Podcasts about programme director

Welcome back to the Ties That Bind.This season, we are looking at NATO from a bit of a different vantage point, specifically that of the frontline states. How are frontline states investing in and planning for their defense? How are they thinking about their role and contributions in the Alliance and on the world stage? How have their historical experiences shaped how their governments and societies think about defense, countering disinformation, and changing economic realities? And how are they preparing for a potential conflict with Russia? This week, we are looking at Poland, a country that has completely transformed its military and defense capacity over the last two decades. Periods of transition are not always painless, and we'll hear what challenges Poland has faced and what opportunities lie ahead as it looks to become a leading voice within the alliance and on the world stage.Featured guests: * Anna Fotyga, former Polish Foreign Minister, 2006-2007* Tomasz Szatkowski, former Deputy Defense Minister, 2015-2019, and Ambassador to NATO, 2019-2024* Jakub Romaniuk, Programme Director, Foundation Institute for Eastern Studies Get full access to FPRI Insights at fpriinsights.substack.com/subscribe

Productivity in public services has never been more important. Most services are struggling to return to pre-pandemic performance levels, and the new Labour government has indicated that spending will remain tight. Improvements in performance will likely come from frontline workers finding new, innovative ways of delivering services.   So what can be done to improve productivity? By highlighting outstanding examples of innovation across public services, Productivity Pitches, a series of events hosted by the IfG, aims to share and support ways to improve performance levels. This event was the eighth in the series and focused on innovation across public services. Each speaker had 10 minutes to present their innovation, followed by 10 minutes of audience questions. The chair and a guest from The Productivity Institute – which kindly supported this event series – brought together the common themes from the pitches and discussed the lessons for improving productivity. The speakers for this edition of Productivity Pitches were: Aoife O'Higgins, Director of Evidence at Foundations, the What Works Centre for children and families explained how their work showing the efficacy of Family Group Conferencing (FGC) has led to the government legislating in the Children, Wellbeing and Schools Bill to mandate that councils offer parents a Family Group Decision Making meeting before referring a child to social services. This substantially expanded the use of FGCs. Rhian Gladman and Gary Hughes on LGA's peer challenge programme and transformation support. For its peer challenge programme, the LGA recruits senior local government officers and political leaders to act as peer reviewers. Following a meeting with the council that will be reviewed, a small team of peer reviewers is sent in to speak to people, assess processes and documents, and use their knowledge to provide peer-led feedback. For transformation support, the LGA matches peers with transformation experience with councils that need that specific advice. The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Joel Hoskins, Research Assistant at The Productivity Institute joined to the discuss common themes. Productivity Pitches was kindly supported by The Productivity Institute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The IfG team headed to Birmingham to explore how mayors can secure and deliver private investment into their regions in pursuit of growth and regeneration. The IfG DevoLab is a new initiative from the Institute for Government dedicated to exploring the innovations enabled by devolution, learning from the results, and sharing the lessons so that places can take better decisions about how to use devolved powers and budgets.   IfG DevoLab #2 saw speakers from three regions – West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and the North East – set out how the powers and profile of mayors and the convening role of strategic authorities have been used to secure and deliver private investment for key regional strategic projects. ‘Investing in the West Midlands: The Birmingham Sports Quarter', Jonathan Gibson, Interim Director of Strategy at the West Midlands Combined Authority ‘Investing in Greater Manchester: The Sister Innovation District, Robert Edwards, Deputy Director of Investment at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority ‘Investing in the North East', Dr Henry Kippin, Chief Executive of the North East Combined Authority The three presenters were joined on the panel by Julia Goldsworthy, Head of Social Impact Investment at L&G, and former Director of Strategy at West Midlands Combined Authority, for a broader discussion on the benefits of devolution and mayoral leadership, the lessons less mature devolved regions can learn from those further along in the journey, and whether further devolution can accelerate growth.   This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, with an introduction by Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government.  Insights from this discussion informed a published policy briefing containing the three case studies and a synthesis of key lessons. The Institute for Government would like to thank L&G for its support of this event and its wider support of the IfG DevoLab series.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

