Annual Delegate Conference 2025 catch up
Catch up on the addresses by guest speakers at this year’s Annual Delegate Conference.

FDA General Secretary Dave Penman used his speech to argue that civil servants are “hungry for reform” and called on the government to commit to “a clear plan for improved public services and a people plan to match” with a particular focus on pay
Journalist and broadcaster Lewis Goodall discussed the relationship between ministers and civil servants and the future of ‘mission-led government’ with delegates, predicting that the government’s appetite for experimentation may grow over time, having started out a year ago with a “pretty blank” plan.
Discussing the issue of civil service reform Gould told delegates: “The civil service is an amazing constitution, but it can get in the way. It’s deeply embedded and set up for a slower, less complex world, more hierarchical. Departments are far too siloed when all the challenges we face are deeply complex”.
Latest news
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FDA attends TUC LGBT Conference and London Pride
To mark the end of Pride Month, FDA delegations attended the TUC LGBT+ Conference and Pride in London.
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FDA attends unveiling of plaque in honour of first female civil servant Jeanie Senior
The FDA attends the unveiling of a plaque in honour of Britain’s first female civil servant, Jeanie Senior, which took place at Battersea Town Hall. The plaque was funded by the FDA and the Battersea Society, with the unveiling event arranged by local historian and writer Jeanne Rathbone.
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FDA attends Irish Congress of Trade Unions Biennial Delegates Conference in Belfast
Building on the FDA’s increased presence in Northern Ireland (NI), this week the FDA’s National Officer for NI Robert Murtagh has been attending the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Biennial Delegates Conference in Belfast, with General Secretary Dave Penman also in attendance as an observer.