A learning and networking event by the Young Professionals in Public Policy
Hosted by Centre for a Smart Future
31st August 2024 (Saturday), 10am onwards
Centre for a Smart Future, Bay 09, Trace Expert City, Colombo 10
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
Better public policies for a better economic recovery. Easier said than done, right? But, with a new generation of young people in public policy and related roles across society, we have a better shot at it. The Young Professionals in Public Policy (YPPP) platform, launched in April 2023, has been meeting periodically to learn from national and international expert speakers, learn from each other, share new ideas, and network with people who think alike (and also don’t!). On August 31st, we are opening up a special one-day event to others keen on understanding how better public policies can shape a smarter future for our country, and in the process, understanding how we can be better public policy professionals.
We welcome anyone between 18-40 years of age, currently working in public policy or related roles, at whichever point in their career. We particularly welcome early-career, and aspiring, public policy professionals and researchers.
Simply click this link to register with your name, contact details, and a short sentence or two on why you are interested to attend. Registration is free, and it includes refreshments. Pick and choose to attend specific sessions, or stay for the whole day and join us for lunch. If you register but later decide you have other plans for your Saturday, please do inform us at least a day in advance.
The sessions will be organised along two strands – Policy PATHWAYS and Personal PATHWAYS. The latter is sessions about contemporary policy issues, as well as unpacking impact and design in policy. The latter is sessions that help us become better professionals.
While the full programme (with speaker names) will be posted here soon, here are a summary of the sessions:
Policy PATHWAYS
What’s Next for the Sri Lankan Economy?
With Sri Lanka going into an electoral cycle, what are some of the critical public policy imperatives that we need to focus on? This opening panel features three (3) different perspectives – a senior official from a multilateral development institution, a private sector CEO navigating the vagaries of government policy, an economic advisor working on debt restructuring, a private sector CEO with a law degree, and a journalist with a knack for covering hidden stories. A short panel, with plenty of time for your questions.
Impact Means What?
Policy-oriented research tends to think a lot about ‘making impact’. But what does this look like in reality? Do we need to reframe what impact really means? Do we assume we know what policymakers want? This session will aim to unpack these different dimensions, from the perspective of someone who has been on different sides of the ‘policy aisle’. The session will be led by our YPPP Co-convenor, who will attempt to get answers to pesky questions like, “Does the Minister care about my Policy Brief?”, and “Will the Aragalaya protestors read my bar chart?”.
From Data to Design
How can we make research and evidence matter to more people, especially non-experts? What does it mean to have a ‘wider reach’? A professional designer and illustrator gives us a reality check, shares some of her favourite ‘data to design’ moments, and unpacks the process of visualising data for different audiences.
Personal PATHWAYS
kNOw Money
Are researchers destined to be poor? Or are there smarter ways to manage our money, to save, to invest, and strive for financial independence? In this Personal PATHWAYS in-betweener segment, you’ll hear practical and refreshing tips from a seasoned investment professional (with no financial product to try to sell to you!) on how to get smarter with your income.
ResTech: Is That a Thing?
We’ve all heard of FinTech, EdTech, FemTech, but can ResTech be the latest neologism? While technology is changing so many aspects of our lives, are we using it to become better researchers? What are some of the technologies we can easily use in public policy research, to not only make our lives easier, but also to do new and interesting work? We explore some of the tools that our researchers use, to guide and inspire you to try them in your work.
Bonus Session for Early-Career Researchers and Public Policy Aspirants
Careers in Public Policy
What does it really mean when you say you work in ‘public policy’? How does someone get into it, and what are the career pathways for you? This bonus session is designed for those looking to get into a career in public policy, and features members of the YPPP and other young professionals who have different experiences in public policy related roles – international organisations, government, think tanks, and private sector. An university student and CSF intern asks the questions you want answers to.
Click here to register.
Registration closes on 25th August 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Nimaya Dahanayake ([email protected]) or Anisha Gooneratne ([email protected])