God at Work in Prisons This episode of TheoDisc comes to you during Prisons Week which takes place each year from the second Sunday of October and encourages the church to pray for prisoners and their families, those victims of and affected by crime and those working in the criminal justice system. It also aims to focus the Christian community on how we can join with what God is doing in prisons, where WTC has begun to provide theological training. It was in, what he calls "the pit", that Steven became a Christian, and after his release he studied theology with WTC and is about to matriculate at the University of Oxford. They spoke about his life experience, his reflections of prison, and the hope he has for more prisoners to come into a deep connection with God through theological study. Joining them in the conversation is Sarah Coppin, the Programme Director for WTC's prison programme.   SHOW NOTES Find out about WTC's Prison Programme: https://wtctheology.org.uk/prison-programme/ Participate in Prisons Week: https://www.prisonsweek.org/

Speakers: David Simmonds MP, Shadow Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Dr Tom Arnold, Research Associate at the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place Cllr Abi Brown OBE, Deputy Leader of the Local Government Association Conservative Group Helen Gbormittah, Regional Director, North West at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)   This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place at the University of Liverpool. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

https://www.moliorlondon.com/media/molior-report-media-2025/10/molior-residential-development-in-london-q3-2025.pdf?v=2Alex Groundwater, aka Housing Stig, is a lifelong friend of Charlie's and a former Programme Director at the FT, Sony and Cisco. He's also a stats junkie and can't help himself but use public data to create graphs that debunk mainstream myths. Follow him on X to see his handiwork. https://x.com/alexgroundwater All my links: https://linktr.ee/movinghomewithcharlieSupport the showFollow me on X for daily updates: https://x.com/moving_charlie

Speaker: Baroness Barran MBE, Shadow Minister for Education Dr Kieran Mullan MP, Shadow Minister for Justice Cllr Abi Brown OBE, Deputy Leader of the Local Government Association Conservative Group   This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speakers: Mayor Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester Cllr Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity at Essex County Council   This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with Policy@Manchester - The University of Manchester. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speakers: Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Caroline Elsom, Head of Reshaping The State at Onward Eve Norridge, Head of Research at Onward Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government   This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with Onward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of V-FM, hosts Darren and Nico chat to Pensions and Investments International News Editor, Sophie Baker. Sophie has had an amazing career in pensions journalism and also is Programme Director and Chair of the World Pensions Summit. In an investment heavy episode, we discuss PGGM's recent major portfolio overhaul, where they shifted from passive to active investing (reducing their investment universe from 3,500 stocks to 800), equally weighting return, risk, and sustainability in their decision-making process. We also chatted about how partnerships are emerging globally to institutionalise retail access to private markets and discuss progress so far (or the lack of it) with UK pension fund investment into venture capital. We take a look forward to the upcoming World Pensions Summit that is taking place in The Hague on 4-6 November 2025. In breaking news, we also announce that your hosts will attending the conference and interviewing some of the speakers. And, of course, we find out how Sophie got into pensions and journalism, and find out what value for money means to her.

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Conservative Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Mayor Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester Cllr Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity at Essex County Council This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Conservative Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Caroline Elsom, Head of Reshaping The State at Onward Eve Norridge, Head of Research at Onward Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government This event will be chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with Onward.

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Conservative Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Baroness Barran MBE, Shadow Minister for Education Dr Kieran Mullan MP, Shadow Minister for Justice Cllr Abi Brown OBE, Deputy Leader of the Local Government Association Conservative Group This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Conservative Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: David Simmonds MP, Shadow Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Dr Tom Arnold, Research Associate at the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place Cllr Abi Brown OBE, Deputy Leader of the Local Government Association Conservative Group Helen Gbormittah, Regional Director, North West at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place at the University of Liverpool.

