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 tells NICS inquiry – “you cannot separate the performance and culture of the civil service from the political and governance environment in which it operates”
The FDA’s National Officer for Northern Ireland Robert Murtaugh gave oral evidence to NI Assembly Finance Committee as part of their inquiry into the performance and culture of the NICS.
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FDA DWP rep Matthew Brown receives 2026 Individual Impact Award
The 2026 FDA individual Impact Award went to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rep Matthew Brown, recognising his ongoing work to improve health and safety across DWP offices.
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86% of carers are not aware of their civil service employer complying with new regulations, FDA report finds
To mark Carers Week, the FDA have published a new report, Changing Perceptions: Helping carers in the civil service reach their potential, which uses the experiences of our members with caring responsibilities to understand the working lives of carers in the civil service and highlight the barriers they face.
