THE EXPERT PRACTITIONER IN PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY

Generally speaking an expert is someone widely recognized as a reliable source of technique or skill whose faculty for judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely, is accorded authority and status by peers or the public in a specific well-distinguished domain. An expert, more generally is a person with extensive knowledge or ability based on research, experience, or occupation in a particular area of study. Experts are called in for advice on their respective subject, but they do not always agree on the particulars of a field of study. An expert can be, by virtue of credential, training, education, profession, publication or experience believed to have special knowledge of a subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially rely upon the individual's opinion. Experts have a prolonged experience through practice and education in a particular field.

Related to the field of public policy advocacy, an expert:

• Has the knowledge specific to the public policy advocacy practice. He/she has the education necessary to be an expert in public policy advocacy. He/she has been trained in public policy advocacy.
• Has the qualifications required to be considered an expert in public policy advocacy.
• Is ambitious about his/her work
• Can assess whether a work-related situation is important or not
• Is capable of improving himself/herself
• Is charismatic
• Can deduce things from work-related situations easily.
• Is intuitive in the job
• Is able to judge what is important in their job
• Has the drive to become what he/she is capable of becoming in the field of public policy advocacy
• Is self-assured and has self-confidence.

An expert differs from a specialist in that a specialist has to be able able to solve a problem and an expert has to know its solution.

Expert is being mistakenly interchanged with the term 'authority'. An expert can be an authority if through relationships to people that expert is allowed to control access to his/her expertise. However, a person who merely wields authority is not by right an expert.

How to evaluate an Expert Practitioner in Public Policy Advocacy?

1. He/she engages in expert public policy advocacy practive for at least 50% of the time.
2. He/she provides leadership in the public policy advocacy field by: Being an inspirational role model, motivating and leading a team of people; Acting with integrity and working effectively under pressure; Ensuring service delivery is innovative and based on the best available evidence; Being involved with national and international networks and developments in public policy advocacy (See AALEP Community of Practice)
3. He/she provides education, training and development for others within the practice of public policy advocacy by: Creating a learning environment, in which debate, discussion and fostering ideas are actively encouraged; By being an education supervisor/mentor for less experience colleagues and peers; Developing, delivering and evaluating formal education programmes to peers, less experienced people, clients etc.
4. He/she prioritises and delegates responsibilities and tasks with the team, and provides supported development opportunities for others.
5. He/she develops the area of the public policy advocacy practice through research and evaluation by: Regular self and peer audit/evaluation of practice leading to clear evidence of improvement in service delivery and outcome; He/she is actively engaged in activity and debate within the field of public policy advocacy, by attending conferences, publishing articles and books

Everyone these days is claiming to be an expert because it is a strategy they can use to make easier money. Look for people who have real testimonials, real evidence from clients and/or companies they currently represent and/or have represented in the past. You should be cautious in the selection of who represents you. Perhaps the old Latin maxim caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) is the best guide, since the decision of who represents you may determine the success or failure of any public policy advocacy efforts that are undertaken.