ABOUT THIS EPISODEI had the joy of meeting Karen via an online supervision group organised by EY in collaboration with Henley Business School. Karen has written a book, Breaking the Coaching Code - how great coaches transcend the rules published in November 2025. In our conversation Karen offers valuable insights into:What it means to walk home to yourself. The journey to and of self-acceptance. And having a social conscience.Karen's key encouragements to Leaders:Reconnect with your unique self rather than trying to be what you think a good leader isUnderstand your strengths and be clear about your purpose Build your ability to have effective conversations with clarity, compassion, curiosity and courageAbout Karen:Karen Foy has been coaching since 2003, her background before coaching was in the NHS working locally, regionally and nationally on policy related to patient experience. She caught the coaching bug on an Open University summer school whilst undertaking a module from the MBA on Creativity, Innovation and Change thinking about creativity innovation and change.She heard about this thing called coaching and thought, that's the thing she does when she's supposed to be working and was blown away that she could do it as a career. She trained as a coach, built her business alongside her work, and then jumped in 2007 to become a full-time coach.She already had a first degree in psychology and the next step for her was to undertake a master's degree in Coaching Psychology which she gained in 2011. She is a Master Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, a Certified Mentor for ICF Credentials and she has a Professional Certificate in Coaching Supervision from Henley Business School.She has recently retired from her lecturing role at Henley Business School where she was the Programme Director for Accredited Coaching Programmes. Joining an academic institution was a crash course in acceptance as she is a Yorkshire woman from a ‘dyed in the wool' working class background who left school at 14 with no qualifications.She has come to a place where she is more able to welcome her gremlin of not being good enough as the gift it is to her coaching.To connect with Karen:Website: www.thecoachtribe.comLinkedIn: @Karen Foy, MCCTo listen to other Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend: Go to my website, www.annitownend.comA big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast.To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website www.annitownend.com, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn. To find out more about Collaboration Equation, do go to our website www.collaborationequation.com and follow us on LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.

Clare FM has been named Local Station of the Year at the annual IMRO Radio Awards, the most prestigious event in Irish radio. The ceremony, which celebrates excellence and achievement across the broadcasting industry, took place at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny last night. Clare's most listened-to radio station claimed the top honour in recognition of its dedication to quality programming, community service, and innovative broadcasting. It was also a strong night for individual programmes. Morning Focus earned a bronze award, while Live at Glór – Clare FM's All-Ireland Hurling Final Preview Show, hosted by Derrick Lynch and Syl O'Connor, was also recognised. Clare FM's Programme Director and Head of Operations, Padraic Flaherty, is delighted

Speakers:    Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester Bassam Mahfouz AM, Chair of Greater London Authority Oversight Committee Deputy Mayor Nadine Peatfield, Deputy Mayor of East Midlands Combined Authority Cllr Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council   This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with Policy@Manchester - The University of Manchester. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speakers:    Katherine Fairclough, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Council & Corporate Portfolio Holder at City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Sue Jarvis, Co-Director at Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place Dr Henry Kippin, Chief Executive of North East Combined Authority   This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place at the University of Liverpool and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speakers:   Alex McIntyre MP, Member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee Kevin McKenna MP, Officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Health Professor Nicola Ranger, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing Thea Stein, Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust   This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speakers:   Chris Ward MP, Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office Kelly Beaver MBE, Chief Executive of Ipsos, UK and Ireland Conrad Thompson, Public Sector Lead for Innovation at PA Consulting Moira Wallace, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government   This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with PA Consulting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speakers:    Jake Richards MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Ministry of Justice Deputy Mayor Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, Greater Manchester Clare Moody, Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon & Somerset Cassia Rowland, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive of JUSTICE   This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with JUSTICE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Labour Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Jake Richards MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Ministry of Justice Deputy Mayor Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, Greater Manchester Clare Moody, Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon & Somerset Cassia Rowland, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive of JUSTICE This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with JUSTICE.

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Labour Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Katherine Fairclough, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Council & Corporate Portfolio Holder at City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Sue Jarvis, Co-Director at Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place Dr Henry Kippin, Chief Executive of North East Combined Authority This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place at the University of Liverpool and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Labour Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Chris Ward MP, Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office Kelly Beaver MBE, Chief Executive of Ipsos, UK and Ireland Conrad Thompson, Public Sector Lead for Innovation at PA Consulting Moira Wallace, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with PA Consulting.

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Labour Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester Bassam Mahfouz AM, Chair of Greater London Authority Oversight Committee Deputy Mayor Nadine Peatfield, Deputy Mayor of East Midlands Combined Authority Cllr Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with Policy@Manchester - The University of Manchester.

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Labour Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Dr Jo Bibby, Director of Health at Health Foundation Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Nick Meade, Chief Executive of Genetic Alliance UK Rob Thomas, Head of Public Affairs, UK and Ireland at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK. 

