Podcasts about programme director

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

Many of the public's interactions with the state are with frontline officials in health and social care, policing and local government. How much do the Nolan principles resonate with those delivering public services? How can frontline officials be supported to make ethical decisions? And how can frontline organisations prevent failures, and rebuild public trust where they occur? Speakers: Neil Basu, former Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Helen Buckingham, Chair of National Voices Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman This session was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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

Chaired by Alex Thomas, 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?

After 30 years of the Nolan Principles, ethical scandals – from partygate to freebiegate – are still a regular feature of UK political life and public trust in politicians remains low. What role do politicians play in leading by example? How should politicians in Westminster, devolved and local governments demonstrate their commitment to the Nolan Principles? How can they show ethical leadership within their organisations? And what does upholding standards look like in different political and governmental contexts? Speakers: Paula Barker MP, member of the Commons Select Committee on Standards Roger Gough, former leader of Kent County Council Dr Melissa McCullough, Commissioner for Standards, NI Assembly Dave Penman, General Secretary, FDA This session will be chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle are never far away in Westminster. So how should Keir Starmer approach the delicate task of choosing his top team? The prime minister has to strike a balance between ministers' performance, party management and the government's policy agenda, while being a minister is a job like no other – there are no regular performance reviews, clear handovers or annual appraisals. So how can ministers succeed in government and reach the cabinet table? What skills do they need at each rung of the ministerial ladder? How can backbench MPs prepare to become a minister? And how does the prime minister make decisions about who should serve in government? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including: Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at The i Paper Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Rt Hon James Purnell, CEO of Flint Global and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle are never far away in Westminster. So how should Keir Starmer approach the delicate task of choosing his top team? The prime minister has to strike a balance between ministers' performance, party management and the government's policy agenda, while being a minister is a job like no other – there are no regular performance reviews, clear handovers or annual appraisals.   So how can ministers succeed in government and reach the cabinet table? What skills do they need at each rung of the ministerial ladder? How can backbench MPs prepare to become a minister? And how does the prime minister make decisions about who should serve in government?   To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including:   Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at the i Paper Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Rt Hon James Purnell, CEO of Flint Global and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions   The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

The 2025 spending review on 11 June is a critical moment for Keir Starmer's government. Almost a year since Labour's general election victory, Rachel Reeves will set budgets for departments up to 2028/29 – which will cover most of the rest of the parliament. But the chancellor is facing difficult choices – and her decisions will reveal a great deal about this government's priorities. Will the spending allocations be sufficient to improve public services, deliver growth and make progress on the government's other missions? Which departments will be pleased – and which will lose out? And will 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

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.

After a decade of tight funding settlements and the Covid-19 pandemic, Wes Streeting is the latest health secretary trying to improve NHS productivity. But what can the government do to ensure the NHS spends its budget – due to be more than £200bn in 2025/26 – more effectively? This event, held in partnership with the Health Foundation, explored what the NHS can do to improve productivity – which is vital to improve the quality of services for patients, ensure the NHS is financially sustainable and provide value for money for taxpayers. What improvements in productivity and health outcomes can technology really deliver? What lessons are there from previous governments' attempts to make efficiency savings? What options does Streeting really have to drive through reforms? What effect – if any – will the abolition of NHS England and cuts to integrated care boards' budgets have on driving productivity to improve performance? To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including: Helen Buckingham, Chair of Trustees at National Voices Anita Charlesworth, Senior Economic Advisor at the Health Foundation Caroline Clarke, Regional Director of the NHS in London Rachel Sylvester, Political Editor at the Observer The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with The Health Foundation.

After a decade of tight funding settlements and the Covid-19 pandemic, Wes Streeting is the latest health secretary trying to improve NHS productivity. But what can the government do to ensure the NHS spends its budget – due to be more than £200bn in 2025/26 – more effectively?   This event, held in partnership with the Health Foundation, explored what the NHS can do to improve productivity – which is vital to improve the quality of services for patients, ensure the NHS is financially sustainable and provide value for money for taxpayers.     What improvements in productivity and health outcomes can technology really deliver? What lessons are there from previous governments' attempts to make efficiency savings? What options does Streeting really have to drive through reforms? What effect – if any – will the abolition of NHS England and cuts to integrated care boards' budgets have on driving productivity to improve performance?   To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including:   Helen Buckingham, Chair of Trustees at National Voices Anita Charlesworth, Senior Economic Advisor at the Health Foundation Caroline Clarke, Regional Director of the NHS in London Rachel Sylvester, Political Editor at the Observer   The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was held in partnership with The Health Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Ciara Smyth, a distinguished lecturer at the School of Law at University of Galway She is the Programme Director for the LLM in International Migration and Refugee Law and Policy at the Irish Centre for Human Rights. Her expertise lies in the areas of asylum law, refugee protection, and human rights.She talks about her very early experiences in post Pol Pot CambodiaShe later worked with the UNHCR in DublinThis episode is essential listening for anyone and everyone who would like to know how both the refugee and international protection systems work.Ciara's legal/cultural recommendation is a movie called 'The Swimmers'The episode also includes recent important cases drawn from the Decisis casebook. These are brought to you thanks to Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, Georges St. Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.Case includeNorthern Ireland administration and whether it was recognised in Ireland - very interesting in terms of law across the two jurisdictionsA case involving the demolition of historic properties and an assessment that was not carried out. The sale of farmland and an injunction that was sought, claiming the land was being sold under its correct value. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of its devolution agenda, the government is deepening and extending the mayoral model across England. Fourteen regional mayors are now in office, holding powers over transport, skills, housing and planning, economic growth and more. The government eventually wants every region of England to be led by a mayor.   But what are the characteristics of effective mayoral leadership? How should existing and new mayors use their powers and their platform to bring benefits to their regions? And what lessons can England's mayors learn from international experience?   We held a discussion of these themes, informed by insights from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University and its director, Professor Jorrit de Jong, who was in conversation with Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government, and Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean Sweeney, Programme Director of Metrolink, joins Rachael in the studio to provide the current status with the Metrolink project.

The latest cost estimate for building Dublin's Metrolink was approximately €23 billion. However, could that figure now be too low?Work is set to start in 2026, with its completion estimated to be in the mid-2030s.Dr. Sean Sweeney, Programme Director of Metrolink spoke to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the conversation.

Dr Sean Sweeney is the Programme Director of Ireland's first planned metro project. Sean has come into Newstalk to answer listeners questions on the project.

Dr Sean Sweeney is the Programme Director of Ireland's first planned metro project. Sean has come into Newstalk to answer listeners questions on the project.

