The future of the civil service policy profession: The end of the generalist?
6 February 2025, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Online / Institute for Government, 2 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AA
Think tank: Institute for Government
This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute for Government will discuss the Civil Service Policy Profession.
Tamara Finkelstein, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Head of the UK Civil Service Policy Profession, is clear that generalist skills are essential but questions whether it is time to move away from generalists as roles sitting outside of professions.
Tamara will set out current plans for the Policy Profession, which provides a professional home and career anchor for former generalists, and how it is providing a framework for building and improving skills. This will be followed by a discussion about how to build the skills they need and how to embed professional expertise in the policy-making process.
Speakers
Tamara Finkelstein – Permanent Secretary at Defra and Head of the Civil Service Policy Profession
Aaron Maniam – Fellow of Practice and Director, Digital Transformation Education at the Blavatnik School of Government
Lord Vallance – Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation
The panel will be chaired by Alex Thomas – Programme Director at the Institute for Government.