This event is part of the Institute for Government's Labour Party Conference 2025 fringe programme. Speakers: Alex McIntyre MP, Member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee Kevin McKenna MP, Officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Health Professor Nicola Ranger, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing Thea Stein, Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto committed to keeping people out of hospital by investing in public health and early access to community services. Prevention is also central to the government's plans for improving healthcare. But meaningfully shifting care from treatment to prevention is easier said than done.    So how could the UK take a prevention-led approach to healthcare?   We discussed at the 2025 Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth with an expert panel featuring:   Andrew George MP, Member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee Jules Payne Chief Executive at HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity Rob Thomas, Head of Public Affairs, UK and Ireland at Novartis UK   This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with Novartis UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In recent years, increased attention is being paid to the importance of protecting offshore infrastructure from threats. Offshore energy and communications infrastructure, such as wind farms and subsea cables, are increasingly being viewed as targets by hybrid threat actors. Incidents such as the damage to the Balticconnector cable and Nordstream pipelines have heightened awareness of the threat to critical offshore infrastructure. In response, European states are increasing their cooperation to ensure that such infrastructure is secure. Against this backdrop, Ireland is drafting a National Maritime Security Strategy to consider how best to protect both existing, and planned future, infrastructure. In this panel discussion, experts will discuss the threats to critical offshore assets, and what we can do to better protect them from hybrid risks. This event has been organised in conjunction with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ireland. About the Speakers: · Commodore Eduard de van der Schueren, Programme Director for the Protection of North Sea Infrastructure at the Dutch Ministry of Defence · Vice Admiral (Ret.) Mark Mellett, Former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces · Jacqui McCrum, Secretary General of the Department of Defence · Dr Camino Kavanagh, Senior Fellow with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and a Visiting Senior Fellow with the Dept. of War Studies, King's College London.

There are many myths about why housing is so expensive, but most of them miss the main culprit.Alex Groundwater, aka Housing Stig, is a lifelong friend of Charlie's and a former Programme Director at the FT, Sony and Cisco. He's also a stats junkie and can't help himself but use public data to create graphs that debunk mainstream myths. Follow him on X to see his handiwork. https://x.com/alexgroundwater Talk to my hand picked, trusted broker partners here: https://mhwc.co.uk/mortgageSeller Advice Video Playlisthttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKomt2RI3JYkKrT_6naN-Nol2gp98NZDJFirst Time Buyer Advice Video Playlisthttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKomt2RI3JYnJ3imNEWjKGkszf_bzqDfeAll my links: https://linktr.ee/movinghomewithcharlieBook a private video call with me: https://buymeacoffee.com/mhwc/extrasWatch the video here: https://youtube.com/live/jL7iE99B-00Support the showFollow me on X for daily updates: https://x.com/moving_charlie

Gaming continues its upward trajectory. New stats show that in Wellington alone, jobs in the sector grew 12.8% over the last year. New Zealand now brings in $170 million more in revenue than Australia does. NZ Game Development Sector Rebate Programme Director Chantelle Cole told Mike Hosking the $170 million figure is just from the rebate recipients, so they're expecting the number to rise upon the announcement of the industry-wide figures. She says revenue is predicted to reach a billion dollars by as early as 2027. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto committed to keeping people out of hospital by investing in public health and early access to community services. Prevention is also central to the government's plans for improving healthcare. But meaningfully shifting care from treatment to prevention is easier said than done. So how could the UK take a prevention-led approach to healthcare? We discussed at the 2025 Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth with an expert panel featuring: ➡️ Andrew George MP, Member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee ➡️ Jules Payne Chief Executive at HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity ➡️ Rob Thomas, Head of Public Affairs, UK and Ireland at Novartis UK This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with Novartis UK.

Adam Smith narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog Adam explores the link between music and focus, blending science with personal experience to create a reliable study playlist. He explains why lyrics distract, how tempo influences concentration, and the value of structure in building habits. His playlist, built around ambient piano, lo-fi instrumentals, and calming endings, has become a ritual that signals time to work. The blog encourages readers to experiment with sounds that suit their own study style. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-perfect-study-playlist/ -- Adam Smith was born in the north, a long time ago. He wanted to write books, but ended up working in the NHS, and at the Department of Health.  He is now Programme Director in the Office of the NIHR National Director for Dementia Research (which probably sounds more important than it is) at University College London. He has led a number of initiatives to improve dementia research (including this website, Join Dementia Research & ENRICH), as well as pursuing his own research interests. In his spare time, he grows vegetables, builds Lego & spends most of his time drinking too much coffee and squeezing technology into his house. -- Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

