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Welcome to the latest news update from the School of Public Policy |
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Launch of the LSE-Fuban Gloal Public Policy Hub |
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The School of Public Policy is excited to announce the launch of the LSE-Fudan Global Public Policy Hub: a subcentre of the LSE-Fudan Research Centre for Global Public Policy. It supports collaborative research on global public policy, fosters multi-disciplinary cooperation and enhances communication between Fudan and LSE to generate research of global impact. You can find out more about the hub online.
Dr Bingchun Meng, co-director of the LSE-Fudan Global Public Policy Hub, said: “
I am very excited about this new collaboration between LSE and Fudan University. I look forward to working with colleagues from both institutions to develop a vibrant research agenda and to build the Hub into a leading force in global public policy research.”
To mark its launch, an an interdisciplinary panel of experts will be discussing key public policy challenges that China and the world faces post-pandemic. You can register for the event here.
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As a new term begins, don't forget to join us for our fantastic alumni events:
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The SPP & LSE Cities Partnership
Tuesday 22 February; 6:00 - 7.30PM GMT; Zoom
To celebrate the new collaboration between the SPP and LSE Cities we will be hearing from the Directors of LSE Cities Ricky Burdett and Philipp Rode, and Associate Dean of the SPP Tony Travers as they discuss the key challenges facing global cities today. Our alumni will be invited to share questions, feedback, and stories from their own work in this area. We look forward to an engaging and informative discussion!
Find out more and register here.
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Working in Charities, Non-Profits and NGOs: What I Wish I'd Known...
Friday 4 March; 12:00 - 1:00PM GMT; Zoom
Our E-Networking Panel ‘
Working in Charities, Non-Profits and NGOs: What I Wish I’d Known…’ invites some of our alumni to share their experiences about working in this sector. Both students and alumni are welcome to attend.
Please email h.c.shearer@lse.ac.uk if you would like to sign up to this session.
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Professional Development - The New Hybrid Workplace
Monday 7 March; 6.00 - 7.30 GMT; Zoom
Flexible and hybrid working practices bring new and specific challenges for those changing jobs, integrating a new organisation or looking to progress their career. In this interactive session we’ll explore those challenges and share feedback from employers about what behaviours they are looking for in their effective employees of the future.
Registration for this event will be opened closer to the date.
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Working in International Organisations: What I Wish I'd Known...
Tuesday 29 March; 12:00 - 1:00PM BST; Zoom
Our E-Networking Panel ‘
Working in International Organisations: What I Wish I’d Known…’ invites some of our alumni to share their experiences about working in this sector. Both students and alumni are welcome to attend.
Please email h.c.shearer@lse.ac.uk if you would like to sign up to this session.
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The SPP is excited to be working alongside the SPP's London Alumni Chapter to bring more in-person opportunities to socialise and network to our alumni. We are planning some great events for you all over the course of the next calendar year, and hope you are able to join us. |
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To keep informed about these opportunities we’re inviting all alumni currently based in London to join the London chapter – to do so you can join via an online Google form. You can also stay connected through:
- the London Alumni Chapter Facebook group
- the London Alumni Chapter Google group
If you have any questions about the London Alumni Chapter please feel free to get in touch with Chelsea Phipps (2018, MPA) or Anna Nikolskaya (2020, MPA). |
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Ali Fenn (EMPA, 2019) winner of the 2021 Technology Champion Award |
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We are delighted to announce that SPP Alumna Ali Fenn (EMPA, 2019) has been announced the first winner of Infrastructure Masons' Sustainability Champion Award!
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Ali is the President of ITRenew: which works to create a circular economy for IT equipment on a global scale, eliminating 75% of pre-use phase carbon tied to IT and transforming the way such infrastructure is deployed and the impact it has on the climate. She oversees all ESG functions and initiatives at ITRenew, and also was vital in the company achieving carbon neutrality in 2021. Congratulations, Ali! |
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20 Years of BeautifulCity |
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Toronto recently marked the anniversary of BeautifulCity.ca, a community-based initiative that funds public art through the taxing of outdoor advertising. This exciting initiative, which has lasted for twenty years, was spearheaded by the SPP's own Devon Ostrom (2019, EMPA). |
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Devon reports the idea sparked from seeing a single graffitied billboard - '
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t didn’t make sense to me that advertisers had nearly unrestricted access to shaping the visual environment while people who wanted to make spaces better were buried in permits, fees or much-much worse' - and has led to over $100 million raised for public art in Toronto.
Devon tells us:
"The EMPA program gave me a whole new instrument panel for navigating the intersection of fine art and government...To get the most out of the program, I would encourage current students to get involved in building-out the community that surrounds the LSE and allows knowledge generation to seep out into practice."
