From Expertise to Impact: A Practical Guide to Informing and Influencing Policy

Public professionals are rich in expertise—but turning that expertise into real policy influence is often harder than it should be. Evidence competes with politics, time constraints, organizational silos, and competing narratives. Too often, solid research or lived experience fails to shape decisions simply because it isn’t communicated in ways that resonate with decision-makers or fit the realities of public sector environments.

In this practical session, Deborah Stine will guide participants through proven strategies for translating expertise into impact. You’ll explore how to frame evidence for different audiences, shape policy conversations at the right moments, and engage decision-makers with clarity and purpose. Drawing on real-world examples from government, research, and advisory roles, the workshop focuses on how influence actually works in practice—not in theory.