The STEM Passport for Inclusion programme is delighted to announce the expansion of its partnership with Fexco, which will contribute €50,000 from 2025 to 2027. This partnership, which began in 2023, has allowed the programme to continue breaking down barriers in STEM education for young women from working-class communities across Ireland. STEM Passport for Inclusion, led by Professor Katriona O'Sullivan at Maynooth University, is designed to address systemic inequality in access to STEM. It empowers Transition Year students with a third-level STEM qualification (Level 6 NFQ) while still in school and pairs them with industry mentors who inspire, guide, and support their journey into STEM careers. The continued investment from Fexco marks a deepened commitment to inclusive innovation. In 2024 alone, 500 post-primary students in Munster benefitted from this partnership, gaining not only STEM education but also mentorship and real opportunities to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. "Through this partnership with Fexco, we are ensuring that young women, who are often left out of the STEM conversation, have a seat at the table," said Professor Katriona O'Sullivan, Programme Director of STEM Passport for Inclusion. "This donation will help us continue our mission to provide equal opportunities in STEM education and inspire the next generation of innovators." Fexco, a long-time champion of innovation and inclusion, has been an essential supporter of the initiative over the past two years. Their involvement goes beyond funding, as Fexco employees serve as mentors, role models, and advocates for the next generation of STEM leaders. They are also committed to offering students valuable work experience, helping to build a strong and diverse future workforce. "We are incredibly proud to support the STEM Passport for Inclusion programme," said Neil Hosty, CEO of Fexco. "We believe in the power of education to transform lives and are committed to promoting inclusivity in STEM fields. This partnership aligns with our values of innovation, education, and community. By investing in these young women, we are investing in Ireland's future." The STEM Passport for Inclusion programme is made possible through collaboration with educational and industry partners, including Research Ireland, the Department of Education, Microsoft Dream Space, Munster Technological University, and the RDI Hub. Together, these partners are building a more inclusive STEM ecosystem nationwide. To celebrate the impact of the partnership, an awards event took place at the RDI Hub in Killorglin recently, honouring the achievements of students, mentors, and programme champions. For more information on the STEM Passport for Inclusion programme or to find out how you can support this work, please visit STEM Passport for Inclusion | Maynooth University.

"Wordsmith – Part 2" explores the life and work of one of the greatest literary voices of our time, Edna O'Brien. Produced by Clare FM's Programme Director & Head of Operations, Padraic Flaherty. Email: pf@clare.fm

Private coaching in India has grown into a parallel education system. It is no longer just extra help after school, but the backbone of learning for millions of students. In the last seven years, tuition has surged across all levels - from primary to higher secondary. Among rural girls in higher secondary, the rise is especially sharp, while States in the east like West Bengal, and Odisha are seeing some of the highest numbers, with coaching starting as early as Kindergarten. In some cases, families are spending more on tuition than on school itself. The podcast explores the factors contributing to this dependence on private tuition in the east. What does it say about the state of our schools? And how is this reshaping education in India? Guest: Sabir Ahamed, Programme Director at the Pratichi Institute Host: Devyanshi Bihani Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Wordsmith – Part 1" explores the life and work of one of the greatest literary voices of our time, Edna O'Brien. Produced by Clare FM's Programme Director & Head of Operations, Padraic Flaherty. Email: pf@clare.fm

This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about ACT MP Todd Stephenson's members bill being re-introduced to develop the End of Life Choice Act, Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche's potential changes to different multiple ministries, and the Select Committee's recommendations regarding four-year parliamentary terms. Producer Alex spoke to Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Canterbury, Dr Cassandra Mudgway about the need for AI regulations in regards to protecting women and vulnerable communities from AI-based harms. Joel also spoke to Stephen Young, an Associate Law Professor at the University of Otago, on ‘sovereign citizens,' following the killings of two Australian police officers, with the alleged perpetrator, Dezi Freeman, having expressed strong support for the movement online. Alex spoke with the Programme Director and Associate Professor in Global Studies at the University of Auckland, Chris Ogden, about Trumps America acting as a “rogue state”. And on Thursday, Intern Zanoor spoke to Andrew Eruiti, an Associate Law Professor at the University of Auckland, about his new research, showing that certain principles of human rights in the country are ironically being used to restrain Māori governance and tino rangatiratanga. Whakarongo mai.