As part of its devolution agenda, the government is deepening and extending the mayoral model across England. Fourteen regional mayors are now in office, holding powers over transport, skills, housing and planning, economic growth and more. The government eventually wants every region of England to be led by a mayor. But what are the characteristics of effective mayoral leadership? How should existing and new mayors use their powers and their platform to bring benefits to their regions? And what lessons can England's mayors learn from international experience? We held a discussion of these themes, informed by insights from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University and its director, Professor Jorrit de Jong, who was in conversation with Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government, and Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution.

Musa Konneh's journey from a difficult childhood to becoming a passionate advocate for young mothers in Sierra Leone highlights the power of community care. With his work, he's helping young mothers gain education, employment, and dignity. His efforts aim to break down societal barriers and create a more inclusive society.00:12- About Musa KonnehMusa is a passionate advocate for human, women's, girls and children's rights in Sierra Leone.He serves as Continental Youth Director for the Ken G Morka Foundation Regional Impact Leader and Executive Coordinator Research To Empower National Director for Youth in Leadership Transformation Africa, and Programme Director of the Movement for Education and Advocacy Network Salone.

In today's podcast we look at the world of nuclear decommissioningNuclear power has played a vital role in the UK's energy story for more than half a century. But as the country transitions toward a low-carbon future, there's another story unfolding—one of responsibility, innovation, and transformation. The story of the decommissioning.At the heart of this story is the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, tasked with one of the largest, most complex environmental remediation missions in Europe, and responsible for safely, securely, and efficiently decommissioning the UK's civil nuclear legacy. This means dealing with decades-old infrastructure, hazardous materials, and a technical challenge that spans generations. But it's not just about dismantling what's old—it's about building the systems, skills, and strategies needed to do it better, faster, and more sustainably.Today, the NDA is in the midst of a major transformation programme. From digital innovation and smarter asset management to a cultural shift that embraces agility, collaboration, and change, the NDA is rethinking what it means to manage nuclear legacy sites in the 21st century. To find out how this strategy is being turned into reality, I am joined on the podcast today by Stuart Miller, Programme Director at NDA who will help us to explore the opportunities and obstacles on the road ahead. What does decommissioning look like in an era of digital transformation? How do you drive change in a complex, risk-averse environment? And what does this work mean - not just for the UK today, but for future generations and global best practice?In short, it's an opportunity to shed light on one of the most important, yet often overlooked, national missions of our time.ResourcesNuclear Decommissioning Authority WebsiteNDA priorities and policiesStuart Miller Linked InSellafield business plans

Guest: Jennifer Ball | Programme Director Africa Melane speaks to Jennifer Ball, Programme Director for The Franschhoek Literary Festival which kicks off From 16–18 May See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute's 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government's first year in office and the prime minister's agenda to reform public services and rewire the state.   The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spoke on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury's speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute's key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions.   This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute's existing research to the government's vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans.   Part 1 includes: Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government   Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government   Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government   Part 2 includes: Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government    Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government   This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute's 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government's first year in office and the prime minister's agenda to reform public services and rewire the state.   The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spoke on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury's speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute's key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions.   This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute's existing research to the government's vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans.   Part 1 includes: Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government   Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government   Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government   Part 2 includes: Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government    Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government   This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, hosts Dr Sara Black and Liam Cini O'Dwyer are joined by Dr Sarah Steadman to explore her research into the emotional and complex journey of becoming a teacher.Dr Steadman, a lecturer in English Education and Programme Director for PGCE courses at King's College London, shares how her doctoral research unexpectedly led her to a deeper exploration of teacher identity—an area often overlooked in mainstream educational research. Rather than focusing on programme designers or institutional structures, her work centres the voices and lived experiences of the trainees themselves. Our hosts and guest reflect on the pressure trainee teachers face, the complexity of navigating one's sense of self in the classroom, and the individualistic nature of teaching in an increasingly standardised policy environment. Dr Steadman underscores the importance of acknowledging teacher identity in efforts to tackle recruitment and retention, especially as the profession continues to weather crises—from pandemic disruptions to policy shifts.Follow us:

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute's 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government's first year in office and the prime minister's agenda to reform public services and rewire the state. The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spok on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury's speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute's key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions. This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute's existing research to the government's vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans. Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute's 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government's first year in office and the prime minister's agenda to reform public services and rewire the state. The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spok on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury's speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute's key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions. This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute's existing research to the government's vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans. Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute's 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government's first year in office and the prime minister's agenda to reform public services and rewire the state. The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spok on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury's speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute's key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions. This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute's existing research to the government's vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans. Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute's 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government's first year in office and the prime minister's agenda to reform public services and rewire the state. The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spok on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury's speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute's key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions. This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute's existing research to the government's vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans. Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Cyber security is no longer a future concern – it's a challenge facing social care providers right now.In this episode of The Care Social podcast, we speak to Michelle Corrigan, Programme Director at Digital Care Hub and NHS Cyber Leader of the Year, about the real risks – and opportunities – of going digital in social care.Michelle explains why data security matters so much in care, how AI is really being used, and what providers can do today to improve their cyber resilience, meet DSPT requirements, and protect the people they support.In this episode:What cyber security means for social care providersHow to protect personal care data from cyber threatsSimple steps to improve digital safety and readinessWhat AI can and can't do in a care settingWhy completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is so important – and easier than you thinkThis is a must-listen for registered managers, care home owners, supported living providers, and anyone interested in safer digital care.

Keir Starmer has said that “nothing less than the complete re-wiring of the British state” is needed for the public sector – and in particular the civil service – to deliver the government's agenda. So what should this transformation look like – and how can it be made to last?   As the government's former lead Non-Executive Director, Michael Jary CBE worked closely with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Cabinet Secretary, the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer, as well as other senior civil servants across government, and has an unparalleled view on what works in Whitehall – and beyond – and what needs to change. In a speech at the IfG, he set out his views on what needs to change – and how this change can be embedded throughout the civil service – before taking part in a panel conversation.   Alongside Michael, we were be joined by: Josie Cluer, Partner, People Advisory Services at Ernst & Young LLP Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Quin, former Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office   The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Miguel Flores, Assistant Professor and Programme Director for Work Placements at the School of Business, National College of Ireland (NCI), has been awarded the prestigious New Foundations research grant from Research Ireland to lead a groundbreaking project aimed at improving the inclusivity and accessibility of Degree-Embedded Work Placements for students with disabilities in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The project, titled "Enhancing University-to-Work Transitions of Students with Disabilities Through Work Placements: Assessing Barriers and Facilitators in Irish Higher Education," seeks to address a significant gap in academic research. While existing studies highlight that work placements help graduates apply academic knowledge, develop transferable skills, build professional networks, and shape their graduate identity - ultimately easing the transition into the labour market - these benefits are not equitably experienced by all students. Students with disabilities often face unique challenges, including attitudinal and institutional barriers, and additional systemic hurdles that can hinder their access to these valuable opportunities. "This research aims to uncover the barriers and enablers that influence the participation of students with disabilities in work placements. The goal is to inform evidence-based policies that foster more inclusive opportunities, empowering students with disabilities to maximise both their academic achievements and professional potential." ~ Dr Miguel Flores. This project builds on Dr. Flores's research into the labour market outcomes of higher education graduates, with a particular focus on the connection between work placements and employability. His recent study found that graduates who complete work placements are more likely to secure roles aligned with their career aspirations compared to those without placement experience (Arsenis & Flores, 2024a). Additionally, his latest publication highlights how work placements influence graduate earnings, revealing that students who return to their placement employer after graduation often enjoy significant financial advantages. These findings underscore the vital role that work placements play in enhancing graduate employability and long-term career success (Arsenis & Flores, 2024b). The New Foundations research grant presents an exciting opportunity to expand this research into the realms of disability, equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in higher education. The project is expected to have a lasting impact on how Irish HEIs design and implement work placements, contributing to the development of more inclusive educational environments that support the successful university-to-work transition for students with disabilities. In pursuit of this research, the project will be conducted in partnership with AHEAD, Ireland's leading civil society organisation dedicated to creating inclusive environments for students and graduates with disabilities. This collaboration will ensure that the research not only identifies the challenges faced by students with disabilities but also translates findings into practical, actionable strategies for both educational institutions and employers. See more 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.