You can read more about the initiative online. |
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Louise Smith (EMPP, 2020) recieves OBE |
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It is truly exciting to announce that alumna Louise Smith (EMPP, 2020) has been awarded with an OBE in the New Year's Honours List for her work supporting arts and culture. As the Deputy Director for Arts and Libraries in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Louise oversees support for the cultural sector in the UK. This included securing and delivering the £2bn Culture Recovery Fund - which has supported thousands of institutions, including theatres, museums, dance companies and orchestras. |
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It's always wonderful to see alumni putting public policy skills into action, and even more wonderful to see them recognised for their work - a huge congratulations to Louise from everyone at the SPP.
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Prachetas Bhatnagar (MPP, 2021) nominated as Passion Vista's Most Admired Global Indian |
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Prachetas Bhatnagar (MPP, 2021) has been nominated for the 'Most Admired Global Indian' Award 2021 held by Passion Vita, a leading Luxury, Lifestyle & Business magazine.
Prachetas is being recognised for his career in UNICEF, McKinsey, and his current work as Manager of Stratgy and Operations at the Tony Blair Institute of Global Change - as well as his standing as All Indian National Level Swimmer, Guinness Record holder, and President of College at University of Delhi. A huge congratulations to Prachetas from everyone at the SPP! |
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Meet Aine Stapleton
This edition's Alumni in Action is Aine Stapleton, who graduated in 2021 with an MPA.
Aine joined the SPP after deciding she wanted to work more for the public and social good. She is now the Head of Growth at Intrigue Media: providing expert and irreverent analysis in order to make geopolitics more accessible, digestible, and enjoyable.
You can read more about Aine's story online. |
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Do you know an alumnus whose story should be shared with the SPP community? It could be a friend, a colleague, someone whose work you admire from afar - it could even be yourself! Drop us a line to recommend the next alumni profile. |
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Alumni Benefits in the Spotlight
New year, new career? Enhance your career path by taking advantage of all the LSE Career services open to alumni - including the LSE Careers Resource centre, the career information website, and exclusive one-on-one help with LSE Careers Consultants (open only to recent alumni).
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Welcome to the SPP - Nick Rowley joins as Senior Lecturer in Practice |
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We are delighted to welcome to the SPP Senior Lecturer in Practice, Nick Rowley.
A proud alumnus of the LSE, Nick brings more than twenty years’ experience advising and leading on environment, climate and wider public policy in Australia, the UK, and internationally. From 2004-2006 he advised UK Prime Minister Tony Blair on climate change and sustainability, and has also served as Strategic Director of the Copenhagen Climate Council.
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Nick tells us:
'I have long had a relationship with the LSE. At school I was taught by Millicent Watkins, wife of LSE philosopher John Watkins; as a student at the LSE I spent many hours in Lincolns Chambers; and when at the Downing Street Policy Directorate, I met with Howard Davies and Anthony Giddens when they were Directors of LSE to consider how the best thinking could help inform UK policy. Perhaps the lesson is that you may leave the LSE but - for some - the LSE never leaves you.
In addition to developing courses and teaching, as Programme Director for three new double degrees delivered with Columbia University, Toronto and Sciences Po, I look forward to working with students and colleagues to develop a rich global perspective and to challenge students to get the best out of two universities. I relish the opportunity to support students develop some of the professional, more practical skills and attributes required to be an effective policy practitioner.'
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Ekaterina Vashkinskaya and Sheyla Enciso-Valdivia join the LSE Growth Lab |
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We are also delighted to announce the LSE Growth Lab (our applied research unit in collaboration with the Growth Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School) will be joined by two Policy Officers: Ekaterina Vashkinskaya and Sheyla Enciso-Valdivia (MPA, 2021). We asked both Ekaterina and Sheyla about their new roles: |
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Ekaterina tells us: '
I will work on advanced applied research and support the Government of South Africa in its formulation of policies to accelerate economic growth and inclusion. I’m looking forward to collaborating with the scientific community of LSE and SPP and developing the Co-Lab up to its potential.' Sheyla adds: '
Joining the Growth Co-Lab represents a professionally stimulating opportunity to grow the data and policy analysis skills I gained throughout my career... I take it as a fantastic way to continue learning and challenging myself with such thoughtful, diverse mindsets at the LSE.' |
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Assist our students to excel! |
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Each year the SPP sends various students teams to the annual Global Public Policy Conference to compete with teams from fellow international schools. This year's conference will be on March 5-6th and will be hosted by the Hertie School (although remaining online due to Covid).
