Coming up
EGM/Christmas social, Holiday Inn, central Cardiff
As you will be aware, your committee has been busy this year trying to improve the functions and structure of PAC to ensure the organisation is fit for the new Senedd after May 2026.
In order to carry out the functions we would like to put forward to the membership that Executive roles will be elected for 2 year periods, but on a cyclical basis – electing half of the members one year, and half the next, to ensure that there is never a loss of organisational memory again.
In practice that would mean that in February 2026, we would elect half of the executive for 1 year, and the other half for 2 years. Thereafter, only half of the positions would be elected every year.
We would also like to explore setting up an official oversight Board which will lend credibility, scrutiny and, perhaps most important, a route to redress, if a PAC member breaks the code of conduct, or brings the profession into disrepute.
These changes need an ‘extraordinary’ general meeting – an EGM – to change the constitution, and we need to pass the changes. There is a chance for members to debate the measures at an EGM, or to ask questions of the executive before that date, and then vote on it at the meeting. We will be holding a hybrid meeting so that as many members as possible can attend and vote.
We really urge as many members as possible to register and attend the EGM. If we find we do not have enough representation before, or on the night, we will have to cancel the EGM, but we will go ahead with the social for those that an attend.
We have been thrilled to see the engagement with PAC members this year, and we feel we can offer a chance to strengthen and improve this body for the future. We ask for your input for this event and we look forward to also seeing many of you in person for end of term/Christmas social gathering.
We’ll be joined by Senedd Sources hosts, Craig Lawton, Ollie Cole and Jo Kiernan.
——————————————————————————————————
Fel y gwyddoch efallai, mae’ch pwyllgor wedi bod yn brysur eleni yn ceisio gwella swyddogaethau a strwythur PAC i sicrhau fod y sefydliad yn barod ar gyfer y Senedd newydd ar ôl Mai 2026.
Er mwyn cyflawni’r swyddogaethau hoffem gynnig i’r aelodau bod swyddi ar y Pwyllgor Gwaith yn cael eu hethol am gyfnodau o 2 flynedd, ond ar sail gylchol – ethol hanner yr aelodau un flwyddyn, a’r hanner arall y flwyddyn wedyn, er mwyn sicrhau na fyddwn yn colli y cof sefydliadol eto.
Yn ymarferol byddai hynny yn golygu y byddem ym mis Chwefror 2026 yn ethol hanner y pwyllgor gwaith am 1 flwyddyn a’r hanner arall am 2 flynedd. Ar ôl hynny, dim ond hanner y swyddi fyddai’n cael eu hethol bob blwyddyn.
Hoffem hefyd ymchwilio sefydlu Bwrdd trosolwg swyddogol fyddai yn rhoi hygrededd, craffu ac – efallai yn bwysicaf oll – ffordd i unioni, os yw aelod o PAC yn torri’r cod ymddygiad neu’n dod ag anfri i’r proffesiwn.
Mae’r newidiadau hyn yn golygu y bydd angen cyfarfod cyffredinol ‘argyfwng’ (CCA) i newid y cyfansoddiad ac mae angen i basio’r newidiadau. Mae cyfle i aelodau drafod y mesurau yn y CCB neu holi’r pwyllgor gwaith cyn y dyddiad hwnnw, ac yna bleidleisio arno yn y cyfarfod nesaf. Byddwn yn cynnal cyfarfod hybrid fel y gall cynifer o aelodau ag sydd modd fynychu a phleidleisio.
Rydym yn annog cynifer o aelodau ag sydd modd i gofrestru a mynychu’r CCA. Os gwnawn ganfod cyn hynny, neu ar y noson, nad oes gennym ddigon o gynrychiolwyr, bydd yn rhaid ni ganslo’r CCA, ond byddwn yn mynd ymlaen gyda’r noson gymdeithasol ar gyfer y rhai sy’n mynychu.
Rydym wedi bod wrth ein bodd gweld yr ymgysylltu gyda aelodau PAC eleni a theimlwn y gallwn cynnig cyfle i gryfhau a gwella’r corff hwn ar gyfer y dyfodol. Gofynnwn am eich mewnbwn ar gyfer y digwyddiad hwn ac edrychwn at weld cynifer ohonoch ar gyfer y cynulliad cymdeithasol ar ddiwedd y tymor/Nadolig.
Bydd cyflwynwyr Senedd Sources, Craig Lawton, Ollie Cole a Jo Kiernan, yn ymuno â ni.
Wednesday 1 October, St David’s Hotel: Annual Dinner
We are delighted to announce Lord Simon Hart of Tenby, former UK Government Chief Whip and former Secretary of State for Wales, as our guest speaker at this year’s Public Affairs Cymru Annual Dinner on Wednesday 1 October.
Author of the newly released Ungovernable: The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip, Lord Hart brings both unparalleled personal and revealing accounts into the inner workings of Westminster during one of the most turbulent periods in recent political history, as well as decades of experience at the highest levels of government.
Drawing on his time in Cabinet, Ungovernable explores key themes such as the erosion of traditional party control, the rise of individualism in Parliament and the growing influence of social media and 24-hour news cycles. It also poses a broader, urgent question: Can any modern Prime Minister truly govern in today’s political landscape?