ttps://x.com/GreshamCollege Watch the Q&A session here: https://youtu.be/tv554JY9TPUIn 1588, the young Galileo delivered some lectures that were impressive enough to secure him a mathematics professorship at the University of Pisa. His subject? The geometry of Dante's Inferno. In this lecture we'll look at some of Galileo's deductions, and how the questions raised may have influenced his later mathematical research. Using this and other examples of creative work in mathematics that crosses our modern ideas of subject boundaries, I will argue that thinking across disciplines is not only intellectually exciting but academically vital.This Annual Provost's Lecture was recorded by Sarah Hart on June 18th 2025 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London.Sarah Hart was the first woman Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, and Acting Provost between March and October 2025. She is also Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Birkbeck, University of London.Professor Hart studied at Oxford and Manchester, gaining her PhD in 2000. Postdoctoral research and teaching followed, including a prestigious Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Fellowship, before she was appointed to a lectureship at Birkbeck in 2004. She became Professor of Mathematics there in 2013, and served in various management roles including as Head of Mathematics and Statistics, Assistant Dean, and Programme Director for the MSc Mathematics.Her academic publications have been mainly in the area of pure mathematics known as group theory, which has many applications both inside and outside of mathematics, for example in coding theory and cryptography. She is actively involved in the British Society for the History of Mathematics, and has served a three-year term as President of the Society from 2021-2023.The transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/galileos-journey-underworld-case-interdisciplinary-thinkingGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham College's mission, please consider making a donation: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-today Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukX: https://x.com/GreshamCollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/greshamcollege.bsky.social TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greshamcollegeSupport Us: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-todaySupport the show

It was a real pleasure to invite Julia Ganter into our Virtual Studio to talk about today's role, and possible future roles for Middle Powers, in a world of rising disorder. Which are today's Middle Powers and what role do Middle Powers play in today's global order? Is there a characteristic Middle Power Diplomacy? Julia Ganter is the Programme Director of the Emerging Middle Powers Initiative and Editor-in-Chief of “The Berlin Pulse”, the annual foreign policy publication and public opinion survey of the German foundation Körber-Stiftung. (https://www.global-solutions-initiative.org/person/julia-ganter/)

The IfG DevoLab is a new Institute for Government initiative dedicated to exploring the innovations enabled by devolution, learning from the results, and sharing the lessons so that places can take better decisions about how to use devolved powers and budgets.     The first ever IfG DevoLab event saw speakers from three regions set out how the powers and profile of mayors are being used to address health inequalities in their regions.   The three case studies being presented at IfG DevoLab #1 were:   ‘Beds for Babies: Safe Space to Sleep', by Andy Gates, Director of Development, Collaboration and Culture at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority ‘Taking a health in all policies approach', by Vicky Hobart, Director of Public Health at the Greater London Authority Group. ‘Working Well', by Thomas Britton, Principal – Contracted Employment Provision at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The three speakers were joined by Peter Babudu, Executive Director of Impact on Urban Health, for a broader discussion of how devolution can improve health outcomes, how the government can support innovation and learning, and whether there is a case for further devolution in this area.   This event, which took place in London and could also be joined online, was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   Insights from this event informed a published policy briefing containing the three case studies and the key lessons for mayors and local leaders.   This event was kindly supported by Impact on Urban Health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Special advisers are a vital part of the glue that helps make government work effectively, and since July 2024 more than 100 spads have been appointed by Keir Starmer and his ministers. As well as experiencing the day-to-day challenges that come with one of the most intense jobs in Westminster, the new cohort has also faced ministerial churn, parliamentary rebellion and a change of No.10 chiefs of staff.   So how can special advisers be most effective in government? What are the challenges they face, and how can they deal with them? And how is the current cohort of spads faring in their difficult, and misunderstood, roles?    To discuss how the spads of today (and tomorrow) can do the job well we were joined by:   Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor at the Sunday Times and co-author of Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer Salma Shah, Special Adviser to Sajid Javid (2014–19) Sam White, Special Adviser to Alistair Darling (2004–10) and Chief of Staff to Keir Starmer (2021–22); Chair of Foundations: the national what works centre for children and families   The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Údarás na Gaeltachta, in collaboration with University of Galway, has announced funding for two postgraduate bursaries worth €10,000 each for students enrolling in the University's MA in Planning and Development programme this September. The postgraduate bursary scheme was first launched in 2024 and is designed to support Irish-speaking graduates with an interest in contributing to the sustainable development of Gaeltacht areas. Sustainable development bursary for the Gaeltacht regions Along with valuable work experience with Údarás na Gaeltachta, the bursaries will enable successful applicants to gain insights into the unique planning and development challenges faced by Gaeltacht communities, including those related to economic, social, educational, sociolinguistic and cultural development. Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, said: "We are delighted to support this innovative programme. It equips recipients with comprehensive expertise to address the planning and development challenges that public agencies face when implementing investment and development strategies in Gaeltacht and rural areas. By strengthening capabilities within Local Authorities and planning organisations, we are preparing the next generation of professional planners to champion sustainable development in Gaeltacht regions for years to come." Dr Thérèse Conway, Director of the MA in Planning and Development at University of Galway, said: "Having planners that understand the unique context of minority language areas is central to the future of Gaeltacht regions. These very generous bursaries will fund two Irish speakers, who along with their language abilities, will learn the required planning acumen, through the MA in Planning and Development programme, to engage with these unique areas." Eoin Brett, a 2024 bursary recipient and MA in Planning and Development student, said: "Receiving the Údarás na Gaeltachta bursary gave me direct experience in planning for the future of Gaeltacht communities and a chance to apply what I was learning in the classroom to real projects. The experience gave me a better understanding of how planning decisions affect everyday life in Gaeltacht communities and the unique needs of these areas." The MA in Planning and Development at University of Galway prepares graduates for careers in land use and physical planning, surveying, community and regional development, and sustainable planning practice. This bursary offers a unique chance for Irish-speaking graduates to contribute to the preservation and growth of Gaeltacht communities while advancing their professional qualifications. The deadline for applications is Friday August 15th, 2025. For more information contact Dr Thérèse Conway, Programme Director, at therese.conway@ universityofgalway.ie or visit https://www. universityofgalway.ie/courses/ taught-postgraduate-courses/ planning-and-development.html. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

