Preparing for Parliamentary Committees

*If booking for this session and for the Strategic Risk Management Session with Zurich Resilience Solutions, the cost will be £250 to attend both sessions.

Preparing for Parliamentary Committees: A Practical Masterclass for Board Members and Senior Leaders, is an exclusive half day session hosted by CDN and Colleges Scotland, in partnership with Pinsent Masons.

The session offers senior college leaders and board members a masterclass on giving evidence to parliamentary committees.

The in-person session is designed to equip participants with a deep knowledge of how parliamentary committees operate, the theory and methodology behind giving evidence, and highlight ways to respond to sensitive and persistent lines of questioning, while maintaining composure and key message discipline.

This will be underpinned by a mock evidence exercise, where participants will face committee-style questioning from Pinsent Masons practitioners to simulate the type of scrutiny faced when appearing before a committee.

Following the mock session, constructive and actionable feedback on delivery, tone, and messaging will be provided.

After providing feedback, the simulation will be replicated to provide participants with a further opportunity to ‘road test’ the advice they have received, to ensure they feel confident and capable of representing their organisations should they be called to give evidence.

The session will last approximately five hours and incorporating a working lunch.

A draft workshop structure is as follows:

Arrival: 09:30 for a 10:00 start

1. Understanding Parliamentary Committees

• Structure of committees
• MSP backgrounds
  

2. Break

3. Methodology and Theory

• Answer structure
• Message development
• Managing difficult questioning
  

4. Working Lunch Provided

5. Mock Committee Evidence

• Simulated evidence session with panel questioning
• Live feedback on delivery, clarity, tone
• Further evidence session
  

1500: Close

Andrew Henderson, Director of Public Policy and Strategic Communications

Andrew has over 25 years’ experience in the public affairs and strategic communications industry. He joined Pinsent Masons to lead the firm’s Public Policy and Strategic Communications practice in 2016, before which he was Head of Public Affairs and External Relations at NatWest’s Williams & Glyn brand. Andrew advises a wide range of clients on policy, reputation management, and on political and regulatory relations.

Andrew has an MBA, and is a trustee with Edinburgh World Heritage, a non-profit charged with protecting the city’s UNESCO World Heritage status. He also serves as an external adviser to the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher College Development Network