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Quest Training

Government Relations & Public Affairs in Regulated Sectors Training Course

Helps government relations officers in banks, oil and gas, and regulated sectors monitor policy, engage regulators ethically, and show results.

PPG · Public Policy & GovernanceAll Levels#2992ClassroomEnglish , Arabic
Duration
5 Days
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Free substitution at any time · 30+ days' notice: full refund minus 10%. Cancellation policy

Sectors:Government & Public SectorCategories:Public Policy & Governance

Course Overview

The Government Relations & Public Affairs in Regulated Sectors Training Course is designed for the professionals who represent companies, banks, state-owned enterprises, and industry associations before ministries, regulators, and legislative bodies. It is a cross-sector program built for organizations whose licenses, pricing, investment plans, and operating conditions depend on government decisions, with particular attention to oil and gas, banking and financial services, energy, telecommunications, and other heavily regulated industries. Effective government relations is a structured management discipline rather than a network of personal contacts. It requires an accurate map of how decisions are made and who influences them, systematic monitoring of draft laws and regulations, early assessment of their business impact, and the ability to present a credible, evidence-based position at the right stage of the policy process. Unlike courses on policy design for government officials or on corporate media and crisis communication, this course looks at public policy from the side of the organization that is affected by it. Integrity is treated as a core part of the discipline, not an afterthought. Participants examine the legal and ethical limits of lobbying and advocacy, including anti-bribery laws, gifts and hospitality, facilitation payments, conflicts of interest, the use of third-party intermediaries, and the transparency expected in extractive industries and financial services, so that every contact with public officials can withstand internal and external scrutiny. Through mapping exercises, policy-monitoring workshops, consultation-response drafting, ethics dilemmas, and the development of a government relations plan with measurable indicators, participants build the practical capabilities needed to protect and advance their organization's interests while maintaining the trust of their government counterparts.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how government relations and public affairs protect organizational value and the license to operate.
  • Map the ministries, regulators, legislative bodies, and public decision makers relevant to the organization.
  • Analyze the formal and informal processes through which laws, regulations, and licenses are approved.
  • Establish a systematic process for monitoring draft legislation, regulatory changes, and policy signals.
  • Assess the operational, financial, and legal impact of proposed policies and regulations.
  • Prioritize policy issues and define clear organizational positions supported by evidence.
  • Prepare effective consultation responses, position papers, and briefings for government officials.
  • Plan advocacy directly and through industry associations, chambers of commerce, and coalitions.
  • Manage ongoing relationships with regulators during licensing, approvals, inspections, and supervisory reviews.
  • Apply anti-bribery, conflict-of-interest, and lobbying transparency principles to all government engagement.
  • Measure government relations performance using output, outcome, and impact indicators.
  • Develop an integrated government relations plan aligned with business strategy and compliance requirements.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for professionals who represent their organizations before government, ministries, and regulators in banks, oil and gas companies, state-owned enterprises, energy and utilities, telecommunications, healthcare, and industry associations, including: Government Relations Managers and Officers. Public Affairs and Corporate Affairs Managers. Regulatory Affairs and Regulatory Liaison Specialists. Policy and Advocacy Officers in industry associations and chambers of commerce. Legal, Compliance, and Ethics Professionals supporting engagement with public officials. Local Content and In-Country Value Coordinators in oil and gas and energy companies. External Relations and Stakeholder Engagement Professionals. Strategy and Business Development Managers whose plans depend on government decisions. Country Managers and Senior Executives who represent their organizations to government and will benefit most from a structured, ethical engagement approach.

Learning Outcomes

  • By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
  • Build a government and regulator map showing mandates, decision makers, and influence.
  • Trace the stages through which a draft law or regulation becomes binding.
  • Operate a policy and regulatory monitoring process with clear sources and responsibilities.
  • Assess the business impact of proposed regulations and rank issues by priority.
  • Formulate organizational positions supported by data, evidence, and realistic alternatives.
  • Draft consultation responses and position papers that officials can readily use.
  • Prepare briefing packs and conduct structured meetings with public officials.
  • Coordinate joint advocacy through industry associations and coalitions without breaching competition rules.
  • Maintain constructive, documented relationships with regulators.
  • Identify bribery and conflict-of-interest red flags and apply escalation procedures.
  • Define and report key performance indicators for government relations activities.
  • Present a government relations plan with priorities, resources, ethics controls, and measures.