How can we learn to see more of our expectations and assumptions?...Today, Abbie and Rachel are two 'embodied minds' exploring the neurobiology of sensemaking, including our brains being more prediction than reaction, the controlled illusion of acting out of our expectations, the 'felt sense' we experience that encodes all information about priors, and the perception practice that allows us to check our assumptions. ...Rachel Lilley is an Associate Professor at the Birmingham Leadership Institute, a Systems Thinking and Leadership teaching and research centre at the University of Birmingham, UK.She is a practitioner-researcher in systems approaches and systems leadership and also the Programme Director for an innovative transdisciplinary Master's Programme combining Systems Leadership and Systems Practice. Rachel's high-impact research examines human decision-making, systems thinking capabilities, and behavioural change. It has supported policy design and practice, community initiatives, and leadership development at all levels. She has a particular interest in building capabilities to address climate and social change.Rachel is an expert in human sensemaking, with specialist knowledge in cognition, consciousness, and perception. Her theoretical expertise is supported and informed by a strong track record of practising, teaching, and developing embodied perception skills in teams, organisations, and individuals.She has over 30 years of experience as a systems practitioner working with public and third-sector organisations, as well as large corporates, addressing climate change, social issues, leadership, behaviour change, community engagement, and well-being....Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution....Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann....⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore all things CMM Institute here.

To conclude the IfG's conference on the Nolan Principles, our panel will discuss the impact of the Nolan Principles in public life today. How have they changed the standards landscape in the UK? What do the public think about standards in public life? How useful are standards and principles to leaders in government? And how can a strong standards system support a government's wider objectives?    Speakers:    Doug Chalmers, chair, Committee on Standards in Public Life Chris Morris, CEO, Full Fact Sachin Savur, researcher, Institute for Government Rowena Mason, Whitehall Editor at the Guardian   This session was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was part of the IfG's conference on the The Nolan Principles at 30: What does the future hold for standards in public life?