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

Adam Smith narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this guest blog, Adam challenges the scepticism around “personal branding” by reframing it as a tool for clarity rather than self-promotion. Drawing from personal anecdotes and practical advice, he explains how early career researchers can shape how they're perceived by being deliberate in how they show up, online and in person. With thoughtful encouragement, he demystifies what a brand is and isn't—and why even quiet, kind, reliable people can benefit from having one. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-building-a-personal-brand/ -- 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

Keir Starmer has said that “nothing less than the complete re-wiring of the British state” is needed for the public sector – and in particular the civil service – to deliver the government's agenda. So what should this transformation look like – and how can it be made to last? As the government's former lead Non-Executive Director, Michael Jary CBE worked closely with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Cabinet Secretary, the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer, as well as other senior civil servants across government, and has an unparalleled view on what works in Whitehall – and beyond – and what needs to change. In a speech at the IfG, he set out his views on what needs to change – and how this change can be embedded throughout the civil service – before taking part in a panel conversation. Alongside Michael, we were be joined by: Josie Cluer, Partner, People Advisory Services at Ernst & Young LLP Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Quin, former Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

Our subject in this episode may seem grim – it's the potential extinction of the human species, either from a natural disaster, like a supervolcano or an asteroid, or from our own human activities, such as nuclear weapons, greenhouse gas emissions, engineered biopathogens, misaligned artificial intelligence, or high energy physics experiments causing a cataclysmic rupture in space and time.These scenarios aren't pleasant to contemplate, but there's a school of thought that urges us to take them seriously – to think about the unthinkable, in the phrase coined in 1962 by pioneering futurist Herman Kahn. Over the last couple of decades, few people have been thinking about the unthinkable more carefully and systematically than our guest today, Sean ÓhÉigeartaigh. Sean is the author of a recent summary article from Cambridge University Press that we'll be discussing, “Extinction of the human species: What could cause it and how likely is it to occur?”Sean is presently based in Cambridge where he is a Programme Director at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence. Previously he was founding Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, and before that, he managed research activities at the Future of Humanity Institute in Oxford.Selected follow-ups:Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh - Leverhulme Centre ProfileExtinction of the human species - by Sean ÓhÉigeartaighHerman Kahn - WikipediaMoral.me - by ConsciumClassifying global catastrophic risks - by Shahar Avin et alDefence in Depth Against Human Extinction - by Anders Sandberg et alThe Precipice - book by Toby OrdMeasuring AI Ability to Complete Long Tasks - by METRCold Takes - blog by Holden KarnofskyWhat Comes After the Paris AI Summit? - Article by SeanARC-AGI - by François CholletHenry Shevlin - Leverhulme Centre profileEleos (includes Rosie Campbell and Robert Long)NeurIPS talk by David ChalmersTrustworthy AI Systems To Monitor Other AI: Yoshua BengioThe Unilateralist's Curse - by Nick Bostrom and Anders SandbergMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, availabPromoguy Talk PillsAgency in Amsterdam dives into topics like Tech, AI, digital marketing, and more drama...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Pippa speaks to Jennfer Ball, Programme Director for the Franschhoek Literary Festival about the jam-packed programme offering both local and international writers across a broad spectrum of genres. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Listen live – Lunch with Pippa Hudson is broadcast weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) https://www.primediaplus.com/station/capetalk Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/capetalk/lunch-with-pippa-hudson/show-podcasts/lunch-with-pippa-hudson/ Subscribe to the CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/ Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalk   CapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalk   CapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkza  CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalk  CapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Institute for Government webinar brought instant expert analysis of the prime minister's plans to radically overhaul the British state.   Ahead of his speech, Keir Starmer told officials he wants to unshackle them from bureaucracy to stop their talent being "constrained”, and to create an “agile, mission-focused and more productive” civil service.   But planned job cuts across the civil service and a clampdown on quangos and regulators have seen the government's reform blueprint dubbed “Operation Chainsaw” – echoing Elon Musk's DOGE plans for reforming the US government.   So what is in the PM's plan? What will it mean for delivering Labour's missions and its milestones? What should civil servants expect in the coming weeks and months? And how can Whitehall leaders best put the government's reform agenda into action?   To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including:   Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As of February 2025, the Generation Study has recruited over 3,000 participants. In this episode of Behind the Genes, we explore what we have learnt so far from running the study and how it continues to evolve in response to emerging challenges. The conversation delves into key lessons from early recruitment, the challenges of ensuring diverse representation, and the ethical considerations surrounding the storage of genomic data. Our guests discuss how ongoing dialogue with communities is helping to refine recruitment strategies, improve equity in access, and enhance the diversity of genomic data.  Our host Vivienne Parry, Head of Public Engagement at Genomics England, is joined by Alice Tuff-Lacey, Program Director for the Generation Study; Dalia Kasperaviciute, Scientific Director for Human Genomics at Genomics England; and Kerry Leeson Bevers, CEO of Alström Syndrome UK. For more information on the study, visit the Generation Study website, or see below for some of our top blogs and podcasts on the topic: Podcast: What do parents want to know about the Generation Study? Podcast: How has design research shaped the Generation Study? Blog: What is the Generation Study? "We always have to remember, don't we, that if people say no to these things, it's not a failure to on our part, or a failure on their part. It's just something they've thought about and they don't want to do, and for all sorts of different reasons. And the other reflection I have about different communities is the ‘different' bit, is that what approach works for one community may not work for another, and I think that that's something that's going to have to evolve over length of the study, is finding the things that are the right way, the most helpful way to approach people." You can download the transcript, or read it below.   Vivienne: Hello and welcome to Behind the Genes.    Alice: “And this is quite an exciting shift in how we use whole genome sequencing, because what we are talking about is using it in a much more preventative way. Traditionally, where we've been using it is diagnostically where we know someone is sick and they've got symptoms of a rare condition, and we're looking to see what they might have. What we're actually talking about is screening babies from birth using their genome, to see if they are at risk of a particular condition, and what this means is this raising quite a lot of complex ethical, operational, and scientific and clinical questions.”    Vivienne: My name's Vivienne Parry, and I'm Head of Public Engagement here at Genomics England, and I'm your host on this episode of Behind the Genes.      Now, if you are a fan of this podcast, and of course you're a fan of this podcast, you may have already heard us talking about the Generation Study, the very exciting Genomics England research project which aims to screen 100,000 newborn babies for over 200 genetic conditions using whole genome sequencing.      Well, we've got more on the study for you now. What we're doing to make it both accessible and equitable for all parents-to-be, and our plans to ensure that we continue to listen to parents, and perhaps in future, the babies as they grow up. We'll chat, too, about emerging challenges and how we might deal with them.    I'm joined in our studio by Alice Tuff-Lacey, the Programme Director for the Generation Study, and Dalia Kasperaviciute, Scientific Director for Human Genomics, both from Genomics England, and we're delighted to welcome Kerry Leeson-Bevers, Chief Executive of Alström Syndrome UK. And I'm just going to quickly ask Kerry, just tell us about Alström Syndrome and how you're involved.    Kerry: Yes, so Alström Syndrome is an ultra-rare genetic condition. My son has the condition and that's how I got involved. So, the charity has been around now since 1998, so quite a well-established charity, but as part of our work we developed Breaking Down Barriers, which is a network of organisations working to improving engagement and involvement from diverse, marginalised and under-served communities as well.    Vivienne: And you wear another hat as well?  Kerry: I do. So, I'm also a member of the research team working on the process and impact evaluation for the Generation Study. So, I'm Chair of the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Advisory Group there.    Vivienne: Well, the multiply hatted Kerry, we're delighted to welcome you. Thank you so much for being with us.      So, first of all, let's just have a sense from Alice Tuff-Lacey about this project. In a nutshell, what's it all about, Alice?  Alice: Thanks Viv. So, I think in the last few years we've seen some really big advances in the diagnoses of rare diseases through things the Genomic Medicine Service. But we know it takes about 5 years often to diagnose most of these rare conditions. What we also know is that there are several hundred of them that are treatable, and actually there can be massive benefits to the child's health from diagnosing and treating them earlier. I think a really good example of this which is often talked about is spinal muscular atrophy, which is a particular condition where there is a genetic treatment available and there is a really big difference in families from those babies where the condition was identified later on, versus their brothers and sisters where they were identified early because they knew there was a sibling that had it and they were given that treatment.     What we think there is a huge potential opportunity to identify these children from their genome before they get ill, and this is quite an exciting shift in how we use whole genome sequencing, because what we are talking about is using it in a much more preventative way.  But this is a really different approach to how we've been using it so far, because traditionally where we have been using it is diagnostically where we know someone is sick and they've got symptoms of a rare condition and we are looking to see what they might have, what we are actually talking about is screening babies from birth using their genome to see if they are at risk of a particular condition. And what this means is, this raises quite a lot of complex ethical, operational and scientific and clinical questions.      So the aim of the Generation Study is really to understand if we can and should use whole genome sequencing in this way to screen for rare conditions in newborn babies. We've been funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to do this over the following years, and the way we'll be doing this is by a national study across a network of trusts in England where we are aiming to recruit about 100,000 babies and screen them for rare treatable conditions that we know present in childhood. And really the aim of this is to understand if this will work and how it will work, and to generate the evidence to allow the NHS and the National Screening Committee to decide if this could become a clinical service, and that's very much the primary goal of the study.      Beyond that, however, there are some other aims of the study, and we also consent mothers to ask permission to retain their genomic data and to link it to the baby's clinical data over their childhood, and we'll be providing access to this to researchers in the de-identified way in our trusted research environment. And this is to really understand if that data can also be used to further generate information around other discovery research, but also critically understand that the motivations for parents involved will be very different, and we need to think very carefully about how we engage and work with the parents of the babies going forward about how we use their data.    Vivienne: And the super exciting thing is we've started recruiting. How many mothers have we recruited?  Alice: So, we've recruited over 3,000 to date, and it's building every day and every week really. And it's really exciting because we see more and more trusts coming online and the study building and really starting to learn from the experience. And every week and every month, we're learning much more about how this process works, what the impact it's having, and kind of what we need to do over the coming few months and years to deliver it.    Vivienne: And we did a huge about of work at Genomics England before the study even started, to try and find out what people wanted. So, we found out, for instance, that people didn't want to know about late onset conditions, they did want to know about conditions where there was a treatment, and they wanted things that could be done for their babies in childhood. So, we had a really clear steer from the public about this project before we even started. So, how are we continuing to learn from the people who are involved in the study and the public? I mean Kerry, you've been involved in this aspect. We need to listen, don't we, to find out what's going on?    