighs in on Harry and Meghan Markle's removal from the Royal Family. Follow Kennedy on Twitter: @KennedyNation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you are currently watching "The Crown" on Netflix, you absolutely want to hear this conversation. Patrick Jephson, former private secretary to the late Princess Diana, joins Michael to set the record straight on the 1995 interview that Martin Bashir conducted with Lady Di, where Jephson was thrown under the bus - a move the BBC finally, recently apologized for. Original air date 02 December 2022.

In the second part of our royal special, Andrew and Phil and joined by a very special guest: Patrick Jephson. Patrick was Diana's only ever Private Secretary, effectively her Chief of Staff and lead advisor. He has been widely credited with helping shape the must successful years of her public life. His deep contacts to multiple members of the royal family and court make him one of the best informed royal commentators in the world. And, as we discover, he doesn't think the 'Diana Wars' are anything like over! Patrick Jephson...https://knightayton.co.uk/male-presenters/patrick-jephsonhttps://pagesix.com/2022/11/15/king-charles-staff-fed-mental-health-lies-about-diana/ You can now get in touch with the show...team@podcastworld.org This show is Part of the PodcastWorld.org networkFilmed in Kentish Town, London.Production by Theo X, Kerem Isik, and David Kurzer Available on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud + more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode looks at The Ann Sothern Show and Private Secretary. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://thewritelife61.com/2021/05/10/everyone-could-use-a-private-secretary/

This episode looks at The Ann Sothern Show and Private Secretary. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://thewritelife61.com/2021/05/10/everyone-could-use-a-private-secretary/

They meet on a weekly basis, they have the power to unseat the Prime Minister and they were known to Margaret Thatcher as the "men in grey suits". The 1922 Committee have played a pivotal role in the recent fortunes of one of the oldest and most successful political parties anywhere in the world, the Conservative Party. So, who are "the '22"? How were they formed, and what powers do they hold over the Tory leadership and the party? Professor Sir David Cannadine tells the story of the origins of the 1922 Committee and gains an insight into how our most powerful political party operates, behind the closed doors of Committee Room 14. Back in 1922, Britain was ruled by a coalition, led by the Liberal Prime Minister, David Lloyd George. But the Conservatives were the majority in government and in parliament, and they were becoming increasingly disillusioned by Lloyd George's corrupt ways and irresponsibility. In October 1922, backbench Tories held a meeting at the Carlton Club, and they withdrew their support, which brought the Lloyd George coalition to an end. The Conservatives won a landslide majority in the ensuing general election, and more than one hundred Tories became MPs for the first time. They needed to find their feet in Parliament and the Chief Whip offered to make arrangements to brief them at weekly meetings. So The Conservative Private Members (1922) Committee came into being - in April 1923! While in recent times the '22 has acquired a reputation as being the body that makes and unmakes Tory leaders, that wasn't what it was set up to do, and it wasn't what it did for most of its history. David speaks to the current Chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady MP, and the Vice Chair Nusrat Ghani; former '22 Chairman Lord Archie Hamilton; Lord Stephen Parkinson, former Political Secretary to Teresa May; Caroline Slocock, former Private Secretary to Mrs Thatcher; to the political historians Lord Philip Norton and Dr Emily Jones; and to Christopher Hope, the Telegraph's Associate Political Editor. Producer: Melissa FitzGerald Researcher: Sean Canty A Blakeway production for BBC Radio 4

Gone, but never forgotten. This week, Roberta and Rachel are joined by Patrick Jephson, Princess Diana's former private secretary from 1988 to 1996. He reflects on Diana's legacy on the 25th anniversary of her death, the many fictional portrayals (*ahem*, he's a consultant for The Crown), the Lord Dyson report, the Martin Bashir findings and more. We're also discussing Meghan's profile in The Cut, the Queen's plans for the new prime minister, a special birthday and more. You do NOT want to miss this episode.--Presented by PureWow and Gallery Media Group. Follow all the royal happenings at purewow.com/royals. Shop Royally Obsessed sweatshirts and totes at shop.royallyobsessed.com. Follow us on Instagram at @RoyallyObsessedPodcast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 @firstladyofmotownlinktr.ee/ClaudetteRobinsonComing Up!  April 23-24, 2022LA Times Festival of Books at USC, Booth 100Signing for her book “Claudette's Miraculous Motown Adventure”The scene:We are in Claudette's home in Beverly Hills, CA, sitting together in her office, after a tour through some of the significant items from her life. Claudette is a magnificent storyteller. She speaks with ease and a close attention to detail and chronology. Her life is fascinating! Join us for her unique journey through the Marines, the Miracles, Mothering, and Grandmothering.Highlights:+ Claudette is the “First Lady of Motown” - the first woman ever signed to Motown Records+ First job at 12-yrs old typing letters for fundraising for $0.50 per hour+ Quit college to be a “Private Secretary” to the downtown YMCA in Detroit Michigan+ Graduated from high school at 15 (double-promoted three times in school)+ She wanted to be a teacher, to help other people, and loves children+ First royalty check was $3.19 - to split between all 5 band members+ Receiving a key - or two - from the City of Detroit+ She doesn't display her awards so people who visit just see her for her+ Grandmother and mother gave her a sense of self - a value of self+ “Inside, I'm very tall” - you can be as tall as you want inside+ Claudette has decided she will live to be 150 years-old+ She'd like to go to the moon, when it's safe+ Being greeted with a shotgun when trying to check into a hotel in the South+ Getting lost trying to find where you're performing+ Old school marketing: manager puts up posters the night before+ Airplane travel was not an affordable option - 6 people in a car was+ Not being taken seriously as new band “kids”+ The norm was 4 shows in 1 day+ Making $750/week, 4 shows/day+ Required to join the union but couldn't pay for it until they performed each night+ AGVA - American Guild of Variety Artists - is now SAGAFTRA+ Biggest passions: loving to love and be loved+ Takes great pride in her children and grandchildren+ She wanted to be a nun after going to Catholic elementary school+ Was in the Marine Corps Reserves - mom wanted to keep her out of danger+ Looking out for your neighbors

Private Secretary (also known as Susie) is an American sitcom that aired from February 1, 1953, to September 10, 1957, on CBS, alternating with The Jack Benny Program on Sundays at 7:30pm EST. The series stars Ann Sothern as Susan Camille "Susie" MacNamara, devoted secretary to handsome talent agent Peter Sands, played by Don Porter. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dwight-allen/message

The Indian Bridge Management System is one of the most advanced public infrastructure databases in the world. The IBMS creates an inventory of all bridges in the country and rates their structural condition so that timely repair and rehabilitation work can be carried out based on the criticality of the structure. It is the largest platform in the world owned by a single owner, with a database that could exceed 1,50,000 bridge structures. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has inventorized 1,72,517 bridges/structures under this initiative. Under the system, bridges are given a structural rating number; based on its structure; and a socio-economic rating number which measures its importance in relation to it's vicinity. With an MBA degree under his belt, Vaibhav Dange devoted his knowledge in management to implementing processes in ensuring speedy redressal of issues in all spheres of activity. From 2014 to 2019, he was the Private Secretary to the Hon'ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, and was very closely associated with all development works related to the national highways. During this tenure, he got involved in the IBMS project, and his deep knowledge and insight resulted in many innovations within the IBMS. He is associated with various infrastructure projects undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The Indian Bridge Management System is one of the most advanced public infrastructure databases in the world. The IBMS creates an inventory of all bridges in the country and rates their structural condition so that timely repair and rehabilitation work can be carried out based on the criticality of the structure. It is the largest platform in the world owned by a single owner, with a database that could exceed 1,50,000 bridge structures. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has inventorized 1,72,517 bridges/structures under this initiative. Under the system, bridges are given a structural rating number; based on its structure; and a socio-economic rating number which measures its importance in relation to it's vicinity. With an MBA degree under his belt, Vaibhav Dange devoted his knowledge in management to implementing processes in ensuring speedy redressal of issues in all spheres of activity. From 2014 to 2019, he was the Private Secretary to the Hon'ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, and was very closely associated with all development works related to the national highways. During this tenure, he got involved in the IBMS project, and his deep knowledge and insight resulted in many innovations within the IBMS. He is associated with various infrastructure projects undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Sir David Norgrove, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority. Sir David's term as chair of the Statistics Authority, which oversees the UK's statistical system (including the Office for National Statistics, the Office for Statistics Regulation, and the Government Statistical Service), has taken in a Census, the coronavirus pandemic, technological progress and other developments in how data and statistics are used in decision making. As his term comes to an end, he reflected on his experiences in conversation with Gavin Freeguard, Associate at the Institute for Government. #IfGNorgrove Sir David Norgrove is Chair of the UK Statistics Authority. Sir David began his career as an economist at the Treasury and worked in a Chicago bank before becoming Private Secretary to the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. He spent 16 years with Marks & Spencer between 1988 and 2004 and became a member of the Board there. Since leaving M&S he has chaired the Low Pay Commission, the Pensions Regulator and a Government review of the family justice system. Sir David was knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to the low paid and to family justice.

Harry Shearer joined me to talk about radio as a default outlet; doing all parts of his Le Show; having a studio in his homes; Apologies of the Week; Randy Bass; Colin Powell Tribute Show; talking to whistle blowers; his impressions of Presidents Reagan, George HW Bush, Donald Trump, and George W. Bush; only seeing the Godfather last year and never seeing Titanic or Star Wars; Tom Leopold's Conversion Roast and how he created his rabbi character for it; how 9/11 changed Le Show; lack of censorship; radio stations; Credibility Gap's Tonight Show parody "Where's Johnny?"; Night the Lights Stayed on in Pittsburgh; "Cracking Up"; "Who's On First"; Fernwood Tonight; Fred Willard; K-Time; Synchronized Swimming; The Day the Clown Cried v. Thicke of the Night; Tom Snyder; the infamous Cougerand sketch on SNL; OJ Simpson and the creation of the term "the n word"; Dr. Hibbert; "Excellent"; Laverne & Shirley; The Credibility Gap teaches statistics; Private Secretary; first paycheck --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this interview, Mitchell speaks with Achi Tsepal, the founder of the Children of Tibet Trust Foundation who has a highly unique background. Achi was born in Kham, Tibet and received his name from the Drikung Thil Monastery in Central Tibet. Lord Jigten Sumgon founded the Drikung Thil Monastery, which is being rebuilt since its destruction during the Cultural Revolution in China. In 1959 Achi's parents escaped into India after a three and half month's difficult journey over the Himalayas. There were four Monastic groups (labrangs) and about 50 families from the Drikung Valley who followed HH the 14th Dalai Lama into India, but only Achi's family made it. In 1961, he was fortunate to be one of the four boys selected among hundreds of Tibetan Refugee kids in Mussoorie, North India to attend Wynberg Allen High school to receive a great education. 1970 While attending Christ College, Bangalore, India Achi worked with American Missionaries to start two hostels in Bangalore for children from the Tibetan Refugee communities in South India. Hundreds of Tibetan children graduated from several private schools in Bangalore to become leaders in the Tibetan communities today. 1974 after graduating with BA from Bangalore University, Achi was chosen by HH the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism, to accompany him during HH's first and second World Dharma Peace Tour as Private Secretary and English Interpreter…. and served in this capacity for seven years at Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, India. 1981 Achi and his family moved to Washington DC to start a new life and during his spare time he worked hard co-founded the Tibetan Meditation Center (1982) and the Drikung Dharma Surya Buddhist Center (2011) belonging to the Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Over the years, these two Drikung Kagyu Centers have hosted many great Teachers including HH the Dalai Lama, HH Gyalwa Drikungpa Chestang and the great Yogi Master HE Kyabje Garchen. He believes that the spread of Buddha Dharma around the world will help the world community to attain peace. In 2008, Achi was the 2008 Machik Award for Engagement Winner for his work through the Children of Tibet Trust Foundation. This organization is currently sponsoring students in the secondary and tertiary education and hopes that the education of these children in the Tibetan Plateau and in the Himalayan regions will enable them to preserve their Tibetan heritage and well being. As a Tibetan, Achi has a deep appreciation of his unique and rich cultural heritage and at the same time realizes the daunting challenges the Tibetans face in their struggle to survive as a race with its unique cultural heritage under the Chinese Han rulers in Tibet and with the assimilation problem of the Tibetan identity in Tibet and the free world. The core mission of CTTF is to help the Tibetan children on the Tibetan plateau and the Himalayan regions to obtain the best secular education so that they can promote, preserve and persist in their work to keep pace with rapid modernization. This rare and unique interview with a man who has lived through the tumultuous history of the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the Tibetan flight across the Himalayas to India, then to find himself working with the highest teachers in Tibetan Buddhism while in India and America, makes for an extraordinary life and a historically with interview for A Better World Podcasts. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/abwmitchellrabin/support

