Activities and News

In 2024, we will continue hosting a number of external roundtables, briefings and activities for our membership. These aim to provide members with opportunities to widen their networks, gather and share timely insights, and shape Government and other key stakeholders’ understanding of the value of soft power. Here we highlight a selection of the Group’s external engagements and activities:

Workshop with the FCDO’s Indo-Pacific Directorate

The Group held a private roundtable with members of the FCDO’s Indo-Pacific Directorate, in an effort to enhance member understanding of the FCDO’s key priorities in the region, with a particular focus on soft power, and where opportunities for connectivity lie. Members were able to present some of their own work in the region to the team, before undertaking a broader roundtable discussion on regional soft power efforts, and methods by which to strengthen them.

Workshop on Labour’s Engagement Around Soft Power

The Group held a briefing on how best to engage with Labour around soft power, from Nick Forbes CBE, former Labour politician and Shadow Cabinet member. Nick was leader of Newcastle City Council from 2011 - 2022, and also served as the Leader of the Labour Group of the Local Government Association from 2016 to 2022. In 2020, Nick was appointed to Labour Leader Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet, serving until 2022. A leader of Labour in local government, and privy to the internal workings of centralised Labour politics, Nick provided insight into Labour’s thinking on policy issues, including soft power, laid out some of the internal dynamics on foreign and cultural policy, and helped members identify the best avenues for engagement with Labour officials.

The membership also continues to partake in a selection of other activities and research, which you can get a flavour of here.