Further details regarding our proposals at the EGM, December 2025
Increasing the term for members of the executive committee/rolling terms
- There are a number of reasons behind the idea for increasing the term for members. Administratively it is difficult to change members on banking and can cause many delays;
- Additionally, it can take members a few months to get to grips with what is going on in their brief; a longer term would mean that more experienced members will always be there for new members to be upskilled.
- The membership system has been very difficult to change hands when members of the committee have moved on. Last year we added a second post to the committee which has helped; electing one while one stays on board would increase the likelihood that the system is more stable and viable
- Over recent years, the committee lacked a full cohort; but this year a full (and more) quota of members put themselves forward to join. It isn’t clear why but should a fallow year happen again, the rolling recruitment should mean that the organisation is able to continue with experience on board.
Ultimately we believe it is about experience and retaining skills – if a whole committee leaves in one year, it can be very difficult for PAC and the reputation it has garnered to carry on as if it can be relied upon.
The Oversight Board
Increasingly, as is right, lobbyists are being held to higher, more robust standards. This also means that administering a robust code of conduct and any penalties or suspensions of membership may increase, but we firmly believe there should be no opportunity for bias in this, and an oversight board which could help deliver this process, as well as provide organisational memory, robust challenge and crucially support to the executive committee would be of real value to PAC.
We have yet to set out any proposals for how this would be constituted or selected, but we wish to make provisions for this in the constitution at the EGM.
Other amendments
Proposals have been made that with the significant growth in PAC members, quoracy for E&AGMs could benefit from reducing. There is also an opportunity to add in provisions for online voting which we feel could provide flexibility to the membership.
Finally, there are many small syntax and clarification changes which we have taken the opportunity to propose these are amended so future committees and members will be able to more simply understand the rules by which PAC is governed.
EGM, Wednesday 3 December 2025
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.
A Message from PAC Chair, Emma Henwood, March 2025
Dear PAC Members and friends,
I am delighted to write to you as your new Chair and to introduce the new committee.
2025 is already a big year in Welsh politics, and we can see already from the number of current MSs who are standing down so far that beyond an extra 36 Members of the Senedd coming in in next year’s election, we will also find a lot of the existing experience gone, leaving a very changed landscape.
I believe this is an important time for the body which represents the public affairs sector in Wales to also grow and change, and ensure we are ready for challenges ahead.
Some of the ideas which were put forward at our AGM earlier this month included support for newer recruits to the sector and I am keen to ensure we explore mentoring for those who are keen to learn from others in the sector, and for those who wish to share their learning. Furthermore, we want to hold policy events which will explore the pressures and challenges facing you in the sector.
Some of the other challenges identified include a voluntary structure of this body which has remained virtually unchanged in the two decades since its inception. This gives way to a lack of organisational memory and a sometimes a less than perfect experience for you as members.
As well as working with our fabulous new committee on a range of networking and learning opportunities this year, my personal goal is to put forward a new governance structure which is fit for the future. Finally, I want to see a bilingual PAC in all our communications. Going forward, we will ensure that all our communications will be bilingual.
But we want to hear from you too! What do you think Public Affairs Cymru should be to its members and what should it provide the wider sector? We will shortly be putting out a questionnaire to seek your views.
I look forward to seeing you all at some point throughout the year, and if you have any thoughts on 2025 and PAC’s direction, please feel free to contact me and the committee.
The committee will be in touch in the next few days regarding out upcoming events.
We look forward to working with you all over the next 12 months.
Best wishes,
Emma Henwood
Chair
Announcement: PAC Annual Dinner and Reception, 14 October
Your Public Affairs Cymru Executive Committee has taken the difficult decision to postpone our Annual Dinner and Reception originally scheduled for 14 October.
This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we recognise that PAC members were eagerly looking forward to reconnecting in-person for the first time in more than 18 months.
However, given the current public health situation, the news that Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru postponed their Autumn conferences and the forecasted demand on the NHS, we have agreed that postponing the event is a necessary step if we are to play our part in keeping Wales safe.
The Annual Dinner and Reception will now take place on 28th April 2022 at Portland House, Cardiff. Further details will be announced in the New Year.