Kerry: We do, we do, and I think it's really encouraging to see the public dialogue and the amount of engagement work that was done there to kind of identify what some of those areas were, but it's really important that we don't stop that engagement there. It's really important to continue that, and I know that we've got quite a diverse group for our Patient and Public Involvement Advisory Group and the Evaluation Team, and one of the things they're really interested in is how we're going out there to speak with communities. You know, we can't just be reliant on the media, and press releases about the study. We need to actually go to communities and have these conversations so that people can have a conversation within an environment that they feel safe and confident with the people that they feel supported by as well.    So I think it's really key that we continue to ask those questions but also learning from the evaluation and, as we go through the process, of speaking to the patient organisations as well who support families that suffer from some conditions that we plan to identify through this study, and learn what some of their challenges are as well. You know, do they feel equipped to be able to support parents that are getting a diagnosis? As well as obviously their participants and the general public, to make sure that we're aware of attitudes and perceptions as the study goes along.    Vivienne: Because there's always a danger with this kind of study that it's people who are health literate who end up being involved. Whereas some of the people on whom the burden of rare disease is greatest may not either feel that they can access, or would want to access, this study. So, what are we doing there? How are we listening to people?  Kerry: When we are looking at recruitment as well, like you say, you know this is a research study and when we look at history and when we look at participants in research studies, we very rarely do you get a diverse representation of people in these types of studies. So, it's really important that those extra efforts are made really in terms of recruitment to get the right sample of people involved. And I know at Genomics England, that they have invested their time and money in terms of interpreters and translating materials and things, but actually it's the sites and recruiting people that need to be well resourced in order to use recruitment strategies, because if we're just looking at posters in waiting rooms, for instance, you're going to get a particular demographic of people that will respond to those kind of posters, such as people who don't speak English as a first language, it would be really difficult sometimes to read those kinds of posters and then to ask questions about that.     We need skilled people within sites that are recruiting who have got cultural competence who can have those conversations, address some of those areas, some of those concerns so that we can get that diverse representation.    Vivienne: So, there's a whole piece about equity of access for everybody and Dalia, perhaps you can explain why this is so important, scientifically as well as ethically? There's another piece about making sure that we get a full diversity represented.    Dalia: We know that some of the conditions are more common in certain populations or certain communities. We also know that some of the conditions are caused by certain variants in one population but not in the others. And these genetic causes even of the same condition can vary between different communities and different genetic ancestors.  On the other hand, our knowledge about the conditions and the genes, and the variants which cause them, come a lot from what we've seen before. Where we've seen those variants in the patients with the disease, and importantly where we've seen those variants in control populations where these individuals which don't have conditions.      Therefore, if we lack the diversity in our datasets, we would not know about all the diverse reasons of why conditions can be caused, or how it progresses, or what it might mean for individuals. And we would not be able to have equitable testing, or we wouldn't know whether the test works for everyone. If that happened, we might be in the territory where we can't detect or don't detect as well all the conditions across different individuals. But also, we may be having more false positive results and create more anxiety for families as well as burden for healthcare system.    Vivienne: So, are you saying, Dalia, that actually sometimes we might get a false positive, or indeed a false negative, simply because in that person, the condition which we think is usually caused by a particular change, they've got a slightly different change and so therefore we're not picking it up.  Dalia: Indeed, but it's one of the possibilities. If, let's say, all our knowledge about certain genes came from a limited number of individuals, seeing a new variant in another individual might seem that it's something really rare and never seen before and it's potentially changes how the gene functions, we would say; “oh that's maybe something which causes the disease,” when actually it can be that it is a benign variant, just a normal variation which is very common in another part of the world, it's just that we don't have enough data to know about it. So, we need to be aware of those risks and take it into account when we interpret the variants.      And, we also need to be transparent when operating in the environment. There was historical and investment in the diversity in research and our data sets still are not as diverse as we would like to be. It's shifting, the balance is definitely shifting in the last few years. A lot of effort is being done but the only way to shift the balance forever and make that genomic medicine work for everyone is to really actively engage those individuals and involve them in the research, and taking all the effort that Kerry was talking about.    Advert: The Genomics England Research Summit is fast approaching and registration is now open! Join us for this one day in-person event on Tuesday 17 June 2025. This year's agenda dives into rare condition diagnosis, cancer genomics, pharmacogenomics, therapeutic trials, and the impact of emerging technologies. Hear from leading experts and inspirational speakers as we explore the present and future of genomics and the latest research and technology from the Genomics England research community. Keep an eye on the website, genomicsresearchsummit.co.uk for all the details and to secure your spot. Spaces are limited, so don't miss out. We'll see you at the summit!  Vivienne: Alice, that goes back to this thing about holding the genomic data, because you need to hold the genomic data because the thing about genomics as always, you need to know what happens next. So, for instance, if somebody had a negative result and then later developed a condition, you need to be able to go back that data in order to find out what the problem was.  Kerry: That's right. You know, as Dalia talked about, we know that there is a risk within the study and we try and be clear about that in our participant information that there are some babies where they may have a genetic condition that we will need not find it, and others where we might find something that doesn't go on to be the actual condition. And we need to kind of monitor those in different ways.      So in particular in the cases where, if we've returned a result where we don't think we suspect a condition and a baby goes on to develop a condition, it's quite complex how we monitor that, and we're trying to go for a multi-track approach, and I think a lot of the benefits is some of the infrastructure that Genomic England already has that we can utilise.  So, some of the foundational things we've put into the study to help support the approach are things like the ability to contact parents regularly so we can actually work with them to find out over time if their babies develop conditions.    As you say, ability and consent to access the clinical data about the baby so that we can then access national data sets, and then we can then potentially monitor to see if babies seem to be showing signs of developing a condition. And also, really continuing to work with a network of clinical specialists where we've work quite hard over the last couple of years to build that kind of network and engage with them about the study, because they'll be the ones who the babies will come to if they develop those conditions. So, they are a really good route to us finding out, whether or not there are babies who have been part of the study who then go on to develop a condition.     And I think the reality is that this is a really complex process and it's something that even traditional screening programmes really struggle with, and that's why this multi-pronged approach is really important, and why also we see that this approach will evolve over time, and at the moment, the important thing is we've worked hard to put the right foundations in to allow us to do this type of monitoring, and to really evolve that approach as things develop and as more things come along potentially where we can invest in.    Vivienne: So, it's interesting, isn't it, because I guess that some parents would think that if you get a false positive or false negative, that it means that the test is at fault. And actually the accuracy of the test is good, but what we may have an issue with is that there is something else causing the problem that we don't yet know about. So, a big part of this project is giving much, much more information about the causes of conditions.    Alice: Yes, and I think that's also why the discovery research aspect is really important, the fact that we consent for that ability to hold the baby's data. So not only will we want to use it for the evaluation, but as I mentioned at the beginning, we have asked for parents to be able to allow us to link it to clinical data which then allows us to track over time and find out more information, because it's always the quality of the information we know that will help us in the future to identify these conditions, so the more we can generate potential information, you know, the more we will learn as a society.    And so it's actually quite an altruistic thing we're asking of parents, and that's something we recognise and that's why it's also important we think about, how we continue to engage with the parents and the baby over their lifetime to remind them that we're holding this data, but also to understand what their concerns and feelings are about us holding that data and how we're using it for that broader research.  Vivienne: And that's very much what you're involved in, isn't it Kerry?  Kerry: Yes, and I think sometimes in some ways that may offer some reassurance to parents as well, to know that's there as a reference point if things do develop over time, but I know that one of the things we're looking at as part of the evaluation, and the PPI Group we're involved in, is looking at the experiences of patients through this journey because actually it will create quite a lot of uncertainty.      As a parent of a child with a genetic condition, that uncertainty really is one of the hardest things to learn to live with. So at that early stage, one of the things we're looking at is that experience, how much support people have received, whether that has an impact on the parent and their child and their on bonding and their experiences and things like that, and I think it is important that we do that, but I think also having those references, where you're able to go back and ask those questions, that's really important that the support is in place, and that pathway really for parents to know where to go to. Because sometimes, although we may arrange to have calls at regular intervals and things, sometimes the questions of parents don't necessarily come at the time when they are having a telephone call. They come really late at night when there's nobody to pick up the phone, so having as much information as we can available, and those support structures in place, is really key.    Vivienne: We all start off these projects thinking that they are going to go in a particular way, but actually there's a lot of flexibility in this study, isn't there, Alice?  For instance, we will be looking at all those false positives, false negatives because we need to learn from that. We will be, perhaps, changing our approach as we go on if there is something that isn't working out. Is that what we're doing?  Alice: Yes, I think what we have recognise is it is a study and therefore that involves learning by it's very nature, and that's why partly we're working with external evaluation partners that Kerry's involved with, but also why we invest in a lot of things internally. Like we do a lot of user research with our midwives and our participants, and also potential participants. Because, actually we don't know the answer to this. No one's done this before, and so this is about all of us really learning, and learning in the right way and continuing to do that throughout the study, but also more importantly capturing that information and making sure that at the end of it, we then have some understanding of if we were to see that it's right to deliver this as a clinical service, what that might actually involve.      But also, even if we get to that point, I think beyond that we will still continue to learn over time and that's again why that long enduring consent is quite important, because we can then continue to maintain that long term evaluation and continue to maintain that long term potential to help further further research. And so that's the thing where actually we'll be learning for the next 10-15 years, really what the Generational Study has learnt, and actually what we have achieved through it.  Vivienne: I just want to move back to something that you mentioned, Kerry, about conditions that we're looking for, and there were a lot of very specific things. I've said that what parents wanted, but there's also some scientific things, and Dalia might want to come in here, that these are conditions that we pretty sure that if you've got the particular genetic change, that you will get the condition – something called penetrance. So, you know, we're not leaving people with a lot of uncertainty. But, how will we go about assessing new conditions as part of this study, or are we just on the ones that we're on at the moment?  