063: Patrick and I did a live Expert Talk interview in December 2020 which was a huge success. We had assistants from all over the world attending. Some, however, could not make it because of time zone difficulties, so I promised I will interview Patrick again for my podcast. Here we go - I trust you will love the stories he is about to share. A little information on Patrick first: For eight years Patrick Jephson was Princess Diana's private secretary (chief of staff), responsible for every aspect of her public life and private organization. He travelled with the Princess to five continents, working with officials up to head of state and encountering unforgettable figures in politics, philanthropy and the arts such as Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Mother Teresa, Bono and Luciano Pavarotti. Under relentless media scrutiny, his tenure covered the period of Princess Diana's greatest popularity as well as the constitutional controversy of her separation from Prince Charles. He is now a consultant, journalist, broadcaster and New York Times bestselling author, based in Washington DC. His byline has appeared in every UK national newspaper and international titles as varied as TIME magazine, Vanity Fair, People, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Paris Match. A published authority on corporate and personal branding, Patrick equally enjoys coaching C-suite executives, advising UHNWIs on reputation management and addressing PR conferences worldwide. Having worked for an internationally high-profile woman, he feels a special affinity for cross-cultural, protocol, gender and communications issues. He also writes, presents and advises on factual and drama TV programs, appearing on every major US network. He is currently an expert consultant to the award-winning Netflix series The Crown. Check out his website: https://jephsonbeaman.com/ So, it is time to log in now and enjoy this talk. So many take aways will be waiting for you. Let us know how you liked it and give us a review on Apple Itunes. Thanks and best from Diana xoxo

On October 7, 2021, TNWAC President Patrick Ryan talked with Ambassador of Colombia to the United States Juan Carlos Pinzón in Nashville for the Global Dialogue + Webinar/"Global Tennessee" series Podcast, about: U.S.-Colombian relations, regional issues, developments in Colombia, commercial relations with the U.S. and Tennessee, and the people to people connections between the countries. Join the Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC.org/join) and support with your gift (TNWAC.org/donate) to ensure these quality programs continue. Thanks! Ambassador Juan Carlos Pinzón On July 26, 2021, President Iván Duque swore in Juan Carlos Pinzón as Ambassador of Colombia to the United States. ​Pinzón previously served as Colombia's Ambassador to Washington from 2015 to 2017. During his tenure, he oversaw the approval of “Peace Colombia or Plan Colombia II” ($450 million per year) that increased the U.S. funding package for security and development. Additionally, he helped establish the “CEO U.S.-Colombia Business Council” at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Atlantic Council's "Colombia Task Force" with the report on the future of the U.S.-Colombia relationship. The accession of the avocado Hass to the U.S. market was an important highlight. While in office, the Colombian Embassy was recognized as the best diplomatic delegation in Washington by the World Affairs Council in Washington, DC. Prior to that, Ambassador Pinzón served as Minister of Defense of Colombia for nearly four years. Under his leadership, the Colombian Armed Forces dealt the most severe blows in history to terrorist organizations – FARC and ELN – and Criminal Bands, highly degrading their logistics, structure and leadership. Pinzón also strengthened all capabilities of the Colombian armed forces and established Colombia as a regional cooperation leader. By the end of his period, he left the Armed Forces at its historical peak in manpower, capabilities, welfare, technology and budget. ​ Throughout his career, Pinzón has been a leader in both the public and private sectors. Between 2018 and 2021, Pinzón was appointed President of the Foundation for the Progress of the Capital Region – ProBogotá, a private non-profit for the promotion of common good, public policy and long-term strategic projects for the capital region of Colombia. He is currently a member of several corporate advisory boards and NGOs. In July 2017, Ambassador Pinzón launched a bid for president with the support of the civic citizens' movement “Colombia Above All.” In March 2018, he became vice presidential candidate. ​ Additional previous positions include Chief of Staff to the President of Colombia; Deputy Minister of Defense; Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at the Board of the World Bank; Vice President of the Colombian Banking Association; Assistant Vice President of Investment Banking at Citigroup; Private Secretary and Chief of Staff for the Finance and Public Credit Ministry; and Economist for Colombia at Citigroup. Pinzón received an honorable mention for his outstanding academic performance while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. He also holds three Master degrees. A Master of Science in Economics from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. A Master in Public Policy from Princeton University (scholarship awarded). And a Master's degree (honoris causa) in Defense and National Security from Colombia's National War College. Pinzón also completed advanced courses in international relations and strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University, in science and technology policy at Harvard University, and smart cities at Nanyang Technological University-Singapore. Ambassador Pinzón was born in Bogotá on December 22, 1971. He is married to Pilar Lozano and has two children, Natalia and Juan Pablo.

Brian Bachand was a Catholic Priest for 8 years, 4 of those years spent as the Private Secretary to a Cardinal from The Vatican. However, Brian decided to relinquish his role in order to follow his own desire to be, to do, to love and to impact the world. This is a heart warming episode as Brian discusses how the Pandemic has offered the world the gift of pause and reflection as we all start to consider our intention, purpose, connection and value proposition. Brian lives his belief of "when you stand in your truth and embrace what's in your heart, you are free to do what you want to do."At the end of this episode Brian also shares and gets me to participate in a simple exercise that he uses with leaders to create focus, grounding and energy. Enjoy.  

Kara Owen CMG has been the British High Commissioner to Singapore since June 2019. As High Commissioner, Kara acts as the UK government's representative and is responsible for everything from political work, trade and investment, to press and cultural relations, as well as visa and consular services. Before taking on the role, Kara was most recently Director for the Americas at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, having also previously held high-profile government positions in Paris and Hanoi and as Private Secretary to the UK's Foreign Secretary from 2003 to 2005. For her services to British foreign policy, Kara was awarded the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in the Queen's Birthday Honour's list in 2020. A self-confessed ‘proud Cumbrian and mother' and as her Twitter profile proclaims:  Liverpool FC fan, food obsessive, history junkie, hiker and reader; Kara is also an ardent supporter and ambassador for the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives. ------- For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk

How do you define what you desire? Brian G. Bachand has an incredible journey unlike any other. Brian completed Seminary School, was selected as the Private Secretary for the Cardinal, and traveled to the Vatican and diplomatic events. He's interacted with Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict. Then he resigned to live an authentic life and make a positive impact on the world. His entrepreneurial spirit took him to Manhattan and Toronto as he came into his own. He's now the founder and CEO of Evolution Evolution. Brian is an incredible storyteller and make sure you catch his story about having to buy Pope Benedict a birthday present. The Chronicles of Brian G. Bachand is now available at www.theshadowspodcast.com or https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast Find out more about Evolution Evolution at: www.evolutionevolution.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shadows-podcast/support

Iain Dale talks to political biographer and playwright Michael McManus about his life in the world of politics, books and theatre. Michael's new play MAGGIE & TED is about to be launched on a short run at the Garrick Theatre. He worked for Sir Edward Heath as Private Secretary for many years and shares his insights into the former Prime Minister's character. He also talks about his biography of former Liberal Leader Jo Grimond and his history of homosexuality in the Conservatives Party, ‘Tory Pride & Prejudice'

Samantha Cohen is CEO of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, the business network of the Commonwealth. Prior to this Sam served in the Royal Household for nearly two decades as Assistant and Deputy Private Secretary to Her Majesty The Queen, having held a previous role as Head of Royal Communications for The Queen's Household. After working on the delivery of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London in 2018, Sam served as Private Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, for 18 months. Sam previously held positions with the Minister for Mining and Energy and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs in the Australian Government, the country of her birth. Sam currently also serves as Co-Chair of the climate change charity Cool Earth and is a Trustee of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust. In 2016, Samantha was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, which recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch. She is also a proud judge for the Women of the Future Programme awards. ------- For more details on how you can enter or nominate someone for the 'Kindness & Leadership 50 Leading Lights' list, part of the Women of the Future Programme, please visit: https://www.kindnessrules.co.uk For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk

Barbara EdenBarbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead, August 23, 1931) is an American film, stage, and television actress, and singer, best known for her starring role of “Jeannie” in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.Eden began her television career as a semi-regular on The Johnny Carson Show in 1955 She also made featured appearances on shows such as The West Point Story, Highway Patrol, Private Secretary, I Love Lucy, The Millionaire, Target: The Corruptors!, Crossroads, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, December Bride, Bachelor Father, Father Knows Best, Adventures in Paradise, The Andy Griffith Show, Cain's Hundred, Saints and Sinners, The Virginian, Slattery's People, The Rogues, and the series finale of Route 66. She guest-starred in four episodes of Burke's Law, playing different roles each time. She was an uncredited extra in the movie The Tarnished Angels with Rock Hudson, in partnership with 20th Century Fox studios. She then starred in the syndicated comedy TV series How to Marry a Millionaire, based on the 1953 film of the same name. The list goes on and on!Her last film for 20th Century Fox was The Yellow Canary (1963). She left Fox and began guest-starring in television shows and acting in films for MGM, Universal, and Columbia. She played supporting roles over the next few years, including The Brass Bottle and 7 Faces of Dr. Lao.

Emma Barnett talks to Dawn French about her fourth novel "Because of You" which has been longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and we'll find out later today if it's made the shortlist. She'll also be talking about the post-menopausal years when women often say they feel invisible, afraid of change, unemployable or just plain 'past it'. If you're an Archers listener you'll be familiar with Alice's story of having a baby as an alcoholic and the stigma and struggle she faces. Our reporter Milly Chowles had a baby last year. She’s in long -term recovery from addiction and feels she was given lots of chances to change. Her fear is that women now aren’t getting those opportunities and the impact on them, their children and society is devastating. In 2011 there were 65,520 children in care in England and at the end of March 2020 that figure was more than 80,000. Addiction is often a factor. Today, we hear a Dad's story. It's nearly 30 years since the start of the Bosnia-Hercevgovina war, a conflict that saw the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II. About 100,000 were killed and over 2 million were displaced between 1992 and 1995.Watching the coverage on the news, thousands of miles away in Fochabars in North East Scotland was Clare Findlay and her husband Andrew who ended up taking in 21 Bosnian children and four mothers into their home. Her story features in a new series ‘Saved by A Stranger which tells the story of people caught up in some of the biggest events in history. And Caroline Slocock the Director of Civil Exchange and the first woman Private Secretary at No 10 serving Margaret Thatcher talks about the current "curtaingate" row at Westminster. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Engineer: Donald MacDonald.

