Event Details

Join our experienced panel who will show us ways of making effective change now, and wherever your journey after Lancaster takes you: in your local community, workplace, social sphere and hobbies. All change making activities are perfect to put on your CV!

Learn from our staff, alumni and students on how they have effected change: at an executive level, in the local community working with Lancaster City Council, in the workplace, by individual action, and hear about how to position yourself within the political landscape to have the greatest impact, using an example of a UK Public Authority; the Bank of England. This event is led by Dr Garrath Williams, of the Ethics, Values and Policy Initiative (EVPI) in PPR.

This event follows directly after the talk on Policymaking: 'what works' and what doesn't - (follow link to register) held in the same space at 10am.

Christopher May is Emeritus Professor of Political Economy. He was FASS Associate Dean for Engagement & Enterprise for six years and is an internationally known political economist of law, society & intellectual property. Now retired, before becoming an academic Chris worked in the music industry, ran his family business for a decade & worked for a political pressure group. His now a Trustee of the Friends of the Harris Museum in Preston, is an active commentator on Mastodon & for North West Bylines, and can be found regularly DJing in Lancaster & the Lune Valley.

He will speak on how individual actions are both change-making and exemplary to others, and on ‘match-making’ as a model for making a difference, including not being worried about being attributed! He will further discuss meaningful work – both as structure but also as behaviour, and his role in the Eden Project.

Dr. Mirian Calvo is a specialist in participatory design, urban planning, and policy design, particularly in relation to the climate crisis. Her work focuses on democratising the built environment by amplifying young voices in city planning. She will discuss opportunities for students to engage directly in designing the future of Lancaster District’s homes, schools, buildings, and infrastructure.

Her talk will ask ‘Have you ever wanted to impact the development of the place where you live?’ From influencing where new housing and public buildings are located to ensuring that our urban spaces reflect the needs of young people, your voice matters! Join us to find out how to collaborate with policymakers from Lancaster City Council and inform future local policies. You'll meet a researcher, a programme participant, and a city council policymaker who will discuss how you can actively participate in shaping Lancaster District's Local Plan, making our city, coast, and countryside spaces inclusive for everyone.

Daniel Snape is a lead policy advisor at the Bank of England, and a PPR Alumnus. He advises on the democratic governance of the bank’s newly reformed microprudential regulator, including its relationships with the other branches of the British state. Until recently, Daniel also coordinated a programme to make British equivalents of European financial regulations. Daniel’s work has taken him to courts, bunkers, hospitals, embassies, universities, and parliaments, giving him a special interest in the varied standards of the UK’s policy profession.

He will speak about how political beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010, and what this means for the acceptance of personal political positions in UK public authorities. He will ask what political movements might be banned in 5 or 10 years’ time, and how this may challenge the representation of certain viewpoints. This will give students insights on the internal workings of policy making, and where to position themselves to have the greatest impact.

Jenna Higham is a PhD student in Politics, Philosophy and Religion (PPR) Department, who sits on the PPR EDI Committee, and has participated in the Policy School and Richardson Institute Internship programme. She will describe the ways in which students can learn about policymaking whilst at Lancaster.

LUSU Climate Action Group members will speak about how they make change by running educational events such as climate talks by professionals, friendly debates and discussions, as well as the promotion of things we can all do to reduce our environmental impact. They also volunteer in beach and campus clean-ups, as well as tree planting to ensure students are looking after our local community.