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2025 Speakers From seasoned public sector leaders to fresh voices shaping the future, Solace Summit 2025 brings together the thinkers and doers driving change across local government. Expect real-world insights, bold ideas, and candid conversations—all designed to help you lead with purpose, act with confidence, and deliver lasting impact. Explore the full programme. More speakers to be added in the coming weeks! Stay tuned to this page for updates. Robin Tuddenham President of Solace and Chief Executive, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Liz McQue Facilitator & Solace Associate Ed Whiting OBE Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Chris Naylor Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Nazeya Hussain Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Kirsty Wark Speaker, award-winning journalist and presenter Mike Land City Manager of Coppell, Texas, and President-Elect of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Brenda Orchard President of CAMA and Chief Administrative Officer, Lennox and Addington County Craig Swift-McNair General Manager, Woollahra Council, Sydney, Australia Tom Stannard Chief Executive, Manchester City Council Dr Owen Williams OBE Chief Executive,Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust John Clarke Head of Client Solution – Healthcare, Netcall Jon Rouse CBE Chief Executive, Stoke on Trent City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure Joanna Key Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Diksha Vyas Head of Digital Change and Service Improvement, Bracknell Forest Council Tracey Anderson Head of Scrutiny and Ward Forums, London Borough of Hackney Mark Gannon Director of Client Solutions, Netcall Craig Barker Senior Manager, Digital and Customer Experience, Cumberland Council Kate Hurr Assistant Director, Digital Innovation and ICT, Cumberland Council Kathryn Rees Executive Director Corporate and Support Services, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Vicki Bates Assistant Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Kate Joseph CB Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council Averil Price Solace Associate and Director, Avie Consultancy Kersten England CBE Chair, The Young Foundation; Director of Engagement, Bradford 2025, Yorkshire Universities Dr Peter O’Brien Executive Director, Yorkshire Universities Sarah Norman Chief Executive, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Councils’ Chief Executives’ Group Dr Mariana Pexton Deputy Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Ciara Graven Consultant – Economics and Casemaking Team, Arup Gareth Fairweather Senior Leader, Urban and Regional, Arup Simon Allsop B.Com, CPFA Managing Consultant, CIPFA John O'Halloran Director of Consultancy, CIPFA Asim Ali VP of UK Sales, Granicus Jonathan Bradley Senior Experience Partner, Granicus Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL Playwright, memoirist, performer and broadcaster Dr Henry Kippin Chief Executive, North East Combined Authority Amy Harhoff Chief Executive, East Midlands Combined County Authority Mark Rogers Chief Executive, The Leadership Centre Helen Bailey Chief Executive, London Borough of Sutton Katie Piper OBE Writer, Activist and Broadcaster Evelyn John Inner Circle Consulting Nicola Monk Divisional CEO, Energy & Environment, Procurement & Partnerships, Commercial Services Group Rosa Foster Director, Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission Jon Gleek Head of Research, LGIU Lisa Smith Director of Strategy, Performance and Partnerships, Liverpool City Council Lee Goodenough Executive Director, Harmony Fire Andrew Ferrier Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council Lord Gary Porter Political Leader and National Voice on Housing Safety Jonathan Clifton Director of Strategy and Communications, Sheffield City Council Kamal Patel Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Pactice, EY Marcus Richards Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Practice, EY Kevin Bolt MBA Managing Director, Step-Change Management Eleanor Kelly Former Chief Executive Hayley Hamlett Director of HR & Corporate Affairs

Our dedicated site for Solace's flagship event for local government & public sector professionals, the Solace Summit. The Future of Local Government Starts at Solace Summit 21–22 October, 2026 ACC Liverpool The Solace Summit 2026 heads to Liverpool for an unmissable gathering of local government leaders. Join us to explore fresh ideas, ambitious strategies, and the powerful connections shaping the future of public service. Buy Tickets What is the Solace Summit? Better leadership starts here. Hosted by Solace, the Summit brings together people across local government — from emerging talent to experienced executives — to share insight, shape ideas, and drive change. Across two days of thought-provoking sessions, powerful connections, and practical content, the Summit is your space to reflect, recharge, and reimagine the future of public service. 2025 FEATURED 2 DAYS OF LEARNING, 35+ SPEAKERS AND SO MUCH MORE. Meet The Speakers of 2025 Hear from experienced leaders who bring real insight and fresh thinking from across the sector. Our speakers are respected experts, known for their practical knowledge, honest perspectives, and thoughtful ideas. View All Speakers Robin Tuddenham President of Solace and Chief Executive, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Liz McQue Facilitator & Solace Associate Ed Whiting OBE Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Chris Naylor Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Nazeya Hussain Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Kirsty Wark Speaker, award-winning journalist and presenter 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 9 PEOPLE THEME 1: Local government is, at its heart, a people business. This theme explores how we lead with empathy, empower communities, and invest in the workforce of the future — asking what it means to put people first in a system under strain, and how we build cultures of care, trust, and accountability. PARTNERS We’re grateful to our partners for their continued support. Their contribution plays a key role in making this event a success and strengthening the work we do with communities across the country. View All Partners 1 2 1 ... 1 2 ... 2 LIVERPOOL 2026 Don't miss the future of local government.