If you're born and bred in a rural Midlands area...should you be entitled to build a house in your locality??....or is rural Ireland under threat from anyone who can afford to build a house anywhere they want? Is the future of the Dean Maxwell nursing home in Roscrea in doubt?? There's growing concern after a letter sent by the Private Secretary to the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly suggests that all people requiring long term residential care in the nursing home from Roscrea and the surrounding district of South Offaly, including Birr, will have to go to Nenagh! And... concerns in Athlone over plans to develop fifty housing units per square hectare in the Monksland/Bealnamulla area.

In this episode we speak with Barbara Ojei Agwaziam, the founder of A Touch of Colour and currently the Head of Incident Response at the Department of Health and Social Care. She was previously Private Secretary to the UK's Chief Medical Officer and Project Manager at the Health Innovation Network. Barbara is passionate about diversity and inclusion, and in this episode we speak about the importance of building healthcare innovation for diverse populations, by diverse founders. We also discuss how we can encourage community led innovation for sustainable local change. All views expressed in this episode are of the speakers themselves. Find out more about the RSM digital council: http://rsm.ac/dhsectionpodcast. Follow us: #RSMdigihealth

Far og søn-værterne tager et kig på 1933's "His Private Secretary" med John Wayne og Evalyn Knapp i hovedrollerne. Filmen er lavet, før den amerikanske censur blev aktuel i filmbranchen. Så selvom der er lidt vovede scener, er det stadig en let romantisk komedie. Tag et lyt og find ud af, hvad værterne synes om filmen. Giv os en anmeldelse på iTunes, Podimo, Spotify eller hvor du ellers lytter til podcasts. Skriv til os via mail på johnwaynepod@hotmail.com. Meld dig ind i vores facebook-gruppe: "På jagt efter… John Wayne". Vi er også på instagram: johnwaynepodcasting. Find out more at https://p-jagt-efter-john-wayne.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Forty five years after the event , the dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975 continues to make waves and the release of the palace letters has added a new dimension to the story. Earlier this year, the High Court of Australia overturned the Queen’s embargo on correspondence between Sir John Kerr and the Queen’s Private Secretary. What do these letters tell us about how events unfolded and what the palace knew?

Forty five years after the event , the dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975 continues to make waves and the release of the palace letters has added a new dimension to the story. Earlier this year, the High Court of Australia overturned the Queen’s embargo on correspondence between Sir John Kerr and the Queen’s Private Secretary. What do these letters tell us about how events unfolded and what the palace knew?

Forty five years after the event , the dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975 continues to make waves and the release of the palace letters has added a new dimension to the story. Earlier this year, the High Court of Australia overturned the Queen’s embargo on correspondence between Sir John Kerr and the Queen’s Private Secretary. What do these letters tell us about how events unfolded and what the palace knew?

