THE CHAIR IN GOVERNMENT: LEADING ARM’S LENGTH BODIES WELL
Briefing - Wednesday 23 November 2022
2.30pm – 4.00pm at Cultra Manor, 153 Bangor Road, Holywood
Arm’s Length Bodies play a pivotal role across all aspects of Northern Ireland’s society and public service delivery. Critical to their success is the role of their leaders.
The Chief Executives’ Forum and NI Public Sector Chairs’ Forum are delighted to host this briefing which examines recently published research on the capabilities and characteristics needed to thrive as the Chair of an Arms’ Length Body. Commissioned by the Public Sector Chairs’ Forum in Whitehall, this report is a sequel to the 2020 report on the effective ALB Chief Executive. Both reports were carried out by the Nous Group:
What does it take to be a great chair of an arm's-length body? | Nous Group
Nous-Group-and-ACE-The-CEO-in-Government.pdf
The report acknowledges that role of Chair of an ALB offers unique opportunities to make a contribution to society, but it can be more complex and ambiguous than equivalent roles in other sectors.
This report helps to maximise the impact of public chairs by identifying the key complexities of the role, the nuanced skillset required, and how chairs can work with stakeholders, including CEOs/senior leaders and sponsoring departments, to optimise their contribution. It reflects insights from consultations with public chairs, CEOs, Cabinet Office, and members of sponsoring departments, primarily between December 2021 and March 2022 representing ALBs of varying remit, budget, and ministry, including organisations with a workforce of approximately 2,000 and those with fewer than 20 employees.
Our interactive event will include contributions from Helen Pitcher, Chair of the Public Sector Chairs’ Forum and Peter Horne of Nous, who led the production of the report. We will also hear from senior Northern Ireland leaders who carry out key functions in the ALB ecosystem – an ALB Chair, an ALB CEO and a Permanent Secretary. The discussion will explore the core questions examined in the report:
Please Note: As part of your organisation’s membership of the Chief Executives’ Forum, there is no charge to attend this event or for Members of the Public Sector Chairs Forum..