Tickets purchased for the event will be valid for the new date. No further action is required. If you have already purchased a ticket and wish to have the cost refunded, please contact PACymru@gmail.com.
We will keep ticket sales live so tickets may be purchased at any time between now and next April. We’d like to express our sincere thanks to PAC members for their understanding.
Cyhoeddiad: Cinio a Derbyniad Blynyddol MCC, 14 Hydref
Mae eich Pwyllgor Gweithredol Materion Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi gwneud y penderfyniad anodd i ohirio ein Cinio a Derbyniad Blynyddol â drefnwyd yn wreiddiol ar gyfer 14 Hydref.
Nid yw hwn yn benderfyniad yr ydym wedi’i wneud yn hawdd ac rydym yn cydnabod oedd aelodau MCC yn edrych ymlaen yn eiddgar i ailgysylltu’n bersonol am y tro cyntaf mewn mwy na 18 mis. Fodd bynnag, o ystyried y sefyllfa iechyd cyhoeddus, y newyddion bod Llafur Cymru a Plaid Cymru wedi gohirio eu cynadleddau Hydref a’r galw â ragwelir ar y GIG, rydym wedi cytuno bod gohirio’r digwyddiad yn gam angenrheidiol os ydym am chwarae ein rhan i gadw Cymru yn ddiogel.
Bydd y Cinio Blynyddol a’r Dderbynfa nawr yn cael ei gynnal ar 28 Ebrill 2022 yn Tŷ Portland, Caerdydd. Mi fydd manylion pellach ar gael yn y flwyddyn newydd.
Bydd y tocynnau â brynir ar gyfer y digwyddiad yn ddilys ar gyfer y dyddiad newydd. Nid oes angen gweithredu ymhellach. Os ydych eisoes wedi prynu tocyn ac yn dymuno ad-dalu’r gost, cysylltwch PACymru@gmail.com.
Byddwn yn cadw y tudalen Eventbrite yn fyw felly gellir prynu tocynnau ar unrhyw adeg rhwng nawr a mis Ebrill nesaf. Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich dealltwriaeth.
Public Affairs Cymru response to switching to fortnightly Senedd Committee meetings, July 2021
Cutting Committee meeting frequency will reduce the voice of Wales at large.
Public Affairs Cymru has expressed serious concern about the reduction of Senedd Committee meetings agreed by the Senedd’s Business Committee. This decision was seemingly taken without external consultation and to many will only have come to light when highlighted by Alun Davies MS.
Committees serve both to scrutinise the work of Welsh Government and also to expose all MSs to new ideas from specialists in their field. Slashing the number of meetings each Committee holds will reduce both constructive criticism and diversity of thought in our Welsh democracy.
Public Affairs Cymru is calling for the retention of the same frequency of Committee meetings as during the fifth Senedd until the case has been made for a reduction. Such a case must include measures that mitigate against the potential reduction in scrutiny and interaction with external stakeholders. Any such changes should require comprehensive consultation with civic society.
New policy paper: ‘The Future of the Public Affairs Workplace in Wales’, June 2021
Your Public Affairs Cymru Executive Committee has published a new policy paper, “The Future of the Public Affairs Workspace in Wales“. The paper provides an overview of some of the advantages and disadvantages that public affairs professionals in Wales have realised since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We felt it was important to emphasise and reflect on the fact that people have had different experiences of working from home depending on personal circumstances.
We’re calling on public affairs employers in Wales to encourage staff input into discussions about the future of home-based working with employees, acknowledging that there is no “one size fits all”. We’re also calling on employers to consider how potential cost savings could be used to support employee professional development and training courses.
The full paper is available here:
New Public Affairs Cymru Welsh language policy
We’ve heard that PAC members have noticed a drop-off in the use of the Welsh language in recent years. We want to put this right and have committed to doing this, as much as we can, by drawing up a Welsh language policy to guide the Executive Committee’s engagement and communication with members. You can read it in full via the link below:
Public Affairs Cymru response to the proposed Code of Conduct for Members of the Senedd
Public Affairs Cymru, on behalf of our members, has responded to the proposed new Code of Conduct for Members of the Senedd. To download the response in full, click the link below.
Public Affairs Cymru 