Influencing policy: how charity CEOs can lead change beyond their organisations

In today’s complex social landscape, charity CEOs are uniquely positioned to shape not just their organisations, but the policies and systems that impact the communities they serve.

This interactive half-day workshop explores how leaders in the charitable sector can move beyond operational management to influence public policy, advocate for systemic change, and amplify their organisation’s impact at a societal level.

Participants will:

• understand the levers of policy influence available to charity leaders.

• learn practical strategies for building credibility and partnerships with policymakers, stakeholders, and the media.

• explore case studies of successful advocacy initiatives and extract lessons applicable to their own organisations.

• develop a personalised action plan to integrate policy influence into their leadership practice.

Whether you are looking to inform legislation, shape public debate, or strengthen sector-wide collaboration, this session equips charity CEOs with the tools and confidence to lead meaningful change beyond the boundaries of their organisation.

Our facilitator, Sue Brown, has over 30 years’ experience leading policy, strategy and influence across the charity sector. As CEO of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance she led an inquiry into health inequalities in musculoskeletal health and subsequent work to encourage implementation of the recommendations by health services. Prior to that Sue was Head of Public Policy for Sense, working to improve policy for deafblind people, including encouraging implementation of statutory guidance by local authorities. In this role she also led the Care and Support Alliance work on influencing the Care Act.

After you book, you’ll be sent a short survey asking about what you hope to get out of the session, to help us shape the content to suit you.

This session will not be recorded.

Speaker

Sue Brown

Facilitator and charity consultant, Sue Brown Connects

Sue Brown

Facilitator and charity consultant, Sue Brown Connects

Sue is a freelance charity consultant trading as Sue Brown Connects. She has over 30 years’ experience leading policy, strategy and influence across the charity sector. For 8 years she was Chief Executive of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance, bringing patient and professional organisations together to improve services for people with musculoskeletal conditions. In this role she led an inquiry into health inequalities in musculoskeletal health and subsequent work to encourage implementation of the recommendations by health services.

Prior to that Sue was Head of Public Policy for Sense, working to improve policy for deafblind people, including encouraging implementation of statutory guidance by local authorities. In this role she also led the Care and Support Alliance work on influencing the Care Act.

Sue was trustee and committee chair of a national charity for nine years and has just joined the Board of Fareshare North East as a trustee. She is also a governor of an NHS Trust.