To conclude our conference on the Nolan Principles, our panel discussed the impact of the Nolan Principles in public life today. How have they changed the standards landscape in the UK? What do the public think about standards in public life? How useful are standards and principles to leaders in government? And how can a strong standards system support a government's wider objectives? Speakers: Doug Chalmers, chair, Committee on Standards in Public Life Chris Morris, CEO, Full Fact Sachin Savur, researcher, Institute for Government Rowena Mason, Whitehall Editor at the Guardian This session was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Join IfG experts for instant analysis of the 2025 spending review – a critical moment for Keir Starmer's government. Were the spending allocations sufficient to improve public services, deliver growth and make progress on the government's other missions? Which departments will be pleased – and which lost out? And did this multi-year spending review reveal a coherent strategy for the government over the next few years?   To answer these questions and more, IfG experts convened shortly after the chancellor's announcement to provide their initial analysis.   The webinar was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, with a panel including: Nick Davies, Programme Director for Public Services at the Institute for Government Ben Paxton, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As AI systems approach and potentially surpass human cognitive benchmarks, how do we design hybrid intelligence frameworks that preserve human agency while leveraging artificial cognitive enhancements?In this exploration of human-AI convergence, anthropologist and organizational learning expert Dr. Lollie Mancey presents a framework for the "cognitive revolution,” the fourth transformational shift in human civilization following agricultural, industrial, and digital eras. Drawing from Berkeley's research on the science of awe, Vatican AI policy frameworks, and indigenous knowledge systems, Mancey analyzes how current AI capabilities (GPT-4 operating at Einstein-level IQ) are fundamentally reshaping cognitive labor and social structures. She examines the EU AI Act's predictive policing clauses, the implications of quantum computing, and the emerging grief tech sector as indicators of broader systemic transformation. Mancey identifies three meta-cognitive capabilities essential for human-AI collaboration: Critical information interrogation, Systematic curiosity protocols, and Epistemic skepticism frameworksHer research on AI companion platforms reveals neurological patterns like addiction pathways. At the same time, her fieldwork with Balinese communities demonstrates alternative models of technological integration based on reciprocal participation rather than extractiveoptimization. This conversation provides actionable intelligence for organizations navigating the transition from human-centric to hybrid cognitive systems.Key Research Insights• Cognitive Revolution Metrics: Compound technological acceleration outpaces regulatory adaptation, with education systems lagging significantly, requiring new frameworks for cognitive load management and decision architecture in research environments • Einstein IQ Parity Achieved: GPT-4 operates at Einstein-level intelligence yet lacks breakthrough innovation capabilities, highlighting critical distinctions between pattern recognition and creative synthesis for R&D resource allocation • Neurological Dependency Patterns: AI companion platforms demonstrate "catnip-like" effects with users exhibiting hyper-fixation behaviors and difficulty with "digital divorce"—profound implications for workforce cognitive resilience • Epistemic Security Crisis: Deep fakes eliminated content authentication while AI hallucinations embed systemic biases from internet-scale training data, requiring new verification protocols and decision-making frameworks • Alternative Integration Architecture: Balinese reciprocal participation models versus Western extractive paradigms offer scalable approaches for sustainable innovation ecosystems and human-technology collaboration#EcosystemicFutures #CognitiveRevolution #HybridIntelligence #NeuroCognition #QuantumComputing #SociotechnicalSystems #HumanAugmentation #SystemsThinking #FutureOfScience Guest: Lorraine Mancey, Programme Director at UCD Innovation Academy Host: Marco Annunziata, Co-Founder, Annunziata Desai PartnersSeries Hosts:Vikram Shyam, Lead Futurist, NASA Glenn Research CenterDyan Finkhousen, Founder & CEO, Shoshin WorksEcosystemic Futures is provided by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project in collaboration with Shoshin Works.

Episode 126 - Inside the BFI National Archives - Film on Film Festival - Special EpisodeFor this early release of the podcast, I'm taking you behind the scenes at the BFI National Archive in Berkhamsted. The reason for the early drop? Tickets for the BFI's excellent Film on Film Festival go on sale to the public tomorrow, 9th May 2025, and I wanted to give you a bit of insight into what makes this event so special. The Film on Film Festival runs from the 12th to the 15th of June and is dedicated entirely to screenings on physical film – from 35mm to 16mm, and even nitrate. It's a rare opportunity to experience films as they were originally shown, in all their analogue glory. While at the archive, I spoke with several of the experts who help make the festival possible and who work daily to preserve the history of cinema. You'll hear from:James Bell – Senior Curator of Fiction and Programme Director, Film on Film FestivalChris Stenner – Film Laboratory LeadSonia Genaitay – Curatorial ArchivistMartin Coffill – Projectionist and QCDavid Jones – Film Scanning LeadA huge thanks to Kieron Webb and Sarah Bemand for organising the day. It was a real privilege to explore the archive, meet the people who keep the machines running and the prints in circulation, and to share it all with you here. If you're attending the festival on the 12th, please do let me know and be sure to say "hi".BFI Film on FilmAll my links