On 30th June 2017, we organised a workshop that brought together whistleblowers, regulators, academics, representatives from whistleblowing charities and professional bodies.

Prof. Susan Long gave a thought-provoking keynote speech on perverse organisational cultures, describing how these can produce wrongdoers and whistleblowers at once. She discussed how such cultures can be transformed by adopting a systemic analysis of behavioural patterns and organisational roles.

Wendy Addison and Peter Dempsey shared their very difficult experiences as whistleblowers and inspiring struggles for justice. Both speakers pointed to a lack of effective speak-up arrangements which forced them to make great personal sacrifices, when they were merely trying to comply with the law and professional ethical standards in performing their jobs. Their experiences also showed the need for post-disclosure support systems, in the absence of which whistleblowers pay a very high price for protecting the public good.

In the afternoon, we had roundtable discussions on our forthcoming guides ‘Designing and Implementing Effective Speak-up Arrangements’ and ‘Post-Disclosure Survival Strategies’. The workshop participants kindly provided their expertise and insights, which will contribute towards our efforts to produce evidence-based, practical guidelines on different aspects of whistleblowing.