Dalia: So, we started from the things we understand the best and we know how to detect them and we know how to confirm them because the tests that we are doing in Genomics England is a screening test, it will not be a definitive answer whether you have or you don't have a condition. Anyone which will get a positive result will be referred to an NHS specialist clinician for further assessment. And some of those positive results turn out not to have the conditions and some of them will have, and they will have their treatment pathways. So, we're started to very cautiously, and that's what came from public dialogue, everyone was saying that; “you need to be really cautious, we need to see that it works for the conditions that we understand well”.     But as a starting point, as we learn more, we're learning of how could we expand that list.  What would be acceptable for public. Maybe some conditions will have an experimental treatment, which currently would not be included in screening but as treatments evolve, at some stages maybe there will be opportunities to include some conditions in the future.      As our science evolves, we keep assessing the new conditions and seeing can we include them, would it be acceptable to parents, would it be acceptable to the healthcare system, and one of the things about screening it's really important not to cause harm. There are a lot of benefits in screening but if we didn't do it cautiously, it also has some risks, and we need to be very careful about it.    Vivienne: Now Kerry, there are lots of parent groups who will come along to us and say; “oh you must include this condition,” but perhaps there isn't yet a treatment, or there isn't a pathway in the NHS that will help people get what they need. And I guess if we try to include too many conditions, we would actually undermine trust.    Kerry: So, the patient organisation, our condition, Alström Syndrome, isn't included in the list. For our condition, there is no specific treatment although we do have a highly specialised service, and it is very important to get early diagnosis because children can develop heart failure and there are symptom-specific treatments available there. But I get the reasoning why there needs to be a specific treatment and the need to include just a smaller group at the beginning, but our hope as with I'm sure a lot of other patient organisations, is that our condition will be added at a later time if it is found that this is something that would be acceptable in routine care.    Advert: If you're enjoying what you've heard today and you'd like to hear some more great tales from the genomics coalface, why don't you join us on the Road to Genome podcast, where our host, Helen Bethell, chats to the professionals, experts and patients involved in genomics today. In our new series, Helen talks to a fantastic array of guests including the rapping consultant, clinical geneticist Professor Julian Barwell about Fragile X Syndrome, cancer genomics and the holistic approach to his practice. A genuine mic-drop of an interview. The Road to Genome is available wherever you get your podcasts.  Vivienne: Let me move on to another aspect of this study. These are babies, and we are holding their genomic information but at 16, they will be able to decide whether they want us to continue holding their genomic information. Alice, is that very much part of this programme to think about what we're going to say and how we're going to engage those 16-year-olds?  Alice: Yes, it very much is. What I always say, because I get asked this question a lot, is that I don't think we can pre-judge what that looks like. Because I look at my children, and certainly their lives are very different from my childhood, and I don't think we can imagine exactly what our babies will look in 16 years and what that world looks like. I think the important thing is many of things we are trying to do is that we lay the right foundations in place, and part of that is ensuring that we continue to think about how we engage with young people as the study evolves and over time, so that we understand what the world is looking like from their perspective.      But also, how do we equip the parents to talk about the fact that these babies are part of the study to them? What does that look like? How can we support them? And that's very much something we want to be looking at in the next year, really working with parents from the Generation Study to understand how best we can do that so that they can have some of that conversation for themselves as well. I think we can't pre-judge exactly how we need to talk about them and also not think it's just one thing. We need to evolve and work with the children as they grow up, and work with their parents to equip them because, as I said, we don't really know how they're going to access information in the future. You know certainly TikTok didn't exist when I was a child, and so that's what we've got to think about is what's the best avenues or forums to really engage properly with them as they grow.  Vivienne: Kerry, what other concerns to parents have that we're learning now?    Kerry: I think the concern is that when treatments are being developed, that they are not necessarily being developed for the whole population. They're often being developed for sub-sets of population because we don't have a complete dataset. And when you think about people being involved in research, people feel that they are being left behind because their data is not necessarily represented within there, it doesn't reflect their community, and it's not being discussed within communities, the different research opportunities and things have been available, I think it's the fact that we're not investing enough in community engagement and dialogue to explain more about genetics.   I think technology has advanced at pace. As a parent of a child with a genetic condition, that is very encouraging to see that, but I think sometimes the support and the information is not necessarily keeping up, so we're not having those open conversations really about genetics and genomics, and I think that's one of the things I hope that this study will really lead to, that it will now become much more part of everyday conversation.   Because often, when you have a child with a genetic condition, you first hear about a condition, the way you take in that information and ask questions is very different than having a conversation with the general public about genetics. When you're concerned that your child may have a condition or you may have a condition yourself, you're in a completely different mindset. So, the hope is that that dialogue will open so that people will be able to ask questions to learn more about the projects and things that are out there and available so that people are included and can take part in research if they want to. But it's important to remember that not everybody will want to. It's about being given informed choices and to do that we need to make sure that the support and the information is appropriate, inclusive and accessible.    Vivienne: We always have to remember, don't we, that if people say no to these things, it's not a failure to on our part, or a failure on their part. It's just something they've thought about and they don't want to do, and for all sorts of different reasons. And the other reflection I have about different communities is the ‘different' bit, is that what approach works for one community may not work for another, and I think that that's something that's going to have to evolve over length of the study, is finding the things that are the right way, the most helpful way to approach people.   Kerry: I completely agree. I think it's like you say, if people say no, that is completely their right to do so as long as they're saying no when they've been given the information to be able to really take that on board, think through, consider it and then make an informed decision. I think often people say no because they've not been given the right information to be able to understand what is expected, so they've not necessarily been given the opportunity. And I think we all want good outcomes for everybody. That doesn't mean delivering the services in the same way. Sometimes we need to deliver services in different ways because often services aren't very accessible for some communities to be able to access. So sometimes we need to make changes, adapt, to make sure that everybody has the same opportunities to the same outcomes.  Vivienne: We are constantly re-evaluating, rethinking, re-engaging to try and make it the best we can. Whether it's with different communities and different approaches. Whether it's with constantly assessing people who've had false positives, false negatives and finding out why that is the case. And in the future, I think this will have some really major effect.  Dalia, you're the scientist amongst us today. Tell us what you're hoping for from this study in science terms.  Dalia: So, first of all, we want to find the babies which we can treat before we develop symptoms, before we get ill, so that we can have more fulfilling lives. That's the bottom line. But we're doing that, we also will learn about the conditions. We'll learn a lot about the natural history of the conditions. What happens when you detect it before baby gets ill, then you start treatment, and how does it work in the diverse communities and diverse populations that we've talked about. Are there are any differences based on people's ancestry, but not just ancestry, about their lifestyle, about anything else which can affect how disease develops, or how the care or treatment goes.      So, that's kind of the bottom line. The top line and now our ultimate aim, probably many years from now, would be that we can detect variants of genes or conditions before they develop, and we can create treatments for them before our children get their conditions.  That's something that the science community is very excited about. I think we're quite a few years from that, but that's where we hope all this will be heading in the future.    Vivienne: It's really becoming a possibility, but the science is only the first part of it. It's the human interaction. It's the how it lands with people. It's how they feel about it. It's how they trust it. And these are all the things that we're really working on at Genomics England to make this study not just a scientific success, not just a success for the NHS, but also something that is really meaningful and important and valuable and trusted for people having babies. Would you agree?  Alice: Yes, 100%. I think, just to come in there, Viv, I think we've talked a bit about the importance of public trust and being the foundations of what we do, and I think that's something that Genomics England's always held true to itself, but I think for the purpose of the Generation Study, it's been one of kind of the foundational principles from the beginning, and I think Kerry and you have touched upon some really important themes today about how it's not a ‘one size fits all' approach. And I think very much that piece that we touched on a bit about, kind of, how do we make this accessible to everybody, we see it very much as not a ‘one size fits all', and so we've been trying lots of different things to really tackle that, and evolving the approaches which, as you said, that's where the flexibility comes in.      My hope for the next 12 months is that we can really, now that we've got the study up and running, work a lot with the some of the regional networks, the Genomic Medicine Service alliances who are working at the regional level, and the recruiting trusts, to really explore different approaches and work out how we can support them to engage with the communities in their areas, because they're the ones who will understand who they are, and our role is to really try and provide, as Kerry highlighted, the tools of support to allow them to do that, and to try and make sure that we can make this as equitable as possible in terms of people being able to at least understand the studies here, get the information in the appropriate way, and then as we have also talked about, making their own minds up about whether this is the right thing for them to be part of.    Vivienne: So, the final question for you all is if I'm a mother-to-be, where can I find out more information. Let's start with you, Kerry.  Kerry: Well, from the Generation Study website, there's information there. Midwives, GP practices, obviously they're often going to be your first port of call, so I'm hoping that they feel equipped to be able to answer those questions and to signpost people to one of the trusts that are involved.    Vivienne: And we've also got a Genomics 101 episode where we answer some of the frequently asked questions, and I think there are at least 2 or if not 3 separate episodes from Behind the Genes, which people can look for which look at different aspects of the project. Anything else, Alice, that we need to know?  Alice: So, Kerry highlighted it, the Generation Study website is a really good starting point, but that's a good place to also find out what trusts are involved because it's also important to know that this is not available in all trusts in England at the moment. We have a network and it's growing, and it is all around England, but the first place to start is, kind of, is it in your local trust?  And then from there, it's then engaging with your trust and hospitals where there will be information, and the midwives are prepared to kind of talk to people.  So those are, kind of, the good first places to start.    Vivienne: Well, we're going to wrap up there. It's been so good talking to you all. So, thank you to our guests Alice Tuff-Lacey, Kerry Leeson-Bevers, and Dalia Kasperaviciute for joining me as we talked through how the Generation Study is continuing to evolve as it responds to emerging challenges. Now, if you would like to hear more about this, then please subscribe to Behind the Genes on your favourite podcast app and, of course, we hope that you would like to rate this.  Because, if you rate it, it allows more people to see it and more people to get enthused about Behind the Genes, which we love. It's available through your normal podcast apps. I've been your host, Vivienne Parry. The podcast was edited by Bill Griffin at Ventoux Digital, and produced by Naimah Callachand at Genomics England. Thank you so much for listening. Bye for now.  

