Private dinner with Alex Aiken, the UK Government's Director of Communications, based at Downing Street. He is a key adviser to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet and has always had a special interest in Northern Ireland.
As head of profession for the Government Communication Service he is passionate about professional standards across the public sector, supporting and developing talent from all parts of the UK and in all communities.
He instigated the establishment of the Northern Ireland Public Sector Communications Forum in 2017, which aims to provide the opportunity for communications staff to be part of a professional body that provides networking, development and training opportunities. Alex is keen to outline plans for taking the Forum forward and to hear from local chief executives how this can be developed to meet their communications needs.