In February the students will be perfecting their pitches and presentations on five subjects:
- Incentivising farmers to avoid crop stubble burning in Northern India
- Water Management in Semi-conductor Supply Chains
- The next generation of ESG metrics: moving from fragmented reporting to global results
- Fishing for sustainability: addressing overfishing in Chile with real time data processing
- Women’s access to climate finance
Any alumni interested in helping provide input or feedback on how our students might best perform would be very welcome - towards the end of February we will be arranging evening sessions where each group can present to a 'mock jury’ who can share their thoughts and advice, and our alumni can be involved either in person or via zoom. If any students with experience of the GPPN conference wanted to share guidance and advice, this too would be enormously valuable.
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Vanessa Rubo-Marquez invited to Chatham House
We are excited to share that as of November 2021, Professor in Practice Vanessa Rubio-Marquez has been invited as an Associate Fellow for the US and Americas Programme at Chatham House. Here she will be working on policy-analysis and policy dialogues in the Western Hemisphere - congratulations, Professor Rubio-Marquez! |
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Climate Change's challenge to UK's ageing railways |
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A liberal region in a world of closed borders? The liberalization of asylum policies in Latin America |
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The UK was a pioneer of the railways - however, climate change is causing damages to the country's ageing railways system. Associate Dean of the SPP Professor Tony Travers says on Financial Times that to prepare the network for climate change would “
cost a substantial amount of money,” and: “
It is not at all clear that is available.”
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Fellow in Political Science and Public Policy Dr Omar Hammoud Gallego examines the claim that countries across Latin America have '
developed an increasingly complex and more liberal legal framework for the protection of refugees', in contrast to findings of increased restrictiveness across OECD countries.
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Diagnosing Human Capital as a Binding Constraint to Growth |
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Distinguished Policy Fellow Miguel Santos has recently co-authored
Diagnosing Human Capital as a Binding Constraint to Growth with Farah Hani (Research Manager at the Harvard Growth Lab).
The publication proposes a framework, building on the principles of Growth Diagnostics, to enable practitioners to determine whether human capital investments are a priority for a country’s growth strategy. They discuss different tests to diagnose human capital in a place, drawing on the Growth Lab’s experience in different development context, as well as discuss various policy options to address skill shortages.
Diagnosing Human Capital as a Binding Constraint to Growth is now available to order.
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The macroeconomic challenges facing post-pandemic Latin America |
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When we talk about state capacity to deal with COVID, we shouldn't ignore interpersonal trust |
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Latin American countries have struggled during the pandemic and did not take full advantage of the credit lines available to them. SPP Dean Andrés Velasco looks at the challenges facing their economies as they start to recover.
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Countries able to pay people to stay at home had an advantage during the pandemic. But Professor Tim Besley argues that there is also an important association between interpersonal trust and COVID mortality — and this aspect of state capacity could have been very important.
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Have you been involved in shaping the COVID policy response?
Many LSE alumni have been deeply involved in shaping COVID policy. The SPP's COVID-19 blog highlights research and learnings from the pandemic, and we're particularly keen to hear from alumni who'd like to share their expertise. What impact has COVID had on your organisation? Two years on, what strategies were effective? With the benefit of hindsight, what would you have done differently?
Send a brief email to COVID-19 editor Ros Taylor with the points you plan to make.
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SPP Public Events and Podcasts |
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Lent 2021-22 Public Events |
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Our events programme is regularly updated on our website, as well as our LinkedIn and Facebook alumni groups. If you want to be kept up to date with SPP public events, why not join our event mailing list? |
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Humane: how the United States abandoned peace and reinvented war
Monday 7 February, 5:30pm-6:30pm GMT
Speaker: Professor Samuel Moyn, Henry R. Luce Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School and a professor of history at Yale University.
Chair: Professor Andrés Velasco, Dean of the School of Public Policy at LSE.
Find out more.
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China and the World in the Post-COVID Era: a new agenda of public policy
Monday 21 February, 6:30pm-8:00pm GMT
Speakers: Bill Bikales, (Principal and Lead Economist at Kunlun Associates); Professor Xiaobo Lü, (Professor of Political Science at Columbia University); Dr Xuefei Ren, (Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology of Michigan State University); Dr Winnie Yip, (Director of Harvard University’s China Health Partnership.)
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Thank You for Supporting the SPP |
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Support from alumni and friends enables us to form a strong and ambitious education community, and is very much appreciated by everyone at the SPP. Whether that be donating financially or through donating your time by volunteering with student support, you are helping us keep the SPP a truly fantastic place to learn.
A particular thanks to everyone who donates financially, either to the SPP or to the wider LSE. Your support helps us do wonderful things for our student community, and we are thrilled to offer an outstanding policy education experience to those who come to our School - everyone at the SPP really appreciates your kindness.
If you are interested in supporting us or would like to find out more, contact us at spp.alumni@lse.ac.uk or visit our website.
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Stay connected! Keep in touch via our Facebook and LinkedIn Alumni groups, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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