This Institute for Government webinar brought instant expert analysis of the prime minister's plans to radically overhaul the British state. Ahead of his speech, Keir Starmer told officials he wants to unshackle them from bureaucracy to stop their talent being "constrained”, and to create an “agile, mission-focused and more productive” civil service. But planned job cuts across the civil service and a clampdown on quangos and regulators have seen the government's reform blueprint dubbed “Operation Chainsaw” – echoing Elon Musk's DOGE plans for reforming the US government. So what is in the PM's plan? What will it mean for delivering Labour's missions and its milestones? What should civil servants expect in the coming weeks and months? And how can Whitehall leaders best put the government's reform agenda into action? To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including: Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

Whitehall Monitor 2025 – the Institute for Government's flagship annual report on the civil service – found that high staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay will hinder its ability to deliver Labour's missions, even with an increasing headcount and a relentless pressure for greater efficiency and productivity Keir Starmer and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden have shown a welcome enthusiasm for Whitehall reform – including a commitment to a “test and learn” mindset and “mission boards” – but little will change until long-running civil service challenges, like excessive staff turnover and falling morale, are resolved. This webinar – the second in a three-part series focusing on the report's findings – examined civil service recruitment practices and discuss what is driving the staff turnover levels across Whitehall. The webinar featured: Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Liz Tolcher, Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2025 The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government. We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting both this event and Whitehall Monitor 2025.

