Annual Conference 2004: United Nations Association- UK

59th UNA-UK Annual Conference: University of Reading, 2-4 April 2004

My Vision is of Change: Sam Daws addresses UNA-UK Annual Conference 2004

"UNA-UK's members are our greatest asset, and I am delighted to be here today, speaking to you as UNA-UK's Executive Director designate. I would like to express my appreciation for the welcoming letters that I have received from many UNA-UK branches and members, and the advice and encouragement extended to me by your Board Chairman, Sir Richard Jolly. I would like also to echo the sentiments of those who expressed their appreciation for Malcolm Harper and Peter Dyson's unique and enduring contributions to UNA-UK.

The UN has undergone tremendous changes in the last decade. It is clear from the Away Day process that there is widespread recognition within UNA-UK that we can and must change too.

During the interview process, I was asked for my vision of UNA-UK in 5 years' time. My vision is one of change. We should be proud of what UNA-UK has accomplished over the last 60 years, and my vision of change is to move forward with these achievements as a firm foundation. I've been a UNA-UK member for 18 years, and I am proud of our democratic traditions. I strongly believe that a programme of change should not be imposed from above. We must listen - listen to ensure that existing members are happy with what UNA-UK stands for and what we do, and listen to ensure that potential members see benefits in joining our organisation. For we must introduce a whole new generation to UNA-UK, and we must retain them as members.

We are exceptionally fortunate to have such a committed and talented group of staff members at headquarters and in the regions. After taking over from Malcolm this September, I intend to spend my first ten weeks working intensively with the staff to draft a detailed consultation and implementation plan for the changes necessary for UNA-UK to go forward. While some changes will take longer, you will see a tangible difference within 12 months to our website, to New World, to the way that headquarters responds to your questions and needs, and to UNA-UK's public profile.

I have been extremely heartened by the conversations I have had with many of you during this Annual Conference. Heartened by your candour, your ideas and your enthusiasm for how UNA-UK can be transformed. There isn't time now for me to go into detailed proposals for change this morning, but my strategy and vision for UNA-UK's future rests on nine principles, which I hope you will feel we can collectively embrace as a basis for moving forward.

We must value people - recognise and appreciate the remarkable commitment and contribution that you, that our committee officers, and that our staff make.

We must respect our democratic principles - consult widely and ensure that our regions, branches, and members throughout the United Kingdom are supported.
We must maintain financial integrity and discipline. I am determined that UNA-UK must proceed with a realistic and balanced budget. To achieve this, we must establish rigorous financial monitoring, and take appropriate remedial action - however difficult - without delay. I will seek new sources of core funding, particularly from charitable foundations. This requires UNA-UK to present clear programmes of work, with specific targets and measures of evaluation.
We must prioritise. UNA-UK will enhance its credibility with government and the media if it focuses on core UN programmes and themes - taking on less and doing it better.
We must develop our policy expertise to become the authority on the United Nations in the United Kingdom. We should deepen our links with academia, commissioning policy-savvy experts to draft concise reports, of direct relevance to the work of government and Parliament.
We must be pro-active in our approach to the media. We have been good at getting letters published in national, regional, and local papers. We must now develop long-term relationships with journalists and editors, and create a diverse cadre of spokespersons for UNA-UK throughout the country who can speak to the media on specialised topics with eloquence and authority.
We must turn political access into influence. One of the achievements of UNA-UK in recent years has been better access to government, especially to MPs and Foreign Office ministers. We can turn access into influence by developing working relationships with those who formulate government UN policy - special ministerial advisors, civil servants, and British diplomats abroad.
We must professionalise our image. From the state of our headquarters offices to the website and New World, there have been marked improvements in recent years - we must further accelerate these achievements. I would seek to transform our website into the centrepiece of UNA-UK's advocacy work.
Finally, we must attract new members of all ages, ethnicity and backgrounds. This must include attracting the next generation of young professionals into UNA-UK, and I will work closely with our superb new youth council and our youth officer, establish a UNA-UK young professional network, and expand our use of graduate interns at headquarters. Equally, we must appreciate the talents and skills that already exist in our membership. Many of you in this room have contributed remarkably to UNA-UK during its 60-year history. You have kept the ideals of the UN alive during the Cold War when the UN was often marginalised. Our future success will continue to lie in mobilising the goodwill, knowledge and expertise of volunteers, as we strive to promote and defend multilateralism and the ideals of the UN Charter for another 60 years.

There has never been a more important moment for a strong people's movement that can defend and promote the work of the United Nations.

A movement that values human security over economic marginalisation.

A movement that advocates multilateral persuasion over unilateral pre-emption.

And a movement that privileges human dignity over tyrannical sovereignty.

We can and must become that movement. I look forward to working with you in meeting this challenge. Together we can become the authoritative voice in this country for international justice, development and peace."