Welcome to the Beyond Your Research Degree podcast from the University of Exeter Doctoral College! The podcast about non-academic careers and all the opportunities available to you... beyond your research degree!  In this episode Kelly Preece, Researcher Development Manager talks to Dr. Natalie Garrett, Private Secretary to the Chief Scientist at the Met Office. You can find out more about Natalie on the Met Office website, and the British Federation of Women Graduates scholarships.   Music from https://filmmusic.io 'Cheery Monday' by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses   Podcast transcript   1 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:23,690 Hello and welcome to the Beyond Your Research Degree podcast by the University of Exeter Doctoral College 2 00:00:23,690 --> 00:00:27,050 Hello and welcome to the latest episode of Beyond Your Research Degree. 3 00:00:27,050 --> 00:00:31,490 I'm your host, Kelly Preece, and today I'm going to be talking to Dr. Natalie Garrett. 4 00:00:31,490 --> 00:00:35,900 Natalie currently works as a private secretary to the Met Office chief scientist. 5 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:41,120 So, Natalie, are you happy to introduce yourself? My name is Natalie Garrett. 6 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:45,980 I work at the Met office as the private secretary to our chief scientist. 7 00:00:45,980 --> 00:00:48,650 I've been in this role since January of this year. 8 00:00:48,650 --> 00:01:01,070 So more than half my time in this position has now been spent working from home, which has been an interesting kind of journey like before January. 9 00:01:01,070 --> 00:01:06,530 I was working in the international climate services team still at the Met office, 10 00:01:06,530 --> 00:01:12,480 and I had been in that position for, I think, the best part of four years. 11 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:17,400 And the purpose of that role was essentially to manage a project that was all 12 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:23,820 about translating climate science into actionable information for decision makers. 13 00:01:23,820 --> 00:01:31,260 But prior to all of that, I was a postdoc at the University of Exeter working in the Biomedical Physics Group. 14 00:01:31,260 --> 00:01:39,150 And you might notice that there's a bit of a Segway there from biomedical physics to climate and weather science. 15 00:01:39,150 --> 00:01:45,480 And it's not necessarily immediately apparent what exactly unifies those two areas. 16 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:54,790 But broadly, what motivates me at work is to do something that's meaningful and that will have a positive impact on society. 17 00:01:54,790 --> 00:02:05,950 So the work I did at the university was primarily translating biomedical advances into kind of taking physical interpretations of them. 18 00:02:05,950 --> 00:02:16,650 So one of the major projects I worked on my role was to provide mechanistic validation for the claims that were being made in patents for novel 19 00:02:16,650 --> 00:02:21,210 nano medicines that were aimed to treat things like alzhiemers and brain cancer. 20 00:02:21,210 --> 00:02:27,690 And having lost a family member to brain cancer, that was obviously an area that was very close to my heart. 21 00:02:27,690 --> 00:02:33,200 So sometimes I feel like my career has been a little bit of a random walk. 22 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:39,140 But ultimately, I've always done what I thought sounded interesting, 23 00:02:39,140 --> 00:02:46,230 and I perhaps naively assumed that job opportunities would make themselves apparent to me along the way. 24 00:02:46,230 --> 00:02:54,160 And I've been very fortunate and privileged that that has worked out for me. 25 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:58,120 That's brilliant and really interesting to hear about that. 26 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:06,700 That from kind of being a postdoc in researching inside inside a university to moving outside. 27 00:03:06,700 --> 00:03:11,710 I wondered if you could talk a little bit about your experience of that transition. 28 00:03:11,710 --> 00:03:17,980 So what it was like kind of moving to applying for jobs outside of academia and and how you 29 00:03:17,980 --> 00:03:26,780 find how different you find working in it in a different kind of research environment is. 30 00:03:26,780 --> 00:03:36,470 So I had been working as a postdoc at the University of Exeter since late 2009. 31 00:03:36,470 --> 00:03:42,050 And by the time I left, it was January 2016. 32 00:03:42,050 --> 00:03:48,650 So that is quite a substantial chunk of my professional career was spent working, 33 00:03:48,650 --> 00:03:55,100 doing the whole postdoc merry go round where you go from contract to contract without much job security. 34 00:03:55,100 --> 00:03:59,660 I think a lot of people in academia can empathise with that kind of situation. 35 00:03:59,660 --> 00:04:06,110 You don't have much job security. You're trying really hard to set yourself apart from your peer group to improve your 36 00:04:06,110 --> 00:04:13,170 chances of perhaps getting a lectureship or getting a fellowship or a grant and. 37 00:04:13,170 --> 00:04:18,720 I was in a situation where leaving Exeter wasn't really an option for me. 38 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:27,470 So I was thinking about how I could give myself the best chances of securing a lectureship. 39 00:04:27,470 --> 00:04:35,490 at Exeter University and a lectureship position came up in my research group working for different P.I. and I went for it. 40 00:04:35,490 --> 00:04:45,270 And although I scored highest at interview and my presentation, I was told that I couldn't bring added value because I was already there. 41 00:04:45,270 --> 00:04:50,850 And that was quite a bitter pill to swallow at the time that I can see what they mean in hindsight. 42 00:04:50,850 --> 00:05:04,350 And if I had applied to other universities for lectureships it may have been more feasible for me to negotiate or leverage contract at the university. 43 00:05:04,350 --> 00:05:12,660 At any rate, I was encouraged to apply for fellowships and I was given the opportunity of a tenured position at the end. 44 00:05:12,660 --> 00:05:17,730 If I were successful in that. But ultimately I started looking at other opportunities. 45 00:05:17,730 --> 00:05:23,630 I saw a job at the Met office. Now, my background did not involve coding. 46 00:05:23,630 --> 00:05:32,060 It did not really involve modelling. So I was quite surprised when I saw a job advert that I felt I could apply for. 47 00:05:32,060 --> 00:05:37,410 Hence, this role was titled Senior European Climate Service Coordinator. 48 00:05:37,410 --> 00:05:45,710 This is quite a mouthful. The skills they were looking for those the usual planning organisation, 49 00:05:45,710 --> 00:05:50,330 time management, which if you have a PhD and you've actually managed to complete it. 50 00:05:50,330 --> 00:05:58,160 You have that in spades. But it also specifically said that they needed good interpersonal skills with evidence of communicating with and developing 51 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:06,110 productive working relationships with a range of stakeholders and also communicating complex information into plain English. 52 00:06:06,110 --> 00:06:17,060 Now, interestingly, during my PhD, I had been very, very keen as an outreach ambassador of the university. 53 00:06:17,060 --> 00:06:23,750 I was in the STEM network and I participated in things like I'm a scientist get me out of here. 54 00:06:23,750 --> 00:06:32,150 And soapbox, science and three minute wonder pretty much any scientific outreach competition that you could engage in. 55 00:06:32,150 --> 00:06:36,380 I had a go at and I was very passionate about scientific outreach. 56 00:06:36,380 --> 00:06:45,890 In fact, the Institute of Physics had me as a guest lecturer and I was travelling all around the south west of the UK giving talks to some. 57 00:06:45,890 --> 00:06:49,550 I think in total it was about two thousand schoolchildren talking about my research. 58 00:06:49,550 --> 00:06:53,120 So this is something that was very, very passionate, was very passionate about. 59 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:59,840 But my boss had said to me, you only need to do one piece of outreach a year for it to count on your CV. 60 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:04,310 And at that point, you should stop and focus your efforts elsewhere. 61 00:07:04,310 --> 00:07:08,660 I didn't really listen to him and I just carried on doing what I wanted to, to do what I was passionate about. 62 00:07:08,660 --> 00:07:15,260 And in the end, because of that, it put me in a really good position to apply for this job at the Met office. 63 00:07:15,260 --> 00:07:17,150 Additionally, what I was doing, my postdoc, 64 00:07:17,150 --> 00:07:25,490 I founded the early career researcher network within the college and that was bringing together early career scientists 65 00:07:25,490 --> 00:07:33,800 and helping people work together to improve the quality of the jobs to improve their chances of securing funding. 66 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,940 We had career workshops. We had the guest lecturers come in and give seminars. 67 00:07:37,940 --> 00:07:45,180 We had occasions where we bought pizza and blitzed the Internet trying to find funding opportunities. 68 00:07:45,180 --> 00:07:49,310 Because I built that network, I had experience of network management. 69 00:07:49,310 --> 00:07:53,670 I had experience of engagement. And I'd set up a social media channel for that, too. 70 00:07:53,670 --> 00:08:00,090 So I had all these communication stakeholder network management skills, which made me the ideal candidate for this job. 71 00:08:00,090 --> 00:08:05,620 And this is all stuff that was done in the margins. I was discouraged from doing so. 72 00:08:05,620 --> 00:08:12,800 Yeah, it's an interesting one. I don't know if it would always work out that way. But ultimately, do things that matter to you? 73 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:17,060 Is that what I would say if you're considering academia? 74 00:08:17,060 --> 00:08:21,590 Ultimately, you may not find yourself in a position where you have a science communication job, 75 00:08:21,590 --> 00:08:28,100 but the skills you gain doing science communication, are massively transferable outside of academia. 76 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:33,170 So I was surprised when I was offered the job at the Met office. 77 00:08:33,170 --> 00:08:36,120 I'm always quite negative about my performance in interview. 78 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:41,720 But actually, my new boss said that it was one of the best interviews he's ever sat in on. 79 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:46,700 So I think that might be typical of academics. 80 00:08:46,700 --> 00:08:51,650 I think we are quite hard on ourselves and our performance and always focus on 81 00:08:51,650 --> 00:08:55,910 what we could do better and not necessarily so much of what we've done well. 82 00:08:55,910 --> 00:09:03,730 I think that's an area that I'm trying to work on in terms of personal confidence and that feeling of imposter syndrome. 83 00:09:03,730 --> 00:09:11,310 Moving from academia to the civil service, because the Met office is where within the civil service was very different. 84 00:09:11,310 --> 00:09:21,510 And my first day on the job, I got on an aeroplane to go to Paris for the Kick-Off meeting for the project and had an overnight stay. 85 00:09:21,510 --> 00:09:25,780 And it was lovely meeting all these wonderful people that are very passionate about their work. 86 00:09:25,780 --> 00:09:30,060 And the next day we came back to Exeter and they said, well, you've had quite a busy day. 87 00:09:30,060 --> 00:09:37,210 You should probably take some time off in lieu. This is not a concept that usually gets in academia. 88 00:09:37,210 --> 00:09:52,450 The actual contracted hours. So my second day on the job, I came home mid-afternoon and ran myself a bubble bath with the blessing, nay the 89 00:09:52,450 --> 00:10:00,340 It was it was pretty great. It was pretty great. And to be honest, that feeling that you should be working, you should be writing. 90 00:10:00,340 --> 00:10:03,640 More that you should be doing. It took a while for me to get over that. 91 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:09,340 And I think about two months into my job, I was walking through town one day and I glanced up. 92 00:10:09,340 --> 00:10:16,120 If you've been in Exeter High Street and you look up the hill to streatham campus at the university, you can see the physics tower. 93 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,420 You can see it from everywhere, in Exeter You can never get away from its shadow. 94 00:10:19,420 --> 00:10:26,200 If you feel like, oh, I should be working on my paper, I should be working on my thesis. That's the first time that I looked up at that. 95 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:29,740 This has no power over me. No, I'm allowed to have fun. 96 00:10:29,740 --> 00:10:35,980 I'm allowed to have a work life balance because there's so much in there that I think is really, 97 00:10:35,980 --> 00:10:41,580 really important about, you know, feelings of imposter syndrome and work life balance. 98 00:10:41,580 --> 00:10:48,490 And I think of somebody as well that used to be an academic and admittedly is in an academic related role. 99 00:10:48,490 --> 00:11:00,210 There's something about different roles that are kind of more amenable, perhaps, or more easily to to a better work life balance. 100 00:11:00,210 --> 00:11:03,310 Well, having you know, you said about going from kind of contract. 101 00:11:03,310 --> 00:11:09,910 So you've obviously had a few kind of applications and interviews for academic or academic research roles, 102 00:11:09,910 --> 00:11:18,820 as well as the Met office was the application and interview process, particularly different to your experience in academia. 103 00:11:18,820 --> 00:11:23,320 So although I have had multiple postdoc posts at the university, 104 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:28,240 they were all working for the same PI because the work I was doing was so specialised. 105 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:33,760 So I did have to apply and go through the interview process that given that there were 106 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,570 basically at the time a handful of people in the world that could do that job. 107 00:11:37,570 --> 00:11:43,280 I didn't feel that worried. So, yeah, that was pretty straightforward. 108 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:48,190 So the Met office interview was quite nerve wracking by comparison. 109 00:11:48,190 --> 00:11:52,200 I mean, they were very lovely. They did everything they could to make me feel at ease. 110 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:58,060 But I think from a very young age, I've always been thrown into the mix with a variety of different people, 111 00:11:58,060 --> 00:12:01,180 different ages, and just encouraged to socialise. 112 00:12:01,180 --> 00:12:08,050 My father was very active in local politics and I was kind of co-opted into helping him out, handing out kind of things at events. 113 00:12:08,050 --> 00:12:16,500 So the idea of talking to strangers, I just lost all fear of that and talking to thousands and thousands of people about my science, 114 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:21,370 a kind of public speaking becomes second nature when you do that enough. 115 00:12:21,370 --> 00:12:25,550 So interviews didn't have the same kind of effect on me. 116 00:12:25,550 --> 00:12:33,880 And I've discovered a tip, a trick. If you convince yourself that you're excited rather than afraid, then it becomes a lot more manageable. 117 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:39,400 And then you can actually enjoy it. So if you ever have a public speaking engagement and you feel nervous, you go, Oh, I'm so excited. 118 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,420 Imagine it's like a roller coaster or something. So, yeah, the Met office interview 119 00:12:43,420 --> 00:12:51,160 I was massively overprepared. I identified the area that I was weakest up and that was in my climates where 120 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,540 the science knowledge and I did an online free training course beforehand. 121 00:12:55,540 --> 00:13:02,920 And I printed off my certificates and I brought with me a folder with all kinds of things, 122 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:07,400 like copies of papers that published copies of my reference letters. 123 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:13,030 There's a whole range, a barrage of information. And none of it came out of my briefcase during the meeting, during the interview. 124 00:13:13,030 --> 00:13:18,790 But it was there and it helped me feel prepared. That's what I was going to ask because I do something similar. 125 00:13:18,790 --> 00:13:23,800 When I prepare for interviews, I do. I prepare and I have this kind of folder of lots of stuff that I never refer to. 126 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:32,320 But it's it's not necessarily about the kind of using that knowledge I need to be, but the feeling of it's kind of like psychological armour. 127 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:39,370 Yes. Yes. I think a lot of my life I've just expected there to be gatekeepers. 128 00:13:39,370 --> 00:13:44,110 So I've never been able to consider myself to be an artist or a photographer. 129 00:13:44,110 --> 00:13:49,750 But now I've had experience writing poetry to explain climate change with community groups, 130 00:13:49,750 --> 00:13:53,740 and I've had prizes for the photographs that I've created myself. 131 00:13:53,740 --> 00:13:57,700 So I know once said to me, hey, go, here's an award, here's a certificate. 132 00:13:57,700 --> 00:14:03,940 Here's an exam that you've passed. Therefore, you can call yourself a photographer, you can call yourself a poet or an artist. 133 00:14:03,940 --> 00:14:10,180 And because I've been so used to gatekeeping, because academia is all about gatekeeping, 134 00:14:10,180 --> 00:14:16,510 I think it's that does foster the whole imposter syndrome mentality. 135 00:14:16,510 --> 00:14:24,940 If you take yourself out of that headspace and realise, oh, maybe I can actually do these other things too, maybe I don't need someone's permission. 136 00:14:24,940 --> 00:14:32,320 What's your experience of that, working in the civil service? Does it still have that sense of gatekeeping or does it feel a little open? 137 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:39,490 It's interesting this so well, I guess there's a lot of bureaucracy in academia that my experience in academia was. 138 00:14:39,490 --> 00:14:45,670 It's very much the academics were doing everything they could to avoid, bureaucracy, as far as possible. 139 00:14:45,670 --> 00:14:54,700 Whereas my experience of the civil service? Is that bureaucracy is sort of embedded in the ways of working, and sometimes that's for good reasons. 140 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:58,840 And other times it's just because that's how it's always been done and people haven't questioned it. 141 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:04,720 So it makes change quite difficult at a corporate level. 142 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,560 If you have people's ways of working and mindset so embedded in a particular way of working. 143 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:18,460 Like my boss, the chief scientist was keen to get my impressions of the job within my first six months because he said, you come with fresh eyes. 144 00:15:18,460 --> 00:15:23,590 You can tell us all the things that we're doing stupid or that don't make sense or that could be optimised. 145 00:15:23,590 --> 00:15:27,900 But once you're in the six months and you stop questioning stuff. 146 00:15:27,900 --> 00:15:33,320 Yeah. I completely yes, I can completely understand, we're saying. 147 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:40,670 So the. The job that you do now as a as a P.A, isn't it, to the chief scientist? 148 00:15:40,670 --> 00:15:45,060 Is that right? So it's a weird one. It's called private secretary. 149 00:15:45,060 --> 00:15:52,580 And so it's just to academics. They focus on the secretary and think that it's an administrative job. 150 00:15:52,580 --> 00:15:58,610 Whereas if so, my boss is the head of the chief scientist at the Met office. 151 00:15:58,610 --> 00:16:03,320 He is also the head of the science and engineering profession at the met office. 152 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:08,600 That's said. And that comes under something called government, science and engineering profession. 153 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:16,310 And he's also on the chief scientific adviser at the CSA network with Patrick Vallance as its head. 154 00:16:16,310 --> 00:16:21,530 So. So Patrick Vallance is one of my boss's bosses, if you like, 155 00:16:21,530 --> 00:16:28,880 and I regularly attend meetings to represent the met office at the chief scientific adviser network meetings. 156 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:36,200 So the purpose of these is to make sure that all the science within the civil service within the UK is all joined up. 157 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:41,630 So you'll see these quite regularly with UK. All right. 158 00:16:41,630 --> 00:16:48,620 It's it's baffling how many connections and how many partners and how many stakeholders there were that the met office is involved with. 159 00:16:48,620 --> 00:16:53,810 A large part of my job is liasing with government and the government office, the science. 160 00:16:53,810 --> 00:16:58,280 I'm translating quite complex requests with very short deadlines. 161 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,540 Finding the right people within the met office to answer those questions. 162 00:17:01,540 --> 00:17:05,360 Summarising the information into a briefing, giving it to the chief scientist. 163 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:09,920 And then. Asking him what he wants, what action he wants to be taken from it. 164 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:20,150 So, for instance, I've seen in the news the Academy of Medical Sciences report that was that was created at the request of the Patrick 165 00:17:20,150 --> 00:17:27,770 Vallance and Chris Whitty for looking at what's the reasonable worst case scenario would be for COVID this winter. 166 00:17:27,770 --> 00:17:36,410 So the Met office fed in regarding seasonal forecasting and air quality and aspects that relate to met office expertise. 167 00:17:36,410 --> 00:17:41,010 So I was involved in helping to coordinate our input to that report. 168 00:17:41,010 --> 00:17:45,740 And my boss was also present at the sage meeting where this was being discussed. 169 00:17:45,740 --> 00:17:49,770 So I had to help coordinate minutes and taking and so on. 170 00:17:49,770 --> 00:17:58,520 So it's that's just one aspect of the roles I take. I also produce regular scientific updates for within the Met office that we produce quarterly 171 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:03,440 briefings for all of us scientists we have in the region of six hundred scientists at the Met office. 172 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:08,690 And my boss is kind of at the head of that that up triangle. 173 00:18:08,690 --> 00:18:13,820 And so we have to try to provide updates to everybody on a regular basis. 174 00:18:13,820 --> 00:18:19,590 And it's just incredibly varied. I think about 50 percent of my my job is reactive. 175 00:18:19,590 --> 00:18:21,710 So I never know what's going to come into my inbox. 176 00:18:21,710 --> 00:18:27,290 We might have a request coming straight from government asking us to provide a briefing on a particular topic, 177 00:18:27,290 --> 00:18:31,850 or it might be just regular normal work that's just going along, 178 00:18:31,850 --> 00:18:38,720 producing minutes for scientific management committees or for met office board meetings. 