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The Public Affairs Council (“the Council”) is the leading nonpartisan, nonpolitical association for public affairs professionals worldwide. Our mission is to advance the field of public affairs and provide tools and resources that help public affairs executives and managers to achieve their business and professional goals.

The Council was launched in 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower convened a meeting of corporate executives to encourage them to become more active in their communities and in the political process. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. and first incorporated as the Effective Citizens Organization (ECO), the association changed its name to the Public Affairs Council in 1965.

Since 2013 our Brussels office has focused on public affairs and corporate communications best practices in the European context. More than 750 organizations (with nearly 10,000 active professionals) are members of the Council, including almost 200 based (or with offices) in Europe. Our European office offers nearly 50 events and training workshops a year and access to unmatched expertise. Our aim is to maximize your effectiveness in every market you operate.

Why become a Public Affairs Council member?

The Council’s value to members is three-fold:

Expertise

You can contact our 23-person US and European staff for advice or to request reports, case studies, background materials on advocacy. Our transatlantic team has experience and expertise in the various areas of the public affairs function, including Public Affairs Management, Strategic and Digital Communication, Issues and Stakeholder Management, EU Public Affairs and Advocacy, and others.

Executive education

Each year globally we organize some 150 webinars, in-person roundtables, full-day conferences and networking events, as well as customized training to address specific organizational needs. Our discussions address emerging topics and some of the major challenges faced by public affairs professionals, including lobbying the EU effectively and ethically, multi-level influencing for senior decision-makers, digital communication and crisis management, transatlantic trends, designing successful advocacy campaigns, and many others.

Community:

With a vast network in Europe, the United States and globally, we can put you in touch with public affairs peers in your industry and beyond, or provide tips on e.g. finding a qualified local consultancy, business partners, and others. There are also numerous opportunities for members to be involved, including through our networking groups, speaking opportunities, and collaboration on specific projects.

Top 5 Membership Benefits at a Glance

• More than 150 executive education programs on global public affairs and advocacy, of which 50 per year in Europe, including webinars on an increasing number of topics.
• We create customized training on public affairs management and strategy to help you expand internal expertise and elevate public affairs in your organization.
• Our transatlantic team provides you with strategic intelligence, benchmarking data, consultant referrals and best practices both in Europe and in the United States.
• Access to an unparalleled network of public affairs professionals at leading corporations, associations and consulting firms on both sides of the Atlantic
• We publish benchmarking reports, case studies, surveys, and studies on emerging issues, including our Public Affairs Pulse Survey and our 2019 “Opening Doors in Brussels”