We are looking forward to Lord Hart sharing his insight as someone who has witnessed it all from the inside, including the UK Government and Welsh Government relationships during the height of the pandemic, how the Prime Minister really conducts a reshuffle and his real feelings about attending party conferences!
Lord Hart’s perspective is particularly valuable for professionals working in Wales’ public affairs and policy space; offering understanding of how decisions are shaped and what that means for influencing outcomes in a devolved context.
Join us for a thought-provoking evening of political insight, excellent food and outstanding company, as we come together as a community of professionals with an eye firmly on the road to the 2026 Senedd Elections.
Please note:
We recognise that some people would like wine with their meal whilst others do not, so this year, we’re introducing tickets with wine and without. If you opt for a ticket with wine, you will receive a token which will transferable for two glasses of wine on the night. A drink on arrival is already included in the ticket.
—–
Rydym yn falch iawn i gyhoeddi mai Arglwydd Simon Hart o Ddinbych-y-pysgod, cyn Brif Chwip Llywodraeth y DU a chyn Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru, fydd ein siaradwr gwadd yng Nghinio Blynyddol Public Affairs Cymru eleni ddydd Mercher 1 Hydref.
Yn awdur llyfr newydd ei gyhoeddi Ungovernable: The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip – daw Simon â hanesion personol a hefyd ddadlennol o berfeddion San Steffan yn ystod un o’r cyfnodau mwyaf cythryblus mewn hanes gwleidyddol diweddar, yn ogystal â degawdau o brofiad ar lefelau uchaf llywodraeth.
Yn seiliedig ar ei gyfnod yn y Cabinet, mae Ungovernable yn ymchwilio themâu allweddol tebyg i’r erydu yng ngafael y pleidiau traddodiadol, cynnydd unigolyddiaeth yn y Senedd a dylanwad cynyddol y cyfryngau cymdeithasol a chylchoedd newyddion 24-awr. Mae hefyd yn codi cwestiwn brys, ehangach: a all unrhyw Brif Weinidog modern yn wirioneddol lywodraethu yn nhirlun gwleidyddol heddiw?
Edrychwn ymlaen at i Yr Arglwydd Hart godi cwr y llen fel rhywun a welodd y cyfan o’r tu mewn, yn cynnwys y berthynas rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru pan oedd y pandemig ar ei anterth, sut mae Prif Weinidog yn mynd ati o ddifri i newid y Cabinet a’i deimladau go iawn am fynychu cynadleddau pleidiau!
Mae safbwynt Yr Arglwydd Hart yn neilltuol o werthfawr ar gyfer gweithwyr proffesiynol yn y maes materion cyhoeddus a pholisi yng Nghymru, gan gynnig dealltwriaeth o sut y caiff penderfyniadau eu llunio ac ystyr hynny ar gyfer dylanwadu ar ddeilliannau mewn cyd-destun datganoledig.
Ymunwch â ni am noswaith ddiddorol iawn o wybodaeth wleidyddol, bwyd bendigedig a chwmni campus, wrth i ni ddod ynghyd fel cymuned o weithwyr proffesiynol gyda llygad yn bendant ar y ffordd at Etholiadau Senedd 2026.
Previous PAC events
Wednesday 16 July, Norwegian Church: Looking ahead to the 2026 Election for public affairs professionals
May 2025: Welsh Conservative Party Conference Meet Up with David TC Davies, Chief of Staff
April 2025: In Conversation with Jane Dodds MS at Lib Dem Conference
March 2025: In conversation with Will Hayward
March 2025: Plaid Cymru Conference Meet Up, with Peredur Owen Griffiths MS
December 2024: PAC Christmas social, Cardiff with Tom Giffard MS.
November 2024: PAC Annual Dinner with Mark Drakeford MS.
October 2024: In conversation with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Online.
October 2024: Social at the Plaid Cymru conference, Cardiff with Baroness Carmen Smith.
August 2024: In conversation with Dr Jac Larner – Presentation of Welsh Election Study analysis of the 2024 general election and trends looking ahead to the 2026 Senedd election, Cardiff.
May 2024: Sip and Social evening, Cardiff.
April 2024: Y Farchnad Q+A with the Senedd Commission, online.
March 2024: Social at Plaid Cymru conference, Caernarfon with Heledd Fychan MS.
February 2024: Social at Welsh Conservatives conference, Llandudno with Fay Jones MP.
January 2024: AGM and social, Cardiff.
November 2023: Standards in lobbying and the future of the lobbying sector in Wales (joint with PRCA and CIPR), Cardiff.
September 2023: 2023 annual dinner with Carwyn Jones, former First Minister of Wales, Cardiff.
June 2023: Summer BBQ with Lee Waters MS, Cardiff.
April 2023: Social at Welsh Conservatives conference, Newport with Russell George MS.
March 2023: Social at Welsh Labour conference, Llandudno with Jeremy Miles MS.
March 2023: Social at Plaid Cymru conference, Llanelli.
Public Affairs Cymru 