"Management in our companies expect their public affairs managers to add value to the business. ECPA contributes to that process by making sure that best practices in public affairs are being shared among Corporate Members."
Erik Jonnaert, Procter & Gamble, Former Chairman ECPA Management Board
The ECPA benefits from the practical involvement and financial support of a wide-ranging group of corporate members. Corporate members are entitled to nominate one representative to the ECPA Management Board, which meets three times a year, twice in Brussels and once in London. Here, together with the academic members of the Management Board, they develop ECPA policy. Their presence fulfils a vital function in ensuring that ECPA's activities are focussed on enhancing the performance of practitioners' companies. On these occasions Corporate Members are invited to dinner-debates, an opportunity to come into contact with leading figures, hear their opinions and exchange views in a small group. By tradition the Management Board Seminar with invited guests is held after the autumn meeting in Brussels.
Members join for many reasons:-
| • | To share and learn through networking with other Members in ECPA Circles on best practice |
| • | To make a practical and personal contribution to the development of excellence in public affairs in line with the ECPA mission Statement to “Record, Analyse and Improve the Conduct of Public Affairs” |
| • | To benefit from the customised programmes which the ECPA offers to Members only |
| • | To discuss critical current issues in public affairs with other Members and guests in ECPA Roundtables organised by industry sector and at the annual Management Board Seminar |
| • | To make available to their company the knowledge held collectively by the ECPA |
| • | To help shape the work and programmes of the ECPA |
| • | To create and fund new research projects as a result of interaction with the Research Committee. |
| • | To take advantage of priority booking on ECPA public programmes and receive a 10% discount on the price and a free place at the ECPA Annual Conference |
Corporate membership is open to any company operating in Europe. There is an annual membership fee of €7750. Interested companies should contact Tom Spencer, who will be delighted to discuss the benefits and opportunities of corporate membership.