179 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:47,220 So it's what I enjoy most about this role. Is that because I'm the private secretary to the chief scientist, people just answer my email straightaway? 180 00:18:47,220 --> 00:18:51,380 I think when I leave this job, that probably won't be the case anymore. 181 00:18:51,380 --> 00:18:58,070 So another point to mention is that the private secretary roles aren't typically what you would expect as a lifetime position. 182 00:18:58,070 --> 00:19:01,520 The half life is between two and four years. It's a developmental opportunity. 183 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:09,500 So you get loads of opportunities to showcase your skills, which then enable you to better apply for a management position. 184 00:19:09,500 --> 00:19:15,920 That's the aim of the role anyway. That's really interesting and it's really interesting to have that kind of. 185 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:23,360 Clear sense of. Clear sense of progression and direction, I guess, and I'm not saying that that, 186 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:28,470 you know, there was a clear kind of promotion route in academia, but it's not. 187 00:19:28,470 --> 00:19:30,840 I think it looks like it's very clear cut. 188 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:41,280 In fact, is not, I think well by, to be honest when I say so, I'm going to backtrack a it when I applied to the Met office. 189 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:50,280 I tried to use all of the skills that I had been sort of instilled in me from the doctoral training college at the university. 190 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,940 Like, you need to negotiate your salary. You need to do this. You need to do that. 191 00:19:53,940 --> 00:20:00,430 I went and tried this out with the civil service and now you can try and negotiate your salary. 192 00:20:00,430 --> 00:20:02,640 But this is as far as we can go. That's just not. 193 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:08,910 It's so different to maybe applying for the private sector, you know, going to a business and trying to negotiate. 194 00:20:08,910 --> 00:20:14,550 You probably have a lot more leeway that the civil service is so tied down they cannot make exceptions. 195 00:20:14,550 --> 00:20:19,470 The met office doesn't have the flexibility to change the pay deal for new people coming. 196 00:20:19,470 --> 00:20:23,820 And that has to be everything has to be auditable and fair and fair enough. 197 00:20:23,820 --> 00:20:31,950 You know, it's it's taxpayers money. So I tried to negotiate my salary and completely failed. 198 00:20:31,950 --> 00:20:35,800 I said, well, how about this? You offer a relocation bursary. 199 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:41,290 And I didn't have to relocate. Could you give me that instead? Is it? No, because that's all provided  onreceipts. 200 00:20:41,290 --> 00:20:46,980 OK. So I had to manage my expectations a little bit. Essentially, I took a 20 percent pay cut. 201 00:20:46,980 --> 00:20:51,870 Wow. To join the met office Yes. It was the very low end of what I was prepared to accept. 202 00:20:51,870 --> 00:20:57,430 Which was sort of annoying. But the compensation package was also really good. 203 00:20:57,430 --> 00:21:02,100 And it was a permanent job. So it was it's a tricky one. 204 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:11,220 And it's not necessarily the right choice for everybody. But I've managed to it's quite competitive getting promotion within the met office. 205 00:21:11,220 --> 00:21:24,400 And it's a competitive. So depending on the year, if people who are regularly publishing scientific output in science and nature are up against you, 206 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:30,770 you may not stand a chance of actually getting information because it's judged based on merit and output and everything's graded. 207 00:21:30,770 --> 00:21:38,330 So it's quite challenging compared with academia where it felt like you progress up the spine points and it's relatively straightforward. 208 00:21:38,330 --> 00:21:43,540 I mean, that was my experience of it as postdoc. It's not everybody's. 209 00:21:43,540 --> 00:21:45,380 So there seemed to be a lot of, you know, 210 00:21:45,380 --> 00:21:53,920 things coming out that are quite different about the working environment and the kind of work that you're doing and the kind of. 211 00:21:53,920 --> 00:22:05,330 What the similarities were. What really kind of carries across from your experience as a as a researcher at a university into the role you're in now? 212 00:22:05,330 --> 00:22:09,410 So the biggest similarity is the passion that people have for the work that they do. 213 00:22:09,410 --> 00:22:15,860 The Met office. It's just so lovely to log on and every day and locg on 214 00:22:15,860 --> 00:22:21,830 We have a platform online where people can discuss variety of topics is not quite social media, 215 00:22:21,830 --> 00:22:25,460 but people share things from, for instance, the pictures of their cats. 216 00:22:25,460 --> 00:22:33,670 We have a cat appreciation forum and we've also got weather photographs and people asking questions about science and technology. 217 00:22:33,670 --> 00:22:39,140 People are just so keen to help each other and they're so keen to share their enthusiasm. 218 00:22:39,140 --> 00:22:48,560 And you can end up going down rabbit holes. And it's really lovely that I think academia, you get paid essentially to think a lot of the time. 219 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,290 This is how I've seen it. 220 00:22:50,290 --> 00:22:56,990 And there aren't necessarily that many jobs in the world where you get that freedom to just pursue an idea and see where it takes you. 221 00:22:56,990 --> 00:23:02,600 And we have a certain amount of time, I think, to add up to 20 percent of our time is for development. 222 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,690 So if you agree with your line manager that you want to learn a skill in a completely 223 00:23:05,690 --> 00:23:09,920 different area that might one day align with where you ultimately want to go in your career. 224 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:20,040 You have the freedom to do that. And that kind of freedom to learn and to develop and share your enthusiasm and. 225 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:25,860 I guess it's peer to peer learning that that's very similar to academia. 226 00:23:25,860 --> 00:23:35,380 One big difference I've noticed is I've not seen so many examples of that kind of toxic. 227 00:23:35,380 --> 00:23:41,180 Relationship where some people appear to be friendly, and then we'll take your idea and then publish before you. 228 00:23:41,180 --> 00:23:44,530 I've not seen that at the Met office. I'm not saying it doesn't necessarily happen, 229 00:23:44,530 --> 00:23:52,480 but my experience has been that people are in it together for the group benefit rather than their own individual benefit. 230 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,330 Perhaps that's naive. Perhaps I've just said a sheltered experience. 231 00:23:55,330 --> 00:24:02,980 But as a for instance, at one point I had a handover between two managers because one was leaving alone, was taking me on, 232 00:24:02,980 --> 00:24:10,240 and I was sat in a room and these two people were not quite arguing, but they were just very, very focussed. 233 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:15,220 And trying to discover the best ways for me to develop in the direction that I wanted to develop. 234 00:24:15,220 --> 00:24:19,140 And I feel I've never had this before. I've never felt so and nurtured. 235 00:24:19,140 --> 00:24:24,010 I had a line manager is trying to find opportunities for me because before it felt 236 00:24:24,010 --> 00:24:28,420 like I was doing things whenever I found an opportunity that I knew would benefit me, 237 00:24:28,420 --> 00:24:30,820 but not my line manager in academia. 238 00:24:30,820 --> 00:24:37,030 I had to do the other stuff kind of behind his back because I knew that he would never give me the go ahead for it. 239 00:24:37,030 --> 00:24:44,890 And in fact, there was one occasion when I got a travel grant from the Royal Society to do some independent research in Australia, 240 00:24:44,890 --> 00:24:49,480 and my P.I. turned around and said, well, that doesn't benefit me, so you're going to have to do it. 241 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:55,820 on your annual leave. Wow. And I naively thought that he was allowed to make that call 242 00:24:55,820 --> 00:25:01,720 But a few years later, I was talking to the head of school and mentioned this, and he said, well, that that's not OK. 243 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:06,520 You should come to me about that. But I naively thought, well, he wouldn't tell me something that wasn't true. 244 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:07,960 So another another top tip. 245 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:17,380 A don't assume that your line manager necessarily has your best interests at heart or B knows what is best or what can be done for you. 246 00:25:17,380 --> 00:25:19,760 So do ask around to ask other people. 247 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:28,330 And it's it's amazing that in spite of that pushback, you still continued with the outreach work and the ECR network, 248 00:25:28,330 --> 00:25:32,140 which actually became so fundamental to help you move forward. 249 00:25:32,140 --> 00:25:38,110 I was wondering what other things you did, maybe as part of your research, but also, you know, on the fringes, 250 00:25:38,110 --> 00:25:44,140 let that have been really important or formative in kind of helping you move forward with your career. 251 00:25:44,140 --> 00:25:55,150 So instead of procrastinating in the traditional sense, I used to just look for competitions and awards and things that I could. 252 00:25:55,150 --> 00:26:01,270 It felt like it was wasting my time because I've been indoctrinated in the idea that if I'm not actively working on a paper in some way, 253 00:26:01,270 --> 00:26:08,600 then I'm not doing anything productive, which is quite a toxic one set in itself. 254 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:13,570 So, for instance, I discovered the British Federation of Women graduates. 255 00:26:13,570 --> 00:26:19,830 Is that something you've heard of? No, never say I've never heard of it before until I was Googling for opportunities. 256 00:26:19,830 --> 00:26:26,350 So they offer scholarships for academic excellence and they also offer hardship bursaries. 257 00:26:26,350 --> 00:26:30,250 Now, I haven't actually checked that they still offer these. But in 2009, 258 00:26:30,250 --> 00:26:36,520 they sent me to it and I managed to secure myself five and a half thousand pounds for academic 259 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:43,630 excellence as part of the Women British Federation of Women Graduates Academic Awards in 2009. 260 00:26:43,630 --> 00:26:52,480 And if you have experience of securing grant money, even if it's a competition like that, then that's always going to look good on your CV. 261 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:58,690 And as I said, I got a international travel grant to go to Australia. 262 00:26:58,690 --> 00:27:02,080 So I went to Melbourne and I was looking at malaria. 263 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:09,450 I'm trying to detect it using spectroscopy and weirdly using butterfly wings as a substrate for doing this. 264 00:27:09,450 --> 00:27:19,510 So that was quite a bizarre. When people say, explain what you did for your PhD, I kind of go hmmmm the experience of the early career researcher network. 265 00:27:19,510 --> 00:27:23,830 It also gave me the opportunity to apply for funding from within the university. 266 00:27:23,830 --> 00:27:32,380 And then I also ran competitions for outreach activities and online poster competitions. 267 00:27:32,380 --> 00:27:40,990 So I was then able to get experience of managing sort of grant funding so I could say that I've had that kind of experience, 268 00:27:40,990 --> 00:27:42,340 depending on where you want spend up. 269 00:27:42,340 --> 00:27:50,670 If you think I want to be able to tick various boxes for different types of job, I've these opportunities enabled me to do that. 270 00:27:50,670 --> 00:27:54,580 And in kind of roundabout way, even though my main main job didn't. 271 00:27:54,580 --> 00:28:02,170 I was also part of the working group for the Athena Swan Initiative at the School of Physics. 272 00:28:02,170 --> 00:28:07,070 So equality and diversity has always been very important to me to. 273 00:28:07,070 --> 00:28:11,910 And I think it's, you know, really interesting as several of the things you've said, like you said early on, about, 274 00:28:11,910 --> 00:28:18,960 you know, if you've done a research degree, you've got time management and project management and everything in spades. 275 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:20,160 But actually, you know, 276 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:30,900 there's other fundamental skills which in some ways you just do need to go outside of that initial kind of bubble of your research to develop that. 277 00:28:30,900 --> 00:28:39,390 And absolutely and it's really interesting to hear you talk about actually the motivation for that for you was just a follow. 278 00:28:39,390 --> 00:28:44,220 Follow your interests. Yeah, the things that mattered to me most. 279 00:28:44,220 --> 00:28:49,140 I think another thing that helped me was going to conferences by myself. 280 00:28:49,140 --> 00:28:57,380 And not with my research group and not with anybody else from the university, because it forces you to stop talking to the same people. 281 00:28:57,380 --> 00:29:03,760 Because conferences are massive networking opportunity. But it's so hard to make inroads. 282 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:11,670 I struggled a bit initially because it felt very cliquey and it's hard as an outsider just to essentially barge in on someone's conversations. 283 00:29:11,670 --> 00:29:14,610 Hi. Can I introduce myself? 284 00:29:14,610 --> 00:29:25,770 But it was some it was because of going to a conference by myself that I met Baden Wood of Monash University in Melbourne. 285 00:29:25,770 --> 00:29:29,250 And he was the one that suggested I apply for Royal Society travel grant 286 00:29:29,250 --> 00:29:33,990 which is why I was then able to demonstrate some independent research and have 287 00:29:33,990 --> 00:29:38,580 a first solo publication without my P.I. from University of Exeter on it. 288 00:29:38,580 --> 00:29:43,020 So these chance meetings are so important. 289 00:29:43,020 --> 00:29:49,070 And if you're able to I know socialising at conferences can be really uncomfortable for those people. 290 00:29:49,070 --> 00:29:51,360 And perhaps the current situation, 291 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:58,440 the current pandemic is therefore opening more doors for people who find it challenging to do face to face networking. 292 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:04,950 I hope so. I know not all conferences are offering the opportunity for a career networking, but it's a good idea if, 293 00:30:04,950 --> 00:30:09,990 if, if, if anyone listening is involved in organising workshops or seminars or conferences, 294 00:30:09,990 --> 00:30:15,690 do allow specific time for early career people to engage in network and have an invite 295 00:30:15,690 --> 00:30:19,200 to come as coffee breaks because that's where the important conversations happen. 296 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,460 That's where the next big collaboration starts to form. 297 00:30:23,460 --> 00:30:26,010 That's really, really. 298 00:30:26,010 --> 00:30:33,370 Yeah, that's really, really great, because they're all of the things that I think sometimes in in the kind of in the Doctoral College 299 00:30:33,370 --> 00:30:36,200 that kind of central well, we're kind of going on and on about all the time, 300 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:41,560 you know, how important the networking is and how important doing stuff outside of the research degree is, 301 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:45,700 because it's it's the stuff that builds your experience and builds your skill, your skill base. 302 00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:51,310 But I think sometimes people think, oh, no. You know. I wouldn't think about that just now. 303 00:30:51,310 --> 00:30:59,550 Oh, it can't have that much. It's easy to yeah, it's easy to put it off because it's not something that will immediately provide a tangible benefit. 304 00:30:59,550 --> 00:31:04,700 Something that's a slow burner and learning how to use LinkedIn and Twitter. 305 00:31:04,700 --> 00:31:14,240 And it's not for everybody. But if you figure out how to use these platforms, then it can leverage more opportunities in the future. 306 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:21,760 What advice would you give to somebody who's looking at making that transition from a, you know, 307 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:31,270 a research career or a postdoc into a role outside academia, but particularly thinking about moving into a civil service role? 308 00:31:31,270 --> 00:31:39,600 I would say. Sure, well, you may have people within your current network who all people that work within 309 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:44,040 the civil service or who are working in a kind of field you'd like to go to. 310 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,550 Always, always talk to people who you already connected with. 311 00:31:47,550 --> 00:31:52,500 We can give you insight, especially if they're working closely with an area that you want to work in, 312 00:31:52,500 --> 00:31:57,720 because there may be subjects, specific skills that you need to work on in order to be a viable candidate. 313 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:01,870 But more generally, it's a numbers game. 314 00:32:01,870 --> 00:32:10,020 And do be prepared for failure. People in academia especially don't tend to talk about the grants. 315 00:32:10,020 --> 00:32:15,360 They didn't get or the papers they've never managed to get accepted in a journal 316 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:19,470 or all the things that they tried and didn't work out or the experiments that failed. 317 00:32:19,470 --> 00:32:25,140 Because why would you why would you talk about that? So it's all about self promotion. 318 00:32:25,140 --> 00:32:29,320 It's all about creating and curating this successful persona. 319 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:33,630 It's all about your H index and trying to find metrics that show off your skills? 320 00:32:33,630 --> 00:32:40,720 The truth is, unless you apply for dozens and dozens and dozens of things, you're not going to get the one that really matters. 321 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:43,920 And that takes so much time and resilience. 322 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:51,510 And it can annoy the people that you've put your references for you, especially if they get contacted by every single one. 323 00:32:51,510 --> 00:32:54,870 So that's another tip. Talk to the people here. 324 00:32:54,870 --> 00:32:59,550 You've put down as your references to make sure they know that these things are coming out, 325 00:32:59,550 --> 00:33:03,700 because honestly, they do sometimes get contacted out of the blue before you even get shortlisted. 326 00:33:03,700 --> 00:33:07,470 So prepare them for that. So, yeah, it's a numbers game. 327 00:33:07,470 --> 00:33:16,200 And women especially are more likely to not apply for jobs if they don't feel that they fulfil all the criteria. 328 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:23,990 And there's been research that's showing that whether you meet 50 percent of the criteria or 90 percent of the criteria, 329 00:33:23,990 --> 00:33:29,830 the chances of getting an interview roughly the same. So you might as well just apply for the thing. 330 00:33:29,830 --> 00:33:35,280 And at worst, you're going to get feedback that you can use to improve your next application. 331 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:43,700 So you have to treat applying for jobs as a job, put time aside for it, do it regularly, try and sign up to jobs that ask around. 332 00:33:43,700 --> 00:33:53,200 A lot of jobs come up and it's word of mouth. So put in those cold calling emails to people saying, I love what you do, I'd love to work with you. 333 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:57,600 one day if I was to. Can you give me any advice on my current CV? 334 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:04,170 What things you'd be looking for? That totally an out. It feels like cheating, but it's part of networking. 335 00:34:04,170 --> 00:34:10,790 And certainly in my experience as well, people actually quite a quite receptive. 336 00:34:10,790 --> 00:34:15,130 And, you know, more often than not, willing to help. Absolutely. 337 00:34:15,130 --> 00:34:17,020 It reminds me of when I was an undergraduate. 338 00:34:17,020 --> 00:34:26,680 The professors would make time for the students who genuinely wanted to understand and would say, can I talk to you about this particular integrals? 339 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:30,400 I can't solve. And the professors would sit and make the time thing. 340 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:34,480 So, yeah, ultimately, people are in that job for a reason. 341 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:43,050 And if I care about it and if they want to share the enthusiasm with other people, then of course they can go help. 342 00:34:43,050 --> 00:34:49,870 That's brilliant. And one thing I wanted to pick up on is this thing about resilience and failure. 343 00:34:49,870 --> 00:34:56,410 How what advice do you have for. For dealing with that, I guess, for dealing with that. 344 00:34:56,410 --> 00:35:02,140 That sense of failure or rejection, which which is just common in the drug market, is common. 345 00:35:02,140 --> 00:35:06,860 I think. It's a difficult one, personally. 346 00:35:06,860 --> 00:35:11,900 It's not always been easy to accept failure and rejection. 347 00:35:11,900 --> 00:35:17,150 But the thing that I found that's helped the most is if I reframe it and instead of 348 00:35:17,150 --> 00:35:21,830 feeling like if I don't get to interview that I failed in the application process. 349 00:35:21,830 --> 00:35:25,310 What I've done is I've succeeded at submitting application. 350 00:35:25,310 --> 00:35:31,220 And if I don't get past the interview stage, then what I've done is I've succeeded in getting to interview. 351 00:35:31,220 --> 00:35:35,750 So, yeah. You haven't managed to get the thing that might have been the ultimate goal that you have done. 352 00:35:35,750 --> 00:35:45,560 The really difficult steps in getting there. And each time you get to interview, each time you'll almost shortlisted. 353 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:49,130 You're improving your skills. And it is a skill. And to improve. 354 00:35:49,130 --> 00:35:55,100 You have to practise. So I would say definitely apply to things that. 355 00:35:55,100 --> 00:36:00,920 Maybe hit 70 percent of the things you're looking for because at least you don't get it. 356 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:05,300 You don't feel like it's such high stakes and apply for the things that might not 357 00:36:05,300 --> 00:36:09,590 necessarily excite you so much initially just so that you get that experience. 358 00:36:09,590 --> 00:36:20,360 Thanks to Natalie for that really interesting conversation, thinking about the move from postdoc to civil service application processes, 359 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:29,610 the importance of networking and building that wider skill base outside of your immediate research project. 360 00:36:29,610 --> 00:36:45,354 And that's it for this episode. Join us next time when we'll be talking to another researcher about their career beyond their research degree.  

