ONLINE CONFERENCE Understanding Scotland's Government, Parliament and MSPs: How they work and how to influence them

AGENDA

09:25 Chair's Opening Remarks
Vonnie Sandlan, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Equality and Human Rights Commission (Scotland)
EHRC

Session 1: The new Government and Parliament – what are the politics and how do they work?

09:30 Understanding the political complexion of the new Government and Parliament
Andy Maciver, Director, Message Matters
MessageTweet AKMaciver

• Who won the election, who lost and what will the next five years bring?
• What do the politics of this parliament mean for influencing?
• People and policies to watch

09:45 Understanding how government and parliament work
Ross Laird, Head of Scotland, Grayling
GraylingPR RossLaird55

• How government and parliament work
• Backbenchers, committee chairs and ministers - how and why they all matter
• Ways to influence policy, legislation and decision making

10:00 Question and Answer Session

10:15 Comfort Break

Session 2: How to influence and complying with lobbying law

10:30 Compliance and best practice in lobbying in Scotland
Billy McLaren, Lobbying Registrar, Scottish Parliament
ScotParl SP_LobbyingScot

• The Lobbying (Scotland) Act – what do you need to know?
• Best practice in compliance, insights before and during COVID
• Reviewing the Act and future developments

10:45 Influencing and campaigning - briefings, meetings, social media and beyond...
Lynda Gauld, Director, Baccus Consulting
LG01

• Relationship building with MSPs, civil servants and other officials
• Briefing parliamentary committees and giving evidence
• Understanding what matters and what works for MSPs

11:00 Question and Answer Session

11:15 Comfort Break

Session 3: Understanding campaigning and using the media

11:30 What makes campaigns work?
Graeme Downie, Director, Orbit Communications
orbit_agency Graeme Downie

• Identify your objective and build your message
• The value of making alliances
• Developing an effective strategy

11:45 Messaging, media and social media – how to use them
Donald Anderson, Director, Playfair Scotland
PlayfairScotla3 DA_Anderson

• Why media matters - its role in influencing
• The rise of social media and what it can and cannot do
• Getting media attention - what matters and what doesn't

12:00 Question and Answer Session

12:15 Chair's Closing Remarks
Vonnie Sandlan, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Equality and Human Rights Commission (Scotland)
EHRC