The Labour government wants mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) to play a leading role in delivering faster economic growth – so what can ministers do to help MCAs achieve success in this mission?     With an expanding set of devolved transport, skills, housing and planning powers, MCAs are well-placed to drive regional growth – but success is not a given. To capitalise on their potential, MCAs need effective decision-making structures, sufficient institutional capacity, and strong accountability mechanisms.   The government's devolution white paper sets out proposals to reform the capacity, accountability, and decision-making processes of MCAs, but do these reforms go far enough? What are the potential risks? And what more can the government do to support MCAs to succeed?   To answer these questions, we were joined by:   Amy Harhoff, Chief Executive of the East Midlands Combined County Authority Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Jim McMahon MP, Minister for Local Government and English Devolution Laura Shoaf, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority   This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.    Introductory remarks were also be delivered by Robert Breedon, Partner and Co-leader of Government Sector at Gowling WLG.   We would like to thank Gowling WLG for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitehall Monitor 2025 – the Institute for Government's flagship annual report on the civil service – found that high staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay will hinder its ability to deliver Labour's missions, even with an increasing headcount and a relentless pressure for greater efficiency and productivity   Keir Starmer and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden have shown a welcome enthusiasm for Whitehall reform – including a commitment to a “test and learn” mindset and “mission boards” – but little will change until long-running civil service challenges, like excessive staff turnover and falling morale, are resolved.   This webinar – the second in a three-part series focusing on the report's findings – examined civil service recruitment practices and discuss what is driving the staff turnover levels across Whitehall.   The webinar featured:   Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Liz Tolcher, Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2025   The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.   We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting both this event and Whitehall Monitor 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Labour government wants mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) to play a leading role in delivering faster economic growth – so what can ministers do to help MCAs achieve success in this mission? With an expanding set of devolved transport, skills, housing and planning powers, MCAs are well-placed to drive regional growth – but success is not a given. To capitalise on their potential, MCAs need effective decision-making structures, sufficient institutional capacity, and strong accountability mechanisms. The government's devolution white paper sets out proposals to reform the capacity, accountability, and decision-making processes of MCAs, but do these reforms go far enough? What are the potential risks? And what more can the government do to support MCAs to succeed? To answer these questions, we were joined by: Amy Harhoff, Chief Executive of the East Midlands Combined County Authority Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Jim McMahon MP, Minister for Local Government and English Devolution Laura Shoaf, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Introductory remarks were also be delivered by Robert Breedon, Partner and Co-leader of Government Sector at Gowling WLG. We would like to thank Gowling WLG for kindly supporting this event.

