International public service guru to lead Public Sector Excellence Symposium

Nancy Lee: aiming to help delegates to discover that "the real magic of public sector excellence is simply about adopting a citizen-orientated approach".

Public sector marketing guru and international best-selling author, Nancy Lee will lead the two-day symposium which is expected to attract the cream of the public sector across government, state-owned-enterprises (SOEs), government agencies and private sector businesses and consultants who serve the public sector.

“The theme of the symposium fits timeously with President Jacob Zuma's central theme of accountability and service delivery commitment in the public sector” commented marketing authority and event organiser, Thebe Ikalafeng. The event, an initiative of Ikalafeng's Brand Leadership Academy (www.brandleadershipacademy.org) will be held at the Sandton Sun and will also feature the launch of the Public Sector Excellence Barometer - a citizen-centred public sector service excellence perception survey, the Public Sector Excellence Awards - in recognition of excellence in the public sector, and the Public Sector Excellence Annual - a compendium of insights, thought leadership and best practices in the public sector.

Adopt a citizen-orientated approach

Nancy Lee will provide global and local perspectives to the challenges faced by governments, state-owned enterprises, agencies and non-profit organisations. Lee will also share her latest social marketing global research as well as private and public sector insights from her ground-breaking book Marketing in the Public Sector - A roadmap for improved performance to demonstrate how governments can use citizen insights to transform governments and enhance service delivery.

“My hope is for delegates to discover that the real magic of public sector excellence is simply about adopting a citizen-orientated approach, and that they will leave the symposium with valuable insights and tools to empower and inspire them as they strive to enhance service delivery during challenging economic times,” added speaker Lee, who has prior experience in consulting to the South African market.

Participants at the symposium will leave with an international public sector marketing toolbox of no-nonsense roadmaps used to gather and engender citizen support, increase use of public products and services, evaluate and influence positive public behaviours, as well as increase revenues and decrease operating costs.

Designed for decision makers and managers

The symposium is designed for decision makers and managers - government, government agencies, state-owned enterprises and non-profit organisations - entrusted to create and deliver social goods, shape opinions, engage with and serve citizens across Africa. Professionals, advisors and service providers in the private sector, who are engaged to help shape public opinion and develop social marketing programmes, will also gain valuable insights to help their clients to build citizen-centred and admired public sector organisations.

Lee, who will conduct an exclusive full day master-class on Public Sector Excellence on 27 October, will be complemented by an elite panel of local and global thought leaders and practitioners, including UK-based TNS Global's Political and Social expert, Mark Francas, who will give a local perspective prior to Lee's seminal Public Sector Excellence master-class.

About Nancy Lee

Nancy Lee has over 25 years of professional marketing experience with special expertise in social and public sector marketing. She is an adjunct faculty member teaching social and public sector marketing at the Universities of Washington and South Florida. She has been a guest lecturer at the University of Cape Town, Yale University, Stanford University, Oxford University, Victoria University in Australia, the National University of Ireland in Galway and the Health Promotion Board in Singapore.

She has held numerous corporate marketing positions and taken part in the development of over 100 social marketing campaigns in the areas of public health, safety and environmental protection. In a prolific partnership with Philip Kotler of Northwestern University, widely-recognised as the father of marketing, Lee has co-authored five books, including Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Marketing: Influencing Behaviors For Good and their new book, UP and OUT of Poverty: The Social Marketing Solution.

To register for symposium, contact Sue at or telephone +27 (0) 11 880 5202.