How have recent British governments handled the UK's relationship with China and what does this tell us about the way to live with China today? Nick Robinson talks to former leading politicians, diplomats and officials to cast light on the risks and the rewards. Drawing on his personal experience reporting on prime ministerial visits to China, he recalls telling encounters and the challenges they reveal. Contributors: Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. George Osborne, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt. Hon. David Miliband, former Foreign Secretary Lord Charles Powell, former Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Margaret Thatcher Lord Stewart Wood, former adviser to Gordon Brown Sir Mark Lyall Grant, former National Security Adviser Sir Craig Oliver, former Downing Street Director of Communications Tom Fletcher CMG, former Downing Street Foreign Policy Adviser John Gerson CMG, former adviser on China to Margaret Thatcher Katherine Morton, Professor of Global Affairs, Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University Jonathan Powell, former Downing Street Chief of Staff Nick Timothy, former Downing Street Chief of Staff Presenter: Nick Robinson Producer: Sheila Cook

In this episode of the EACCNY Brexit Musings series, it is clear that planning for the future requires analysis of the present, however a plan without resources and execution is just an hallucination. Hear from Ireland's Consul General in NY and the Regional Director for Enterprise Ireland North America on the work taking place across the Irish political and commercial ecosystems executing plans to prepare for whatever scenario Brexit may bring.Ciaran Madden, Consul General, CONSULATE GENERAL OF IRELAND IN NY: Ciarán Madden was born in Co. Cork, Ireland. His career at the Department of Foreign Affairs began in November 1994. Ciarán's early career with the Department included various roles in the Department in Dublin from; at Ireland's Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union, and as Advisor to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs, 2002 – 2003. From 2003 - 2005 he was assigned as the Press Officer for the Department and following this he spent a year in the Department's Development and Co-operation Division. During his time here he co-drafted the White Paper on Irish Aid. Ciarán also served as Private Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs before moving on to become the Head of Finance and Planning from 2007 to 2009. Ciarán served for four years as Ambassador of Ireland to the United Arab Emirates (also accredited to Qatar and Kuwait), from 2009 to 2013. On his return to Dublin, he was appointed Director for the Irish Abroad Unit in September 2013, and led the drafting of The Global Irish – Ireland's Diaspora Policy. Following this role, Ciarán was appointed Director for the Middle East and North Africa in January 2015. He took up duty as Consul General of Ireland in New York in August 2017.Sean Davis, Regional Director North America, ENTERPRISE IRELAND: Regional Director for North America, International trade and export development. Market strategy vision, development and execution. Leads teams in San Francisco, New York, Boston, Toronto, Austin, Chicago and Seattle.