Whitehall Monitor 2025 – the Institute for Government's flagship annual report on the civil service – found that high staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay will hinder its ability to deliver Labour's missions, even with an increased headcount and a relentless pressure for greater efficiency and productivity Keir Starmer and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden have shown a welcome enthusiasm for Whitehall reform – including a commitment to a “test and learn” mindset and “mission boards” – but little will change until long-running civil service challenges, like excessive staff turnover and falling morale, are resolved. This webinar – the first in a three-part series focusing on Whitehall Monitor's findings – examined the size and shape of the civil service, including the growth of Whitehall departments since 2016 and the changing structure and composition of the workforce. The webinar featured: Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Liz Tolcher, Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2025 The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government. We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting both this event and Whitehall Monitor 2025.

Keir Starmer has promised to introduce legislation to parliament – before this April's anniversary of the Hillsborough football stadium disaster – that would extend a statutory duty of candour to public authorities and officials. Starmer hopes that the new Hillsborough law, which will require government organisations and officials to be truthful and to proactively co-operate with investigations and inquiries, will “address the unacceptable defensive culture prevalent across too much of the public sector” exposed in the Infected Blood, Post Office Horizon and too many other inquiries. But how widely will the duty be applied? How can it work alongside other statutory duties such as in the civil service code? What lessons can be taken from the legal duty of candour that has existed, with mixed effect, in the NHS for over 10 years? To discuss these outstanding questions about the scope and remit of the proposed legislation, and explore how this new duty of candour could help embed a culture of transparency from SW1 to the frontline, we were joined by an expert panel: Sir Robert Francis KC, Interim Chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority Liz Gardiner, CEO of Protect Pete Weatherby KC, Director of Hillsborough Law Now Campaign The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

What if true leadership is more about presence, healing, and deep connection than endless action and strategy? Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Nicholas Janni, a transformational coach and leadership expert whose groundbreaking book "Leader as Healer" challenges the traditional leadership paradigm. Nicholas is the Co-founder and Programme Director of The Matrix Development, where he catalyzes the future by working with CEOs and senior teams globally. He also teaches at two of the world's leading business schools, pioneering a new vision and practice of leadership.Today, Nicholas shares his insights on the importance of vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and true leadership's healing power. Whether you're a seasoned executive or aspiring to make a bigger impact, we invite you to listen in and learn more about the holistic, embodied, and soulful approach to guiding organizations and communities.In this episode, we cover:Background and Early InfluencesTransition to Leadership ConsultancyThe Concept of Real Presence and Flow StateTransformational Coaching and Vulnerability in GroupsEmbodiment Practices and Daily IntegrationThe Role of Leaders in Creating a New ParadigmThe Impact of Isolation and Need for ConnectionThe Role of Men in Addressing the FeminineUpcoming Programs and the Leader as an Institute Helpful links:Nicholas Janni - The Matrix DevelopmentNicholas Janni: Monthly Inspirational Dialogues - Online event with Special Guests on Feb 26, 2025 - Register nowLIBERATING THE FEMININE LEADER - A retreat for women in Puglia, South Italy, June 20th to 24th 2025 - For updates follow Nicholas on Instagram @njanni and LinkedInThomas HüblDavid Lynch - Transcendental MeditationLiving Tantra Retreat: 6 days in-person retreat at the Art of Living Center at Blue Ridge Mountains, NCSubscribe to the Museletter on SubstackFind Rosebud Woman on Instagram as @rosebudwoman, Christine on Instagram as @christinemariemason Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital transformation has long by now been a cornerstone of modern governance, reshaping how societies function and how services are delivered. How often, though, does the conversation evolve beyond efficiency gains and automation? In this special episode, Kristina Mänd, Programme Director of the e-Governance Conference 2025, joins us to explore:

Sixty countries signed a declaration on 'inclusive' artificial intelligence at a global summit in Paris this week, but the UK and US refused. What was agreed at the summit, why did London and Washington decline to sign and what comes next? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Professor Birgitte Andersen from Birkbeck Business School, Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Co-Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI and Alex Krasodomski, Programme Director, for Chatham House's Digital Society Programme. Read our latest: Events in the DRC show a new realpolitik is emerging in Africa – one that is fraught with danger Modi's Washington visit highlights India's importance to the US, but will not resolve long-term challenges The international trading system needs urgent support to survive Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock with Indio Media. Read the Winter issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast