59th Meeting of the Society-of-Clerks-at-the-Table (SoCATT) in Barbados

Commonwealth Parliamentary Clerks share best practice and innovations in Parliaments at 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados

The 59th Meeting of the Society-of-Clerks-at-the-Table (SoCATT) took place in the margins of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Barbados. The meeting brought together Parliamentary Clerks and parliamentary staff from Commonwealth Parliaments to discuss the latest legislative practices and to share best practice.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Pedro Eastmond, Clerk of the Parliament of Barbados.

Presentations were made during the two-day meeting by a number of different Parliamentary Clerks on a wide range of subjects including:

• New Zealand’s Parliament Bill by Dr David Wilson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, New Zealand
• The silent reformers: The role of Clerks in strengthening and transforming Parliament by Tom Duncan, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Australian Capital Territory
• Governance in Parliament: A Clerk’s perspective by Catherine Vickers, Clerk of the Legislative Council of Tasmania
• Perspectives on AI in Parliaments by Barbados; UK; Prince Edward Island; Australian Capital Territory; New South Wales Parliament
• Development of procedure and privilege in the Parliament of Kenya
• Impact of procedural and administrative reforms in Legislatures by Shri Pradeep Kumar Dubey, Principal Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Society’s accounts for 2024 and proposals for the agenda for the 60th SoCATT General Meeting to be held in 2026 were agreed.

For further information about SoCATT please click here.

One of the largest gatherings of Commonwealth Parliamentarians, the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will bring together over 500 Parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and decision makers from across the Commonwealth for this unique conference and networking opportunity.

During the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, there will also be a number of additional conferences and meetings including: 41st CPA Small Branches Conference; 9th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference; meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network; the 2025 CPA General Assembly and meetings of the CPA Executive Committee; and the 59th Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT) meetings.

During the conference, a number of elections will also take place for the Chairpersons of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, the CPA Treasurer and the CPA Vice-Chairperson.

The 3rd Lifaka Lecture will also take place as well as the presentations for the 2025 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards.

-ENDS-

Further information about the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) can be found at the 68th CPC Hub.

On social media follow the hashtag #68CPC

Images of the 68th CPC are also available at the CPA's Flickr page. 

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) organises its annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) to address global political issues and developments in the parliamentary system through conference workshops and sessions for leading Parliamentarians representing Parliaments and Legislatures throughout the Commonwealth.

The CPA is an international community of almost 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.