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APPC AGM on 11 May 2009
association of professional
political consultants
APPC AGM on 11 May 2009
Robbie MacDuff, Partner, College Hill Public Policy incorporating Precise Public Affairs, has been re-elected as Chair of the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC). Mark Adams, Managing Director of Foresight Consulting, has been elected as Deputy Chair.
In an uncontested election, eight members were elected to the APPC Management Committee:
Iain Anderson, Cicero Consulting
Lucy Burns, Fishburn Hedges
Darren Caplan, B2L Public Affairs
Gavin Devine, Mandate Communications
Gidon Freeman, Lexington Communications
Helen Johnson, Helen Johnson Consulting Ltd
Martin LeJeune, The Open Road Consultancy
John Mills, PPS (Local & Regional) Ltd
Past Chairs who remain members of the Management Committee are:
Michael Burrell, Vice-Chairman, Europe, Edelman
Gill Morris, Managing Director, Connect Public Affairs
Warwick Smith, Managing Partner, College Public Policy
The meeting reviewed the APPC’s Annual Report. The year’s principal activities focused on the Public Administration Select Committee Inquiry into lobbying and its report. Other activities included:
· Providing four training seminars on the APPC Code of Conduct, including one in Edinburgh. In line with the commitment in APPC’s response to PASC, certificates of attendance are now issued.
· Enhanced membership and external engagement programme with events included a breakfast event during the Labour Party conference (sponsored by Dods Electus) and a public debate with ALT/Spinwatch in the House of Commons.
· Improvements to the APPC Code compliance system, including new Complaints & Disciplinary Rules & Procedures, annual review and updating of the Code of Conduct, and a change to increase the transparency of the APPC Register by declaring pro-bono clients.
APPC in Scotland has met on a regular basis over the past year. The focus of the Committee’s work has been to promote the APPC Code of Conduct and to align representative groups from the public affairs and PR industry in Scotland.
Chair Robbie MacDuff said:
“I want to thank the membership for supporting me as Chair and to put on record the excellent hard work undertaken by the members of the Management Committee. I would particularly like to thank Gill Morris for her work as Deputy Chair and to welcome Mark Adams as the new Deputy Chair. We will soon have a strategy day to identify the APPC’s priorities during the challenges of the next 12 months.”
Further information:
Robbie MacDuff on 020 7866 7871