“The Glass Ceiling” by Jenny Ashford Published in Hopeful Monsters (2009) “The Strange Adventures of a Private Secretary in New York” by Algernon Blackwood Published in The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories (1906) Audio version: https://ia601503.us.archive.org/4/items/weird-workplaces-final-audio/WeirdWorkplaces_FinalAudio.mp3 Video version: Please support us on Patreon! Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and … Continue reading 13 O’Clock Presents The Witching Hour: Sinister Stories of Weird Workplaces

The Palace Letters – finally released to the public this week – detail the long road to one of the world’s great constitutional crises. On this Democracy Sausage, Mark Kenny is joined by Frank Bongiorno and Chris Wallace to discuss what we now know about The Dismissal.On 11 November 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was dismissed from his role by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr. Nearly 25 years later the correspondence between the Governor-General and the Queen’s Private Secretary is now public. The letters, dating back more than a year before that historic day and running to more than 1,000 pages, shed new light on a political and constitutional crisis. Joining Professor Mark Kenny to discuss what we’ve learned from the Palace Letters are historians Dr Chris Wallace and Professor Frank Bongiorno. Dr Chris Wallace is an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra. Entering the history profession after a first career as an economic and political journalist in the Canberra Press Gallery, her work focuses on political, international and global history with special reference to leadership. Her book historicising the 2019 Australian federal election, How To Win An Election, is expected in November of 2020.Professor Frank Bongiorno is the Head of the School of History at ANU and an Australian labour, political, and cultural historian. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

He was the most hated among Hitler’s inner circle – a thuggish bully whose uncouth ways and scheming self interest allowed him to manipulate his way to a position of power within the Nazi hierarchy. As Hitler’s personal secretary he became the Fuhrer’s gatekeeper, and his most trusted confidante. In today’s Biographics, we examine the life and death of Martin Bormann.

........an old friend passed recently, Paddy ‘the Cope' Friel, Private Secretary to Minister for Defence, Founder Member of Termon GAA club, local historian, Mountain Bar regular on his trips home from the Four Courts, a good friend, farewell ‘Cope'!

Earlier this week, the future king, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in New Zealand on their third official visit - the first in four years.If this comes as a new news to some of you, I wouldn't be surprised, I've hardly noticed they've been here. The media have obviously been following their visit, but it hasn't made the headlines.The big headlines, the big stories, the gasps, the incredulity, the wonder (if you can call it that) have been generated by Prince Charles' younger brother, Prince Andrew.Coincidentally, in other royal news, I've been working my way through the just released new series of The Crown. Despite The Crown being a mix of fact and fiction, it has been made to look quite dull by comparison.What I've found interesting though as I've been watching is that it's clear the Royal Family's primary job has always been PR, and the challenge of how they're perceived by the public has always the same, whatever the decade.You all know the story by now. I won't repeat the step-by step- proceedings but on Wednesday, after being summoned to Buckingham Palace by his mother on Wednesday Prince Andrew announced he was "stepping back" from royal duties.We're not too sure what stepping back means, but surely the Firm has put him out to pasture.Prince Andrew has not been charged with a crime, we're not sure whether he will contribute to the current US investigation, or be investigated himself, but when you hold yourself up to be the moral standard of the country and then behave this way, it's time to go.  While organisations and charities might benefit from a patron or association with a member of the royal family, I can't imagine them wanting to associate with a man who said he couldn't have had sex with the young lady in question because he was at a pizza party in Woking.Meghan and Harry can't believe their luck.In general, the royal family is popular. They represent a connection to the past when Great Britain was at its best, they represent tradition and culture, and they have shown some aptitude for change.It's this blend of consistency and change that keeps the Monarchy going; as long as they'd don't ignore the mood of the people (such as Diana's death), or appear too woke and itching for change (Meghan and Harry).In his BBC interview Prince Andrew couldn't have come across as more out of touch, a pompous prat – self-serving, naïve, privileged  and utterly lacking compassion.I feel for his daughters, whose lives have been plagued by their parent's terrible decisions. Princess Eugenie is no doubt concerned about the impact on her passion project, the Anti-Slavery Collective. It's all quite awkward.Which brings me to the thought that maybe we like our royals to be seen and not heard, and if that's the case, it's time to further downsize. If The Crown TV series reminds us of anything, it's the fact the royal family live in a different world to the rest of us, with different rules and obligation, and yet must market themselves to a broad audience. If there was ever a time to modernise just a little more, it's now.This story isn't over yet. Prince Andrew's Private Secretary has resigned and he has moved out of his office in Buckingham Palace, but something tells me Prince Andrew is going to do what's best for Prince Andrew. With a transition of power likely soon, maybe he's digging in his heels.Much to my surprise, as far as the royal family go, I'm wearing the Team Charles t-shirt.It's going to be an interesting Christmas at Sandringham this year.

Hear the incredible story of Zelda La Grange, who grew up in Apartheid South Africa, and was taught to fear black people, only to end up becoming President Nelson Mandela’s Private Secretary. Zelda shares with Sally Mousa how meeting and working with President Mandela changed her life, how he was not only able to forgive but inspire his opressors, and what lessons we can take from their relationship that are more relevant today than ever. Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio (95.00 FM) or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.com ************************ Follow us on Social. www.facebook.com/pulse95radio www.twitter.com/pulse95radio www.instagram.com/pulse95radio

Jonathan Freedland explores parallels between Brexit and a major dispute between King Offa of Mercia and Charlemagne, King of the Franks in the 790s. In the 790s, King Offa of the English kingdom of Mercia found himself at loggerheads with Charlemagne, King of the Franks on the other side of the Channel. Jonathan and guests examine how the dispute was resolved and explore how the difficulties compare to Britain's relations with the EU in the postwar era. Jonathan is joined by historian Dr Rory Naismith of King's College London and Sir Stephen Wall, former Private Secretary to John Major and former Europe advisor to Tony Blair. Stephen Wall was also Britain's ambassador to the EU in the late 1990s and is the author of an official history of Britain's relations with the European Community 1963-75. Produce: Laurence Grissell

The complete audio is available for purchase from Audible.com: https://adbl.co/2DfH7Ug The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories by Algernon Blackwood Narrated by Aisling Gray, Erin Grassie, and Graham Scott. This classic collection of macabre tales, one of ten such anthologies by Algernon Blackwood, was first published in 1916. 1) "The Empty House" 2) "A Haunted Island" 3) "A Case of Eavesdropping" 4) "Keeping His Promise" 5) "With Intent to Steal" 6) "The Wood of the Dead" 7) "Smith: An Episode in a Lodging-House" 8) "A Suspicious Gift" 9) "The Strange Adventures of a Private Secretary in New York" 10) "Skeleton Lake: An Episode in Camp"

Michael Cameron is a former Northern Ireland Civil Servant turned playwright. Born in Belfast in 1965 Michael left school in 1981 with just 2 O Levels and joined the Civil Service the following year. He soon worked his way up the ranks working towards the end of his career as a Political Liaison Officer and Private Secretary to various Ministers witnessing first hand some of the most turbulent times in recent British/Irish history. In 2015 he left the Civil service for health reasons and began his career as a writer. His first major work is the play Ruby! About the Belfast singer Ruby Murray which opens in February to sell out audiences at The Lyric. It received rave reviews in its preview following its preview last year and there’s already talk about Michael scripting a movie about her life

Daniel Thornton - BioDaniel studied PPE at Oxford and History at LSE. He's had huge experience in central government. He worked in the Foreign Office, Parliament, the Treasury, DCLG and has been a Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. Since then he's worked for Gavi a charity promoting vaccination low-income countries; he's been a programme director at the leading think tank the Institute for Government and he's currently the Director for External Relations at Ark an educational charity running dozens of schools.Ron Heifetz- Wikipedia- Book: Leadership on the lineRalph Stacey- Wikipedia- Book: Strategic Management and Organisational DynamicsOther- Jeff Bezos' book: The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon- Richard Pascale's book: Surfing the Edge of Chaos- Mark Foden's article comparing the Olympics and Unversal Credit: Government doesn't get complexity- Daniel Thornton's Ministers Reflect interview with Nick Clegg

Professor Vernon Bogdanor is Research Professor at the Centre for British Politics and Government at King’s College London. As one of Britain’s foremost constitutional experts he has written widely on British politics and the constitution and frequently advised governments and parliamentary bodies. 14 November 2018 - 18:00 pm - 19:30 pm Council Room, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS The Haldane Report, which sees its centenary this year, was a landmark in early twentieth century thought about how the machinery of modern government should function, the principles that should underpin policy formation, and executive accountability. It famously concluded that: 'in the sphere of civil government the duty of investigation and thought, as preliminary to action, might with great advantage be more definitely recognised.' The report also proposed that Whitehall departments be organised on functional lines; it advocated limited changes in the direction of gender equality within the Civil Service; and tentatively suggested the introduction of specialist committees in Parliament to facilitate more effective oversight of the executive. This is a unique opportunity for historians and practitioners, past and present, to reflect together on how reform comes about in government and how it works - there will be ample opportunity for questions and discussion. Drinks and refreshments will be served. This is one of a series of Whitehall Anniversary events in 2018 – previous events, with audio available, have focussed on the Next Steps Report (1988) and the Fulton Report (1968). Speaker: Professor Vernon Bogdanor is Research Professor at the Centre for British Politics and Government at King’s College London. As one of Britain’s foremost constitutional experts he has written widely on British politics and the constitution and frequently advised governments and parliamentary bodies. Respondent: Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell. In his forty-year career, Lord Butler has served as Private Secretary to five Prime Ministers and was Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service from 1988 to 1998. In addition to the many momentous political shifts in that time he has overseen an important period of change in the history of the Civil Service and its relationship to the wider world. Chair: Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow and Resident Historian at the Institute for Government. Dr Haddon specialises in the history of Whitehall and the evolution of civil service reform.

Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell. In his forty-year career, Lord Butler has served as Private Secretary to five Prime Ministers and was Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service from 1988 to 1998. In addition to the many momentous political shifts in that time he has overseen an important period of change in the history of the Civil Service and its relationship to the wider world. 14 November 2018 - 18:00 pm - 19:30 pm Council Room, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS The Haldane Report, which sees its centenary this year, was a landmark in early twentieth century thought about how the machinery of modern government should function, the principles that should underpin policy formation, and executive accountability. It famously concluded that: 'in the sphere of civil government the duty of investigation and thought, as preliminary to action, might with great advantage be more definitely recognised.' The report also proposed that Whitehall departments be organised on functional lines; it advocated limited changes in the direction of gender equality within the Civil Service; and tentatively suggested the introduction of specialist committees in Parliament to facilitate more effective oversight of the executive. This is a unique opportunity for historians and practitioners, past and present, to reflect together on how reform comes about in government and how it works - there will be ample opportunity for questions and discussion. Drinks and refreshments will be served. This is one of a series of Whitehall Anniversary events in 2018 – previous events, with audio available, have focussed on the Next Steps Report (1988) and the Fulton Report (1968). Speaker: Professor Vernon Bogdanor is Research Professor at the Centre for British Politics and Government at King’s College London. As one of Britain’s foremost constitutional experts he has written widely on British politics and the constitution and frequently advised governments and parliamentary bodies. Respondent: Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell. In his forty-year career, Lord Butler has served as Private Secretary to five Prime Ministers and was Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service from 1988 to 1998. In addition to the many momentous political shifts in that time he has overseen an important period of change in the history of the Civil Service and its relationship to the wider world. Chair: Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow and Resident Historian at the Institute for Government. Dr Haddon specialises in the history of Whitehall and the evolution of civil service reform.

Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes makes a case for cash handouts to the poor. He tells Andrew Marr that having become exceptionally wealthy he is looking for the most efficient way to give something back to society, and a Universal Basic Income is among his ideas. But the Oxford academic Ian Goldin argues that UBI is an intellectual sticking plaster. He suggests targeted benefits, better taxation and philanthropy may be the answers to today's growing inequality and the prospect of mass job losses due to automation. Caroline Slocock was the first female Private Secretary at No.10, employed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She looks back at the last years of Thatcher's time in office, and Thatcher's vision of a smaller state and individual responsibility. Margaret Thatcher used the parable of the Good Samaritan to argue her case, suggesting that the voluntary actions of a wealthy Samaritan trumped the collective action of the state. Nick Spencer, Research Director at the public theology think tank Theos, explores how this parable has been hijacked for political ends from both the left and the right. Producers: Katy Hickman and Hannah Sander.

Bruce Whitfield interviews La Grange about her and Madiba's attitude to money (hopes and fears, successes and failures, etc.)

Marcy Pictures Corporation released His Private Secretary to theaters on June 10, 1933. Phil Whitman directed the film which starred Evalyn Knapp, John Wayne, and Reginald Barlow. The post His Private Secretary (1933) appeared first on Movie House Memories.

Jeremy Greenstock is the Chairman of the strategic advisory company, Gatehouse Advisory Partners, established in September 2010, and Chairman of Lambert Energy Advisory, the oil and gas specialists, since January 2012. Born in 1943, Sir Jeremy was educated at Harrow School and Worcester College, Oxford. His principal career was with the British Diplomatic Service, ending his career as UK Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York (1998-2003) and then, after a suspension of his retirement, as the UK Special Envoy for Iraq (September 2003-March 2004). After three years as an Assistant Master at Eton College, he joined the Diplomatic Service in 1969. The two themes of his career were the Middle East and US/Western European Relations. He studied Arabic at the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies, Lebanon (1970-72) and went on to serve in Dubai and Saudi Arabia in the early 1970s and mid 1980s respectively. From 1974-1978 he was Private Secretary to Ambassadors Peter Ramsbotham and Peter Jay in the British Embassy in Washington, starting a total of ten years spent in Washington and New York on US and Transatlantic business. After a spell as Political Counsellor in Paris (1987-90), Sir Jeremy came back to London as Director for Western and Southern Europe, the foundation for a number of years’ work on the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and in particular on the Balkans, Cyprus and Gibraltar. He returned to Washington as Minister (Deputy Ambassador) in 1994-95, and was then brought back to London as Director General for Eastern Europe and the Middle East (1995) and then Political Director (1996-98). After chairing the European Union’s Political Committee during the UK Presidency in the first half of 1998, he moved to New York as UK Ambassador to the UN in July 1998. As the UK’s Representative on the Security Council up to July 2003, he worked extensively on matters of peace and security in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and South Asia, but particularly on Iraq. He chaired the Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee from October 2001 to April 2003. Sir Jeremy left government service in March 2004, after seven interesting months in Baghdad. He became Director of the Ditchley Foundation, the conference centre in Oxfordshire promoting transatlantic dialogue, in August 2004, a position he left in August 2010. He was also a Special Adviser to the BP Group from 2004 to 2010, a Non-Executive Director of De La Rue from 2005 to 2013, a Governor of the London Business School from 2005 to 2008 and Chairman of the UN Association in the UK from 2011 to 2016. He now works concurrently as a Member of the Chatham House Council, as a Special Adviser to the NGO Forward Thinking, as a policy adviser to the International Rescue Committee (UK) and as co-Chair of the European Eminent Persons Group on Middle East issues.

WE'RE BACK! Did you miss us? We're sorry we've been silent for a while, but aren't you happy we've returned for 2017! We figured this year could do with some kick-ass inspiration! In our first new episode of the year, GeekGirl went to Westminster to meet Tracey Jessup, Deputy Director of the Parliamentary Digital Service. From wanting to be an actress and singer, to finding a career in Parliament, this is a great interview - with lots to learn about what the PDS is up to and what we can expect to see this year! This is a massive project and Tracey is a women in tech at the front. About Tracey Tracey is Deputy Director of the Parliamentary Digital Service. A joint department of both Houses of Parliament, the Digital Service is responsible for the strategic direction of Parliament’s digital offering, transforming ways in which the citizen can connect with Parliament including building a new website, the delivery and management of Parliamentary digital platforms, and providing technology services to members and staff in Westminster and throughout the UK. Tracey led the restructure which brought together the teams which managed the online and technology services into one digital team. Culture change has been a huge part of this, moving to an Agile culture and transforming and shaping the team which will develop and deliver excellent digital services for a modern Parliament and enable people to access Parliament in new and meaningful ways. Prior to joining the digital team Tracey had a long career as a House of Commons Clerk working in a variety of roles in the Committee Office, Public Bill Office, Overseas Office and finally the Table Office in the Department of Chamber and Committee Services (DCCS). From October 2005 to 2008 she was Private Secretary to the Clerk of the House and Chief Executive working directly with House of Commons Board members on delivery of the strategic priorities of the House of Commons. In the Table Office she led on the business change and digital transformation of Commons Business Papers ensuring that this was grounded in a high level vision of how users would engage with procedure, and what steps were needed to achieve that vision. This included transforming the presentation of the House of Commons key business papers enabling digital presentation and consumption through any device as well as improved intelligibility for core users, and working with ICT colleagues on the Parliamentary Business Programme, transforming critical services for the Chambers and Committees. You can connect with Tracey on LinkedIn or on Twitter at @traceyjessup.

Owen Barder is Vice President, Director for Europe and a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development - an organization that conducts research and analysis on a wide range of topics related to how policies and actions of the rich and powerful affect poor people in the developing world. From 1988 to 2010, Owen was a British civil servant. During that time he worked at No.10 Downing Street, as the Private Secretary of Economic Affairs to the Prime Minister; in the UK Treasury, including as Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and in the Department for International Development, where he was variously Director of International Finance and Global Development Effectiveness, Director of Communications and Information, and head of the Africa Policy & Economics Department. As a young Treasury economist, Owen set up the first UK government website, to put details of the 1994 budget online. During 2004-2006 Owen worked at CGD, mainly on the Advance Markets Commitment for vaccines. Owen has also worked in the South African Treasury on budget strategy; at Development Initiatives where he helped to establish the International Aid Transparency Initiative; and was a visiting scholar in economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He has lived in several countries in Africa, most recently in Ethiopia during 2008-2011. Barder has been an Associate at the Institute for Government, a member of the Advisory Group of Twaweza, the Board of Publish What You Fund, and a member of the UK Government International Development Sector Transparency Panel. Owen is also a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics. He writes a personal blog at http://www.owen.org/blog and hosts a development podcast at http://DevelopmentDrums.org. He is on Twitter as @owenbarder.

The last couple of weeks of the election campaign - and the erroneously narrow polls which highlighted the role of The Queen in the event of a hung parliament - brought to the attention of the public a man who has held arguably one of the most important jobs in Britain since 2007, but who remains largely unknown. He's Sir Christopher Geidt, Private Secretary to The Queen. He is her adviser on political and constitutional matters, and her line of communication to the Government. But who is he? Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Joe Kent and Charlotte Pritchard.

In the week leading up to our celebration of International Women's Day, a series of The Essay celebrating five women who have been unacknowledged movers and shakers in the world of classical music down the ages. Each of these women overcame societal expectations or personal adversity to have real influence on the music of their day, and subsequently ours.We tend to remember William Ewart Gladstone as a reformer who wanted to pacify Ireland. We know that Queen Victoria preferred Disraeli's flattery to Gladstone's earnest lectures. And we've heard that this long-serving Prime Minister relaxed by cutting down trees on the Hawarden estate. What we don't imagine about this Grand Old Man is his sensuality. In fact, W.E. Gladstone was passionately musical and he owed much of the pleasure he gained from exploring his musical tastes, as well as the moral purpose he derived from it, to the influence of his daughter Mary. As Dr Phyllis Weliver explains, Mary was a pioneering Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, one who advised on ecclesiastical appointments with a strong bias towards those who shared her sense of the moral purpose of music. She was also a subtle master of 'soft diplomacy' in the way she brought music making to Downing Street and the heart of her father's government. Produced by Simon RichardsonTo find out more about Radio 3's International Women's Day programming follow @BBCRadio3 and the hashtag #womensday.

"Mildred Bailey" features:A career retrospective for one of the top jazz vocalists of the era, beginning with early songs like "What Kind of Man Is You" and continuing through "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Love," "Cabin in the Pines," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Long About Midnight" and the steamy Cuban adventure "The Weekend of a Private Secretary" from 1936.

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is a pillar of the British Establishment, Lord Charteris of Amisfield.Educated at Eton and Sandhurst, he became, at the age of 36, Private Secretary to the young Princess Elizabeth, whom he was to serve for nearly 30 years, retiring only after when, as Queen Elizabeth the Second, she celebrated her Silver Jubilee. After leaving the royal household, he went back to Eton, where he has been Provost for the last 12 years. Among many things, Lord Charteris will be talking to Sue Lawley about the job of Private Secretary to the Queen, and how the Eton of today differs from the Eton he attended as a schoolboy some 50 years ago.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Emperor Concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Luxury: Set of wood-carving tools

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is a pillar of the British Establishment, Lord Charteris of Amisfield. Educated at Eton and Sandhurst, he became, at the age of 36, Private Secretary to the young Princess Elizabeth, whom he was to serve for nearly 30 years, retiring only after when, as Queen Elizabeth the Second, she celebrated her Silver Jubilee. After leaving the royal household, he went back to Eton, where he has been Provost for the last 12 years. Among many things, Lord Charteris will be talking to Sue Lawley about the job of Private Secretary to the Queen, and how the Eton of today differs from the Eton he attended as a schoolboy some 50 years ago. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Emperor Concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Luxury: Set of wood-carving tools