FAQ page for the Solace Summit conference; an event designed for local government and public sector professionals. Help Centre Whether you're getting ready for the Solace Summit or need support during the event, this is your go-to spot for answers. From travel and timings to session access and venue details, we’ve gathered the most common questions and key resources to help you have a smooth, stress-free experience. Need more help? Call us on 0207 233 0081 or email events@solace.org.uk and we’ll be happy to assist. Please note that our FAQs will be updated for Liverpool 2026 shortly. Frequently asked questions Miscellaneous Venue Information Refunds & Transfers Programme Evening Events Special Assistance Dietary Requirements Travel Partnership Accommodation & Parking Exhibitors Will you be filming or photographing the Summit? Please be advised that filming and/or photography will be taking place for the duration of the Solace Summit. Solace reserves the right to photograph and video any or all aspects of its events for training and/or promotional purposes, including event attendees, without the expressed written permission of persons who may be included in such photograph or video by virtue of their attendance. Solace may use any event photograph or video in full or in edited version in publications or other media materials produced, including but not limited to brochures, magazines, newspapers, websites and social media. If any event attendee does not wish for us to use their image or likeness, they should inform us by emailing, events@solace.org.uk (mailto:events@solace.org.uk)and include the following information: • Email subject: Use of personal image   • Event title • Event date • Event location In signing up for this event I understand that it is my responsibility to email Solace and advise in writing if I do not wish my likeness or image collected at this event to be used as indicated.

Asim AliVice-President of Sales < Speakers < Previous Next > Asim Ali Vice-President of Sales Granicus For almost 25 years, Asim has worked closely with Public Sector organisations, helping them use digital tools, technology, and consultancy to gain better outcomes for their customers, whilst creating significant internal efficiencies and cost-savings. Over the last decade, UK public sector bodies, have been under tremendous pressure to continue to provide services to their communities whilst having to make huge cuts to their budgets. Over 450 public sector agencies have turned to Granicus to help them to reach and… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hotot Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45-16:25 Roundtable Test, Learn and Grow: How Do We Build a Movement? Chair Evelyn John, Managing Director, Inner Circle Consulting Speaker/s Lisa Smith, Director of Strategy, Performance and Partnerships, Liverpool City Council Andrew Ferrier, Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council Jonathan Clifton, Director of Strategy and Communications, Sheffield City Council The sessions offers an opportunity to hear about the flagship Test, Learn and Grow programme. You’ll hear practical insights directly from participants in this pioneering approach to public service reform alongside leads from Cabinet Office, explore how a ‘test and learn’ mindset can support system-wide improvement, and how we can build a wider ‘movement’ the bridges between places and central government and closes the gap between policy intent and delivery.

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 13:15–14:15 International Meeting and Lunch

Sarah WarrenSEND/EHCP Advisor < Speakers < Previous Next > Sarah Warren SEND/EHCP Advisor Agilisys Sarah is the SEND/EHCP Advisor at Agilisys Transform, on the EHCP Plus solution. Before joining Agilisys, Sarah spent over 14 years working in local authority SEND teams as a Caseworker and EHC Plan Writer, as well as previously as a teacher in a SEND school. Work has been for over 15 different local authorities, giving insight into different ways of working and EHC Plan styles and formats. Sarah has been working closely with the team at Agilisys to help develop and optimise… Show More

< All sponsors CIPFA Stand 9 www.cipfa.org CIPFA is the home of excellence in public finance. We exist to ensure public money is well spent and well managed for the benefit of us all. We are a UK-based international accountancy membership and standard-setting body and the only such body globally dedicated to public financial management.

Sarah HealeyPermanent Secretary of the Department < Speakers < Previous Next > Sarah Healey Permanent Secretary of the Department The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Sarah Healey was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on 7 February 2023. Prior to this, she was Permanent Secretary of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) from 2019 and before that worked in the Cabinet Office where she was the Director General overseeing the development and implementation of economic and domestic policy following two and a half years working on negotiations and preparations for the UK to leave the… Show More

Stand TBC < Back Oracle www.oracle.com Oracle Corporation plays a vital role in empowering public services across the UK to innovate, adapt, and deliver better outcomes for citizens. As a trusted technology partner, Oracle supports government departments, local authorities, healthcare providers, and public agencies in modernising their operations—securely, efficiently, and at scale. With deep expertise in cloud, data, and digital transformation, Oracle enables public sector organisations to unlock the full value of their information, streamline complex processes, and enhance citizen experiences. Whether it's helping councils accelerate digital services, supporting healthcare organisations with data-driven decision-making, or enabling government bodies to collaborate more effectively, Oracle’s solutions are designed for resilience, security, and agility

Jane BarrettFounding Partner < Speakers < Previous Next > Jane Barrett Founding Partner Cadence Innova Jane is the Founding Partner at Cadence Innova, and a highly accomplished and dynamic change leader and innovator, who led a multi award winning management consultancy from Inspiring Leadership, to most empowering female management consultancy, to service delivery excellence for Gender Pay Gap. With a wealth of experience in delivering rapid turn-around, clear thinking, advice and leadership, Jane engages with senior stakeholders in complex governance environments to prevent problems escalating. Jane’s experience ranges from central and local government to security… Show More