Insights into SMK’s Campaign Carousel™ from Kiran Basra’s experience as a rider.
My interest in using public policy as a tool to drive systemic change led me to Future Advocacy, a consultancy that designs and delivers high-impact international research and advocacy for organisations creating positive impact. I work with a variety of clients across different sectors, including the Gates Foundation, to advocate for increased investment in international development, Movember, to strengthen men’s health in the UK, and WaterAid, to assist in the delivery of clean water to countries in Asia and Africa.
After joining Future Advocacy as a Research, Advocacy, Campaigns, and Communications Officer, I was invited to enrol in the SMK Campaign Carousel to accelerate my advocacy skills through a variety of curated workshops. The Carousel has been a powerful space for reflection and growth. I am especially grateful for its ability to connect campaigners who work on a diverse range of issues while facing similar challenges. Each workshop fostered a community of solidarity and shared purpose as we navigated everything from using lived expertise to influencing Number 10.
The workshop led by Shauneen Lamb on Using the Legal System to Achieve Change was particularly illuminating, offering an innovative approach to the intersection of law and public policy. Understanding how litigation can function as both a storytelling device and a means to challenge entrenched policy norms is a skill I will carry into all of my client work.
The Carousel has broadened my perspective on building change from the ground up. I leave equipped with tangible strategies, inspired by the collective power of strategic campaigning, and determined to help drive the systemic change our world needs.