Deborah Hermer, Press Office, Prime Minister's Office
Deborah Hermer works in the Press Office of the Prime Minister's Office and was a participant on the 20:20 programme in June 2001. Here she explains why 20:20 is not to be missed
I can say quite honestly that it was the most stretching and thought provoking course I have ever been on.
"20:20 is a programme not to be missed.
I can say quite honestly that it was the most stretching and thought provoking course I have ever been on. The greatest benefit for me was moving away from my desk in Whitehall and immediately getting a completely different perspective of how things work in different parts of the country and in different organizations and how they can and should, fit together.
This was in part due to Common Purpose's knack for assembling a fascinating range of speakers, but also due to their ability to attract wonderful participants from all walks of life. The participants came from all over the country and all types of jobs including the public and private sectors, business, academia and the church. All had interesting stories to tell and opinions to swap.
Each of the carefully chosen speakers was informative and interesting and had no trouble getting this lively group to contribute to discussions that were either controversial, heated, humorous or often all three.
I would thoroughly recommend this programme to colleagues across government and to anyone who needs to look and plan strategically as part of their job. It is immensely refreshing to meet and get to know people whose paths - under normal circumstances - you would never normally cross, and at the same time have the luxury to concentrate on issues that touch our lives now and almost certainly will affect us in the future."