Course Outline

Day 1

The Government Relations Function & Mapping Government

  • The role of government relations and public affairs in regulated organizations.
  • How government decisions affect licenses, pricing, investment, and operating conditions.
  • Mapping ministries, regulators, legislative and consultative councils, and state-owned enterprises.
  • Formal decision paths: laws, decrees, executive regulations, circulars, and licenses.
  • Informal influences on decisions: advisors, committees, technical staff, and public opinion.
  • Assessing officials' mandates, priorities, influence, and positions on key issues.
  • The government relations unit: reporting lines, mandate, and coordination.
  • Aligning government relations priorities with business strategy.
  • Sector contexts: oil and gas, banking, energy, telecommunications, and healthcare.
  • Practical application: Build a government and regulator map for a selected organization with mandates, decision makers, and influence.
Day 2

Policy Monitoring, Regulatory Intelligence & Issues Management

  • Setting up a structured regulatory monitoring process.
  • Monitoring sources: official gazettes, consultation portals, regulator circulars, and council agendas.
  • Horizon scanning for emerging policy trends and early warning signals.
  • Tracking draft laws and regulations through each stage of the approval cycle.
  • Assessing the operational, financial, legal, and reputational impact of proposed rules.
  • Prioritizing issues by likelihood, impact, timing, and ability to influence.
  • Sector issues: licensing, fiscal terms, local content, prudential rules, and tariffs.
  • Preparing concise internal briefing notes and alerts for senior management.
  • Coordinating issue ownership with legal, compliance, finance, and operations.
  • Practical application: Develop a policy monitoring radar and impact assessment for a proposed regulation.
Day 3

Advocacy Strategy, Consultation Responses & Coalitions

  • Principles of legitimate, transparent, and evidence-based advocacy.
  • Defining organizational positions, objectives, and acceptable alternatives.
  • Building the evidence base: economic, employment, investment, and service impact data.
  • Structuring consultation responses and position papers for public bodies.
  • Timing engagement to the policy cycle, from agenda setting to implementation.
  • Preparing briefing packs, key messages, and meeting requests for officials.
  • Conducting and following up meetings with ministers, regulators, and committees.
  • Working through industry associations and coalitions within competition rules.
  • Aligning internal stakeholders before presenting a position to government.
  • Practical application: Draft a consultation response and a meeting brief for a senior official on a proposed regulation.
Day 4

Regulatory Engagement, Ethics & Integrity in Government Relations

  • Building working relationships with regulators and supervisors.
  • Managing engagement during licensing, permits, approvals, inspections, and supervisory reviews.
  • Recording, tracking, and honoring commitments made to government counterparts.
  • Anti-bribery frameworks: UN Convention against Corruption, OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, FCPA, and UK Bribery Act.
  • Gifts, hospitality, sponsorships, facilitation payments, and political contributions.
  • Conflicts of interest, politically exposed persons, and the revolving door.
  • Due diligence and controls for agents, consultants, and other third-party intermediaries.
  • Lobbying transparency principles, ISO 37001, and EITI disclosure in extractive industries.
  • Engagement logs, approval procedures, red flags, and escalation routes.
  • Practical application: Resolve government relations ethics dilemmas and draft an engagement protocol for staff dealing with officials.
Day 5

Measuring Results & the Government Relations Plan

  • Why government relations results are difficult to measure and attribute.
  • Key performance indicators for outputs, outcomes, and impact.
  • Tracking issues, positions, meetings, and policy outcomes in an engagement register.
  • Estimating the value protected or created through policy and regulatory outcomes.
  • Reporting performance to executive management and the board.
  • Planning resources, budgets, external advisors, and internal capabilities.
  • Linking government relations with compliance, risk, and strategic planning.
  • Reviewing lessons learned and adjusting strategies as policy priorities change.
  • Building credibility as a trusted, long-term source of information for government.
  • Practical application: Present an annual government relations plan with priority issues, target institutions, ethics controls, and indicators.

Upcoming Dates

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Manama · 16 – 20 Nov 2026 · Classroom

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MadinahScheduled
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ManamaScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€4,700—
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30 Nov – 4 Dec 2026€5,700€5,130until 9 Nov
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13 – 17 Dec 2026€3,100€2,790until 23 Nov
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21 – 25 Dec 2026€5,400€4,860until 30 Nov
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28 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027€4,800€4,320until 7 Dec
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Available in: Istanbul · Dubai · London · Doha · Amsterdam

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