This workshop provides a primer on how to craft a strong presentation for a policy audience. Over the course of two, 90-minute sessions, we explore some of the key elements of persuasive communication that can help bring your talk alive. The first session focuses on the fundamentals of persuasive communication, including how to get the audience’s attention and how to structure your content in a way that lands with your audience. In the second half, we look at delivery skills. Here, we examine how to use body language, voice, and words to enhance your presence, as well as how to design and deliver slides for maximum impact. The workshop is highly interactive, melding best–practice concepts and techniques with tips and exercises. Participants will come away with greater confidence in the art of persuasive argument, which lies at the core of effective policy communication.

Delia Lloyd is a communications expert with more than 20 years of experience. She offers coaching and workshops in writing, speaking and leadership communications for academic, non-profit and commercial clients. Delia holds a PhD in political science from Stanford University and taught public policy and international development at MIT and The University of Chicago. During 2001-2, she was a Senior Development Adviser at the United States Treasury Department, where she was a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow. From 2012-2017, Delia was the Head of Policy and Research Insight at BBC Media Action, the BBC’s International development charity, where she was in charge of commissioning, editing and disseminating policy and research outputs. A seasoned journalist, Delia’s reporting and commentaries have appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Financial Times, The Washington Post and BBC World Service.